Summer School + Math = Future College Grads? GEAR UP Hopes That's the Equation for Success

Rising eighth-graders are experiencing college life at Ole Miss over the next three weeks. They're also taking a lot of math!

Around 150 rising eighth-graders are getting a taste of college life over the next few weeks. MPB’s Cari Gervin has more on one program at Ole Miss.

It’s Day Three of the GEAR UP Summer Academy at the University of Mississippi. Here’s what Tyler Kennedy thinks about it so far:

“Well, I’ve had my bad days, my good days.”

Kennedy is a 14-year-old from Blue Mountain. He’s one of 36 rising eighth-graders spending three weeks on campus studying math – for six hours a day.

“Well, it’s very … not really nerve-wracking, but it makes your brain work.”

GEAR UP is a statewide effort in 50 schools in low-income communities. The program aims to increase the number of Mississippi college graduates by following students all through high school with free enrichment and educational activities, like summer school.

There are four other summer academies at other colleges in subjects like biology and theater. But Mary Grant Lee, who helps run GEAR UP, says that isn’t enough.

“Our plan is to have camps at every community college and university or college.”

Around 200 students applied for the 40 slots at Ole Miss. Program Director Jason Wilkins says that in addition to pre-algebra, the kids learn about applying for college and seeking financial aid, even though that may seem a long way away for 14-year-olds.

“We find, most of the time, students who have difficulty getting financial aid, weren’t thinking about financial aid and weren’t thinking about college when they were young.”

And after three days in the dorms and the dining hall, Tyler Kennedy says he’s ready for college.

“Yeah, I feel like just one of them, and I’m glad I get the experience.”

And that’s just what GEAR UP wants. For MPB News, I’m Cari Gervin in Oxford.