Camps

Power Scholars Academy

Kids: First – Eighth Graders

Power Scholars Academy (PSA) is a six-week summer program for first through eighth graders designed to address summer learning loss in math and reading and to foster physical and social-emotional growth.

The Y is addressing the summer learning loss that impacts students from low-income backgrounds through out-of-school time programs such as Power Scholars Academy (PSA). Power Scholars Academy is a six-week summer program for first through eighth graders designed to address summer learning loss in math and reading and to foster physical and social-emotional growth.

power scholars get ahead

Without intervention, most students lose two months of learning over the summer. YMCA Power Scholars Academy students did not experience the expected summer learning loss. On average, our students experienced a month’s worth of academic growth in both Math and Reading—a net gain of three months.

Disrupting the Opportunity Gap
Understanding summer learning loss

Youth from low-income families often start school in the fall unprepared regardless of progressing at the same rate during the school year.

By fifth grade, summer learning loss can leave low-income students two-and-a-half to three years behind their peers from wealthier backgrounds.

Power Scholars Academy by the Numbers

255

Total hours of learning each summer

8.5

Hours of academic and social enrichment delivered each day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks

371

Number of students served summer 2017

900

Number of students served summer 2018

Watch how Power Scholars Academy makes an impact

Helping Kids, Families and Communities

One Power Scholars Academy parent, a recent immigrant to the United States, was concerned that her son was too far behind academically and she was ashamed that she could not afford to hire a tutor. She enrolled her son in PSA and as imagined, he did not perform very well on his initial assessment. Through consistent attendance, hard work and the support of staff, he experienced a 200% increase from his original assessment performance.

“Power Scholars Academy saved us when I didn’t have anywhere else to turn. My son is doing so much better in school this year, and I’ve already enrolled him in PSA again for next year!”