Saturday Scholars' Academy

Most Saturdays, over 250 students attend enrichment classes from October to June to strengthen their math and science skills and prepare for Statewide exams. Students also participate in career-oriented classes, including robotics, service-learning, computer coding, nursing, and law. Classroom schedules are tailored to each student’s current school timetable and personal interests. See below for more details.

Small group tutoring in select math and science subjects is also available on Saturdays. Students are assigned a tutor (Hofstra college students) who helps with questions from homework, tests, projects, or classroom notes.

Every student meets with their assigned advisor twice a year to focus on goal-setting and problem-solving for future success.

The Transition to High School Mentoring Program connects incoming 9th-graders with college students to help build character, confidence, competence, communication skills, and more.  The program begins in August and continues on Saturdays in October.

Students must register for the Saturday Scholars’ Academy to receive academic services.

Class Schedules

Classes are available through alternating A/B schedules, one in purple for the math course and the other in green for the science courses. Students choose two classes per schedule: one math class, one science class, and two elective classes.

Classes aim to improve classroom learning. Math, science, and other Regents classes are scheduled to align with the partner schools’ timetable. Middle school electives are available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and high school electives run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students may also sign up for weekly tutoring in specific math or science subjects or other challenge classes, in addition to their regular four classes. Students who need academic support will be considered for tutoring services.

Student Colloquiums
Colloquiums are engaging learning experiences. Previous examples include students connecting with career professionals to explore opportunities, conducting science experiments, participating in academic competitions, and exposure to college preparation.

Laboratory Experiences
Trips to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory involve students in hands-on experiments, using lab equipment employed by science professionals.

Interactive Learning Experiences
Students regularly participate in programming to demonstrate lessons learned from classes and activities, including robotics or jeopardy-like games where students practice answering questions from Regents or other exams.

Community and Service Learning
The service-learning class enables students to explore the community, develop a project, and reflect on lessons learned through the interconnectedness of these experiences.

Teacher Assistant Opportunities
Teacher assistant internships are offered to returning seniors to develop leadership and professional soft skills for future careers.

Standardized Exam Preparation
The Princeton Review offers SAT prep courses for returning juniors to meet college admissions requirements.

College Tours
College trips around New York (and sometimes out-of-state) and college fairs introduce students to different educational options, helping them get a better sense of which school they want to attend.College and Workforce

Preparation
Workshops on topics such as financial aid, resume writing, presentation skills, social media, and branding give students the knowledge they need for college and workforce transitions.

Research
A summer and Saturday research class gives students a chance to develop their own projects and build skills that colleges value. Some students will have the opportunity to present their research at conferences.

Mentoring and Tutoring
Networking with Hofstra college students offers a personal and close-up view of college life through activities like tutoring, mentoring classes, and special events.

Students enrolled in the Saturday Scholars’ Academy can access these resources.

The Transition to High School Program is a year-long preparatory initiative that helps rising 9th graders through mentoring, tutoring, classroom instruction, and strategies that promote academic achievement. Rising 9th graders are matched with Hofstra University college student mentors for the entire year, beginning in the summer.  

Beginning the summer before high school, the program offers academic classes, success workshops, mentoring activities, and community and team-building exercises. It is usually scheduled Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., for one week starting the first full week of August. The program continues during the Saturday Scholars Academy, where students are now in 9th grade. College student mentoring includes practices designed to develop competence, build confidence, create connections, and extend care.

Apply for the Transition to High School Program

Enrollment is limited to 20 students. Applications become available in May or June, and program acceptance occurs by July. To apply, students must be enrolled in Hofstra LPP or Hofstra STEP. Priority is given to returning students.

For more registration details, call 516-463-5794 and provide your name, phone number, email, mailing address, and your child's school name.

In addition to participating in Saturday Scholar Academy programming, senior program participants can also enroll in the transition to college seminar and apply for a teacher assistant internship. Both opportunities offer additional experience in preparation for college.

Transition to College Program

The Transition to College Program kicks off with a College Admissions Bootcamp during the first week of August. A series of daily workshops is organized to help students and their families navigate the college application process and financial aid procedures. Along with the workshops, daily independent work sessions provide time for 11th and 12th-graders to receive help with specific application tasks.

During the school year, workshops are organized to help students prepare for a successful first year of college. These workshops are led by Hofstra University staff, community organizations, college students, and CEAS personnel. Topics include time management, college study strategies, financial literacy, FAFSA 101, and self-care.

Students can choose to attend all or some of the workshops based on their needs. Registration for the College Admissions Bootcamp takes place in May or June, while registration for the Transition to College workshops series occurs in September.

Teacher Assistant Internship

Students who enrolled and participated in Saturday Scholars Academy before grade 12 are invited to apply for a Teacher Assistant (TA) Internship. Teacher Assistants are assigned to specific Saturday Scholar Academy classes. Responsibilities include assisting teachers with lesson planning, implementation, attendance, and student support. The training, which focuses on soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and networking, is required for all Teacher Assistants and is hosted by CEAS staff.

Applications will be available in July or August and must be submitted before the end of September. All applicants are required to interview. Seniors chosen as TAs will be contacted before the start of the Saturday Scholars Academy classes.