Our Program
Minds Matter is a three-year program that begins in a student’s 10th grade of high school (after a rigorous recommendation, application, and selection process as 9th graders).
Minds Matter offers its students a combination of individualized mentor support, group instruction & college summer programs to provide students with the resources, information and guidance they need to gain admission to, enroll in and graduate from four-year colleges with scholarships. Minds Matter students join our program as sophomores in high school and receive the following during our weekly Monday sessions:
- Individualized mentor support: focused support from two dedicated mentors every Monday throughout the academic year. Mentors and students build strong relationships and work together to help achieve the student's academic and personal goals through the college selection, admittance, and financial aid processes.
- Group academic instruction: in-class instruction focused on intensive writing, critical-thinking, and ACT prep from a third party partner.
- Summer enrichment programs: opportunity to attend two rigorous summer academic programs at top-tier institutions to explore their educational interests.
KEY FACTS & FIGURES
- We serve 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders
- Mentor to Student Ratio is greater than 1:1
- 2 Mentors per Student (trios), OR
- 3 Mentors per 2 Student (quintets)
- Program runs from September-May of each year
2016-2017 ACADEMIC YEAR
- Six Denver Public Schools Represented - North, South, East, West Leadership Academy, West Early College, and Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS - Baker)
- 68 Students (25 10th graders, 23 11th graders, 20 12th graders)
- 200+ volunteers
- 135% growth between 2011 (29 students) and 2016 (68 students)
Results
100% of Graduating Seniors Accepted to 4-Year Undergraduate Institutions (Class of 2016 = 10 Students)
100% of Sophomores & Juniors Attending Academic Summer Programs
(Class of 2017 and 2018 = 38 Students)
Colleges Attended By Graduates
Boston University
Brown University
Coe College
Colgate University
Colorado College
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Cornell College
Florida A & M University
Fordham University
Juaniata College
Kansas State University
New Mexico State University
New York University
Northwestern University
Regis University
Spelman College
Louis University
Syracuse University
University of Arizona
University of Arizona State
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Denver
University of Denver
University of Iowa
University of North Carolina
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Vassar College
Xavier UniversityHarvard University
Hofstra University
Howard University
Top Summer Programs Attended
Harvard University
Princeton University
Brown University
Join Us Today
Our mission is to transform the lives of accomplished high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success.