We are preparing students in the San Fernando Valley to enter and succeed in college by engaging them at a young age — and continuing to engage them throughout their academic careers.

WE START EARLY

We are fighting to make sure students in underserved parts of the San Fernando Valley get a good education. One that provides the skills our students need to succeed in the tough courses. One that offers the challenging coursework kids must complete in order to become college eligible and competitive in the college admissions process.

Our children need to visualize themselves in college in order to plan for college and excel in school. In neighborhoods where family and school resources may be scarce, the social and academic supports necessary for this haven’t always been accessible.

GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a federal program designed to help students from high-poverty middle and high schools get through the first year of college. Our GEAR UP program serves 6th and 7th graders at San Fernando Valley middle schools and follows them through their first year of college.

We promote success through a combination of academic support, professional development opportunities and family programming, to encourage and build a college going culture throughout the middle and high school experience.

The goal: dramatically increase the number of students from our community attending college by fostering early awareness and readiness.

WHERE WE ARE

Vista Middle School
Van Nuys, CA

Sepulveda Middle School
North Hills, CA

James Monroe High School
North Hills, CA

San Fernando Institute for Applied Media
San Fernando, CA

Sylmar Biotech and Health Academy
Pacoima, CA

Bert Corona Charter School
Arleta, CA

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center
San Fernando, CA

Discovery Charter Preparatory No. 2
Pacoima, CA

CONTACT

Nicholas Wu
GEAR UP Manager

12502 Van Nuys Blvd.
Pacoima, CA 91331

[email protected]
(818) 573-9029