Skip to main content

Access Academies

Access Academies empowers students through enrichment, mentoring and scholarship support, and partners with SLU’s School of Education to expand pathways to success.

About Access Academies

Founded in 2005, Access Academies is a St. Louis nonprofit dedicated to helping students from underserved communities succeed in middle school, high school, college, and beyond. Access begins working with students in sixth grade and continues for more than a decade, offering extended-day enrichment, long-term mentoring, and scholarship assistance. This long-term commitment helps students stay engaged and prepared at every stage of their academic journey.

Access programs are comprehensive, with more than 80 enrichment options each year, ranging from STEM and language study to leadership development and the arts. Graduate support directors begin working with students in middle school and continue their mentorship through college, guiding them through academic, financial, and personal challenges.

Partnership with the School of Education

The School of Education is proud to partner with Access Academies by hosting its annual summer program on SLU’s campus. Each summer, middle school students spend three weeks in classes and enrichment activities while also experiencing campus life. Faculty, staff, and students from SOE contribute as instructors, mentors, and program partners — living out our Jesuit values of cura personalis (care for the whole person) and our commitment to education for justice.

This partnership allows Access students to experience a college environment early while connecting SOE faculty and students directly with mission-driven outreach that strengthens our community.

Impact

The results of Access’s model are significant:

  • 98% of Access students graduate high school on time
  • 97% of seniors complete the FAFSA (nearly double the national average)
  • Access has awarded more than $9 million in scholarships and supported over 1,400 students since its founding

Together, SLU and Access are investing in the potential of young people while strengthening schools, universities, and communities.

To learn more about Access Academies, its mission, and its programs, please visit its official website.