Success Academy Chess Stars Earn Top Ten Finishes at US Grade Championships
Success Academy – December 18, 2017
Last week, 35 scholars from across the Success Academy network traveled to Orlando, Florida for some sunshine — and chess! Competing in the prestigious National K-12 Grade Championships, Success Academy improved from last year’s already stellar performance at both the individual and the team levels.
After a Visit from 10th Graders, Middle Schoolers Come Away with Top Tips for Success
Bridget McNamara – November 29, 2017
A group of middle schoolers might not be the obvious choice to turn to for advice on time management, cultivating a strong work ethic, and investing in your passions — but you’d be remiss to skip over our scholars. They might be young, but my 5th – 8th graders are incredibly hard-working, intelligent, and invested […]
What My SAT Score Means to Me
Hazel Murray – October 17, 2017
Many people understand that you need strong scores to get into elite colleges, but they don’t realize how much our education system is flawed — that it often stacks the odds against minority students. So the top score isn’t always what’s the most important. Together, my class and I achieved an average score that was far above the rest of the country’s. It wasn’t just me who took part in this achievement — it was all of us.
Notes to the Principal’s Office
Andrew Malone – August 29, 2017
One of our scholars was selected as one of just 80 participants (out of 2.400 applicants) for the prestigious Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program at MIT. High School of the Liberal Arts Principal Andy Malone shares two emails from the scholar recounting this truly special experience.
Poetry and Transformations in Ireland
Autumn Swepson – August 3, 2017
In July, Success Academy Scholar Autumn Swepson traveled to Ireland with Putney Student Travel: Writing in Ireland. This unique travel experience brought together carefully selected student writers to explore the literary roots and storytelling traditions of Ireland, all while improving their own craft.
Exploring Europe’s Past — For My Scholars’ Futures
Natasha Venner – August 1, 2017
Success Academy sent HSLA world history teacher Natasha Venner to the prestigious Gilder Lehrman Teaching Seminar at Oxford University this summer. History at Success is all about active engagement and using a rich variety of texts and techniques. The seminar was an incredible chance for her to bolster her skills and spark new ideas for the fall.
Skip Pouring the Coffee; SA Interns Grow as Professionals — in High School
Frances Litvak – June 8, 2017
Current and former Merrill Lynch interns offer inside looks at their experience, while another Success Academy student shares what he learned interning with 300 Entertainment.
College Admissions: What Every High School Scholar — and Parent — Should Know
Danielle Jakob – May 31, 2017
On Saturday, April 29th, Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts hosted its inaugural College Admissions Case Studies Program. Danielle Jakob created this event for our founding scholars and their families — now in 10th and 11th grades — which placed them in an admissions officer’s seat for the day.
From Solving Puzzles to Setting Personal Bests — My Scholars Made Their Mark on the Nation’s Largest Track and Field Event
Ozzie Henderson – May 5, 2017
This past weekend, nine of my scholars from the Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts traveled to Philadelphia to take part in the Penn Relay Races — a track and field event that has taken place annually since 1895.
When Zombies Attack, Mathematicians Save the Day
Cassondra Nealon – April 27, 2017
Most people don’t know this, but there are leading math educators whose celebrity status rivals Hollywood’s favorite movie stars. At least among math teachers! When Success Academy provided our high school math team with the chance to attend the annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in San Antonio, Texas— essentially the Oscars of math education — we could hardly wait.
A Summer of Possibility: SA High Schoolers Earn $100k+ in Scholarships for Summer Programs
Twink Williams Burns – April 11, 2017
Through the work of our Manager of Pre-College Programs and our College Access and Persistence Team, our scholars have already secured spots in 35 different summer programs, across the U.S. and abroad.
One Job, Two Hats: The Dual Mission of HSLA Teachers
Mona Alsaidi – 1 de marzo de 2017
The best part of my job doesn’t take place in the classroom. It happens during the one-on-one meetings I have twice a week, with the ten scholars I’ve advised, some for the past two years.
My Summer Sewing Up Wounds
Suneil Jeter – September 12, 2016
Ever since I was five years old, I have loved the idea of working in the medical field — it’s been my dream.
Singing My Heart Out
Ashley Rivas – September 1, 2016
When I arrived at Summer Arts Institute in July, I was nervous and excited. But again the nerves went away — from the minute I stepped through the door, we sang non-stop every day.
Capital Connections: What I Learned from a Week With Future Latino Leaders
Lexi Torres – August 9, 2016
This summer, I had a life-changing experience at the Future Latino Leaders Law Camp at American University in Washington, D.C.
A Summer of Self-Discovery
Danielle Jakob – August 9, 2016
This summer, Success Academy high school scholars explored the Canadian wilderness, created digital animation from scratch, practiced medicine, and studied psychology, law, and art at prestigious schools and programs across the United States. As one of five college access and persistence counselors at the high school, I helped many of these bright young men and women navigate the application process to elite summer programs and submit their first high-stakes applications.
Success Academy Scholars Reflect on Martin Luther King, Jr.
Success Academy – 15 de enero de 2016
More than 50 years after his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., continues to inspire the work we do at Success Academy. His message of equality, justice, and opportunity for all is as fresh and powerful as it was a half-century ago.
In My Book Club, I Discovered the Power of Talking Back
Leeajah Ebron – 13 de enero de 2016
The book discusses class and education, violence in relationships, race, and feminism — all issues that I wanted to learn more about. I was eager to learn how to talk back about these issues when all my life I’ve heard that talking back is disrespectful.
Global Warming, Chocolate, and Making Small Changes
Nashatay Crawford – 11 de enero de 2016
Suddenly, the environmental issues that we were studying and discussing in class became more real and pressing — and that made learning more fun and exciting.
What A High School Student Thought of Hamilton
Lexi Torres – November 17, 2015
In October, my classmates and I earned free tickets from our school to see the Broadway musical Hamilton, which tells the story of Alexander Hamilton and the other founders of American democracy.
When High Schoolers Argue, Everybody Wins
Sekou Cisse – November 4, 2015
Success Academy tenth-grader Sekou Cisse loves a good argument. A seasoned member of the SA High School of the Liberal Arts debate team, Sekou joined debate as a seventh grader at Success Academy Harlem West.
Our Trip to Broadway: Young Rebels Out to Change the World, Fierce Rap Battles, then a Rare Treat (Our Talk with Hamilton’s Creator and Cast)
Colleen Stewart – October 27, 2015
On Sept. 30, I had the incredible pleasure of accompanying 132 Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts scholars and staff to a matinee performance of the groundbreaking Broadway musical Hamilton.
The Mission of World-Class Schools Is Possible
Eva Moskowitz – November 3, 2014
A few weeks ago one of our ninth-grade scholars delivered a welcome address to a group of distinguished guests at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts.