Upward Bound Academy

Upward Bound is a four-week program, Monday through Friday, typically from the second week of June to the first week of July.

Both programs begin to gather at 7:50 a.m., and morning assembly begins at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday, the school day runs until 2:30 p.m. Friday dismissal times are at noon.

Tuition for Upward Bound is $1,400. Financial assistance is available for those families who qualify. Interested applicants for financial assistance MUST SUBMIT all 1040 tax forms from the previous year as well as complete a brief financial aid application to be considered.

Child care is included as part of the tuition for participating students. There is NO separate fee. It runs from 7:00-8:00 a.m. before school and from 2:30-4:00 p.m. after school EXCEPT FOR FRIDAYS.

FRIDAYS DISMISSAL WILL BE AT NOON.

Boys will need to wear a clean t-shirt and shorts with pockets. They will need an extra t-shirt each day to change into for rec periods. T-shirts should not advertise alcohol or tobacco products and not have any graphics that would be counter to the mission of the program. They MUST wear tennis shoes with socks each day since rec and outdoor activities are a part of the program.

For urban and outdoor field explorations, there may be more specific dress suggestions (hiking pants, sunscreen, hats, etc.) but those will be communicated at orientation and/or in the weekly parent updates.

Lunch is available for purchase in the school cafeteria and students may bring their own lunch.

Students will attend five classes each day. Both UB7 and UB8 offer courses in Literature, Writing, Learning and the Brain, and Math.

UB7 offers unique classes in art and field biology. UB8 offers unique classes in robotics. In addition to traditional content, every teacher seeks to integrate executive functioning skills and topics of metacognition in his or her course.

Each week, both programs engage in some form of regional exploration — whether it be a UB7 full day field biology exploration to a state park, a half day excursion to Forest Park, or a UB8 urban exploration of key sites to continue their research and learning about St. Louis history and culture. These trips are integrated into many of the everyday curricular activities and as such are every bit as important as all other school days. PLEASE DO NOT LOOK ON THESE EXPLORATIONS AS DAYS THAT ARE “OK” FOR YOUR SON TO MISS. All travel fees are included in the overall tuition.

For UB7 there is no homework assigned or expected. Now, we can’t STOP any boys who become so interested in something covered in class that they want to do more independent exploration and learning on their own (yes, it does happen)!

For UB8 there is typically no homework due to the rotating guided study sessions with a learning coach. There may be evenings when easily digested extra work will be brought home, but those times are rare. PLEASE NOTE: This has been a major curricular change these past few years from previous practice at UB8, so do not believe the war stories from veterans of UB past.

In order to improve their executive functioning skills (yes, the research is clear) students will participate in daily rec activities with their peers. Rec activities include (but are not limited to) ultimate frisbee, soccer, kickball and the SLUH favorite game: BASHBALL.

We strongly encourage students to attend Upward Bound every day because of the strong bonds and deep learning that develop day-by-day through the four-week program. Admissions preference will be reserved for those students who can attend the WHOLE program.

Upward Bound simultaneously seeks to develop students’ academic skills, metacognitive awareness, and love of learning. It is not summer school. It is not camp. It is a chance for your son to fall in love with learning, to develop stronger learning skills, and to be part of a community of young (and OLD) learners who seek to do the same thing.