Phase One
Grade Six: Academic Enrichment

Rigorous and intensive, this initial, 14-month phase of the program immerses students in the subject matter they must master to thrive in college-preparatory programs. Scholars attend the equivalent of 120 additional days of school and complete more than 500 additional hours of homework. The hard work and intensive learning prepares them for their studies in a college-preparatory environment.

The summer before their sixth-grade year, a “cohort” of 60 scholars meets five days a week, eight hours a day, for six weeks. Their curriculum includes literature, writing, history, math, science and personal ethics. Daily homework, development of time-management and organizational skills, mentoring by older Rainier Scholars students and guided reflection on what it means to be a high-achieving student of color are all critical building blocks.

When school begins the following fall, students attend their regular schools and also attend Rainier Scholars classes every Wednesday after school and all day on Saturdays. Throughout the 6th grade year, students and families participate in the “placement process” in which they seek admission to either an independent college preparatory school or to one of Seattle Public Schools’ advanced learning programs. Once students and schools are matched for 7th grade, a second intensive academic summer session follows, one in which students continue to focus on core academic skills as well as exploring the acculturation process for entering their new school environments. The 14-month academic phase culminates in a Rites of Passage ceremony in which students “become a Rainier Scholar” before beginning their 7th grade year at top schools throughout the Puget sound region.