Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation History

Founded in 2005, the Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation (HYSF) is dedicated to strengthening the city of Hartford by developing and implementing academic programs that increase college access for Hartford schoolchildren. HYSF’s first initiative, The Steppingstone Academy Hartford, prepares highly motivated students for admission to and success at Connecticut’s top independent high schools. By increasing educational opportunities, HYSF supports the development of a vibrant and productive community, making Hartford a better place in which to live, work, and raise a family.

HYSF is based on the premise that, regardless of circumstance, children can achieve at high levels if they are prepared in a focused and demanding academic environment.  The Steppingstone Academy Hartford emphasizes rigorous standards to achieve meaningful results – namely, an increased number of 4-year college graduates from the city of Hartford.

 

Results to Date

We have grown from serving 26 Scholars in our first year to now serving nearly 180 Scholars. 100% of our scholars are on track to graduate from high school.  In our first class of scholars to graduate from high school in 2012, 95% were accepted at a four-year college, and are now enrolled and on track to graduate in four years.

Over 82% of students who begin the program matriculate, and 92% of those students who matriculate are retained by support services.  We serve a population that is 58% African American and 29% Latino.

While close to 60% of our high school aged students are enrolled in independent school, when you factor in students at the Academy over 72% of our students are enrolled in 19 different Hartford Public Schools (including Charter and Magnet).

Thus far, and in all, Steppingstone Scholars have accessed close to $10M in financial aid dollars at over 16 different independent schools, including: Taft, Avon Old Farms, Loomis Chaffee, Suffield Academy, Watkinson, Westminster, Miss Porter’s, Peddie, Choate Rosemary, Philips Exeter, Renbrook, Salisbury, Ethel Walker, Kent, Northwest Catholic, Pomfret, and Westover.

100% of our Scholars graduate from high school, whether public or private. Furthermore, since 2005, 85% of Scholars have enhanced their education by graduating from The Steppingstone Academy Hartford.  This year’s 8^th grade Steppingstone Scholars achieved the highest SSAT scores that we have seen to date; with scores as high as the 97^th percentile .  The high level of academic achievement of these Scholars earned them acceptance to some of the most prestigious independent schools in the state and country.

As of today, our first two cohorts of Scholars have successfully completed their first and second years of college.  All are on-track to graduate in six years and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments in 2016 and 2017. Furthermore, 11 of our 13 senior Scholars will attend four-year colleges and universities, including Trinity College, Syracuse University, and the University of Connecticut.