Northeastern University

Step UP schools:
Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain
Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury

Northeastern University partners with the Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury and the James Michael Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain. Orchard Gardens joined the Step UP partnership two years ago, taking the place of Solomon Lewenberg Middle School in Roxbury, which partnered with Northeastern for two years.

Under the Step UP Initiative, Northeastern faculty, staff and students provide math education, including MathPOWER First Course materials, for students and their families, as well as professional development programs for teachers.  Student teachers are also available in both schools, as well as volunteers for after-school programming activities for students.  These programs include tutoring, translation services, program planning and initiatives geared for both boys and girls.  Northeastern makes use of its urban campus to host students for a range of activities, including science lab visits, campus tours and admissions information sessions designed to expose students at young ages to a leading research university, help them set their own education goals and develop college readiness.

Northeastern draws on its strong history of partnerships with the Boston Public Schools and a broad range of expertise in the training of teachers and education reform. The university resources applied to Step UP include the School of Education, the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education, Center for Community Service, Sport in Society and MathPOWER.