OurApproach
About Our Tacoma Program
Since 2021, Rainier Scholars has been proud to serve students in Pierce County, walking alongside nearly 200 scholars and their families. As we enter our fifth year, we are deepening our investment in the years we know create the most lasting impact: 5th through 8th grade.
Our Tacoma program focuses exclusively on this critical window — delivering the same rigorous academic enrichment, coaching, and family support that define the Rainier Scholars experience, with an even sharper focus on preparing scholars for success in high school and beyond.
Why Middle School?
Research—and our own track record — tells us that middle school is a pivotal window. Foundational math readiness, reading comprehension, writing confidence, self-advocacy, and a belief that college is an attainable goal are all established during these years. By focusing our strongest programming here, we give scholars the foundation they need to thrive—in high school, in college, and in life.
1 https://belonging.berkeley.edu/targeteduniversalism
Rainier Scholars – Tacoma will serve Multi-Generational African American and other families using a strategy called Targeted Universalism1. This means we will be working towards the larger goal of expanding opportunities for everyone by focusing on the needs of a group facing the most complex set of barriers.
Institutions have not fully recognized the additional burden placed on students of color as they navigate environments where they are often not represented.
Consequently, in addition to academic excellence, our scholars will develop the following components of resiliency necessary to be successful, empowered leaders in any environment:
- Unassailable sense of self
- Awareness of inequalities in supremacist systems
- Active rejection of dominant culture superiority myths
- Understanding of the impacts of racism and negative stereotypes
- Confidence in skills, tools, and resources
- Belief in the utility of school & learning
- Intentional cultivation of a supportive community
The first three summers – what does it look like?
Summer Stretch Academy
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Scholars will…
Attend classes for 6 1/2 weeks, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4pm (between early July and mid-August)
Be exposed to challenging content 1-2 grade levels above their current grade
Learn and practice skills like time management, organization, accountability, self-advocacy and effort
Be responsible for completing 1-2 hours of homework each night
Build on their foundation of cultural identity and resiliency
Participate in a culture that celebrates both hard work and fun, centered around our core values of Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity and Courage (E.P.I.C.)
Programming Between Summers
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Scholars will…
Be visited once per month during the school day by an Academic Coach who will support them to apply the skills they learned over the summer
Participate in ongoing development of cultural identity and resiliency through weekly remote classes
Have support in advocating for challenging work to continue to build their skillset
Engage in monthly community dinners and family workshops
Participate in monthly field trips with their Rainier Scholars peers (inner tubing, pumpkin patch, movies, etc.)
Receive additional academic and mental health support as needed
Recruitment for Cohort 5 is currently closed.