Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Summer on the Hill (SOH)?
- How are students chosen for SOH?
- Can my child apply to SOH if he/she is not nominated by our public school?
- What are SOH’s financial criteria for admission?
- What is the Grade 3-8 Program?
- What is the High School Program?
- Where do SOH students go to high school and college?
- Where is SOH?
- What is SOH’s schedule?
- Is SOH a camp? How did it get its name?
- What does SOH cost?
- Is there homework?
- How can families help their children who are in the program?
- How do SOH students feel about the program?
- How can I help SOH?
1. What is Summer on the Hill (SOH)?
Teaching math at SOH
Summer on the Hill (SOH) is a 501(c)3, year-round, supplemental educational enrichment program that offers intellectual challenges and guidance to promising, disadvantaged public school students in the Bronx, Washington Heights, and Harlem.
SOH is a unique program that serves students from the end of second grade through high school – for as long as ten years – through its core program, the Grade 3-8 Program, and its High School Programs. Thanks to the support of many generous donors, between 1994 and 2010, SOH provided 750 public school students with stimulating academic classes, opportunities in the arts and sports, and guidance on school and college choices.
2. How are students chosen for SOH?
8th graders in science class
SOH recruits students by sending information packets to all public elementary schools in the Bronx and Manhattan above 96th Street and requesting nominations of promising 2nd and 5th graders. After students are nominated, families complete SOH’s admission application and submit a financial statement. SOH seeks to enroll students whose academic record indicates promise, but whose family’s limited resources prevents them from taking advantage of the many educational opportunities available in New York.
Applicants are invited to SOH’s site on two occasions: to take a standardized test and to participate in a mock class. SOH staff then selects for interviews those 2nd graders (and their parents) who are most enthusiastic about participating, seem most compatible with SOH, and demonstrate the greatest need. SOH does not currently interview 5th grade applicants. Admissions decisions are made in May/June. New students begin their participation in SOH’s summer program.
3. Can my child apply to SOH if he/she is not nominated by our
No, children must be nominated to SOH by their public school.
4. What are SOH’s financial criteria for admission?
Our mission is to work with promising students from underserved areas whose families’ limited resources prevents them from taking advantage of the many educational opportunities available in New York City. All families must submit a financial statement with their child’s application.
5. What is the Grade 3-8 Program?
SOH 3rd grader
The Grade 3-8 program, the core of SOH, is a six-year commitment for accepted students and families. It is a structured program of accelerated classes in language arts, math, and science, instruction in the arts and sports, and individual guidance on school choices. Students attend their public schools while participating in the Grade 3-8 summer and academic year Saturday programs. SOH classes are taught by teachers from local parochial, public, and independent schools who are committed to the mission of the program.
6. What is the High School Program?
The High School Program is open only to alumni of the Grade 3-8 program who may be enrolled in public or private schools. During the academic year, the High School Program holds classes and events to prepare students for high school and college work. These include SAT and academic review classes, writing workshops, college counseling, and college trips. During the summer, the High School Program offers mentor internships for 25 selected 10th – 12th graders.
SAT class
7. Where do SOH students go to high
SOH students have been accepted to such boarding, independent, parochial, and public schools as Bronx Science, Fordham Prep, the George School, Horace Mann, and many other top private and public high schools. Please see our School Placement page.
Since 2004, 162 SOH alumni have matriculated at over 90 private and public colleges and universities, including six Ivy League universities. and MIT Please visit our College Placement page for a complete list.
Twenty-one SOH alumni have graduated from college and are entering the fields of education, finance, law, medicine, and technology. SOH students hold degrees from:
- Boston College
- Colby College
- Columbia University
- CUNY Baruch College – Honors Program
- Duke University
- Kenyon College
- Loyola University
- Middlebury College
- North Carolina Central University
- Sarah Lawrence College
- SUNY Binghamton
- SUNY Cobleskill
- SUNY Stony Brook
- Temple University
- Union College
- University of Miami
- Vassar College
- Wesley College
- Yale University
SOH is housed on the campus of the Horace Mann School in the Bronx, close to the #1 Broadway train, the Major Deegan, and the Henry Hudson Parkway. SOH classes are held in the School’s modern classrooms, library, visual and performing arts rooms, gyms and fields.
5th grade math class
The Grade 3-8 program has a year-round schedule. Students and families planning to participate in SOH must make a commitment to the following schedule:
- five-week summer sessions for all rising 3rd-8th graders (8:30-4:30 in ’09 summer program),
- an academic year program held on 15 Saturdays for all 3rd-8th graders (8:30-2:15).
During the academic year, most High School Program classes are held on Saturdays. The mentor interns work for the entire five weeks of the Grade 3-8 summer program.
SOH high school students
10. Is SOH a camp? How did it get its
SOH is not a camp; it is a year-round academic enrichment program. SOH’s name stems from its initial implementation in 1994 as a summer enrichment program for 21 Bronx public school students, and from its location at the Horace Mann School on a hill above Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
SOH is free to all participants. We do, however, sometimes ask that high school students make a contribution when they attend special events such as a dance performance or a Broadway show. Parents of Grade 3-8 students who want busing for their child are asked to pay a modest fee.
Yes, there is homework.
13. How can families help their children who are in the program?
7th grade science class
Families should encourage their child to do SOH’s homework, and make sure that their child is ready to be picked up to go to SOH on Saturday mornings and in the summer.
14. How do SOH students feel about the program?
“SOH is like family” — SOH/Brooklyn Tech alumnus.
“Although you sometimes want to sleep late on Saturdays, SOH is the best place if you want to learn amazing things and have fun. I like everything about SOH, but I liked learning many new things most of all ” — SOH/De La Salle Academy alumna.
“Without SOH, I don’t know where I’d be”– SOH/Bronx Science alumnus.
“SOH changed me a lot. It made me smarter, and it is really fun. It is better than regular school, especially in the summer. I love everything about it – math, science, and language arts, performing arts, and sports. What I love most are the people and the teachers. They make you work hard to reach your goal. They make you shine…When I have to graduate I will never forget this program.” — 4th grader at Mott Hall Public School, Bronx.
SOH overnight at the John Dorr Nature Lab
SOH is certified by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization, and is an independent fiscal entity from the Horace Mann School. Contributions from individuals, private and corporate foundations, help us hire a superb faculty whose creativity and warmth promote our students’ growth. Your contributions are tax-deductible and gratefully accepted!
SOH would be happy to increase its list of referrals for student summer internships/jobs with information from your company. Please contact mail@summeronthehill.org with news about job openings/internships for high school students.