Our Mission and Philosophy

Summer on the Hill is a year-round educational program dedicated to nurturing academically talented students whose socio-economic status prevents them from taking advantage of New York City’s varied academic resources. As the only enrichment program in New York that recruits public school children beginning in the second grade and works with them through high school, Summer on the Hill provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for promising public school students in the Bronx and upper Manhattan.

Summer on the Hill’s mission is to enrich the education of academically talented, disadvantaged students, prepare them for admission to schools that will keep them on the path to college, and offer guidance to their parents.

Summer on the Hill enriches its students’ education with an intensive six-week summer session that reinforces material learned during the year and anticipates the coursework to come. During the school year, students attend an 18-week Saturday session that combines rigorous coursework with personalized attention that is not often available in the public schools. The summer and Saturday sessions are held at the Horace Mann School in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

Our Vision of Success

We seek the best education for our diverse students according to their interests and abilities. Summer on the Hill placement staff uses their extensive knowledge about metropolitan area schools, as well as their familiarity with students’ strengths and weaknesses, to advise students about an array of appropriate educational options.

Each year, several younger Summer on the Hill students are admitted to independent elementary or middle schools. However, most students remain in Summer on the Hill through the 8th grade, when they apply to selective independent, parochial, and/or specialized public high schools of their choosing.

Dedication to Every Child as an Individual

Since its inception in 1994, Summer on the Hill has expanded from a summer program for 21 students to a year-round enrichment program where 200 children receive close attention in small classes taught by independent and public school teachers. As we look to the future, Summer on the Hill is building on its dedication to developing every child’s unique gifts and needs. Our staff works with children individually at all levels of the program:

• The Director of Recruitment and Admissions supplements the information she derives from admissions exams by interviewing all prospective students and their parents.

• Children learn in different ways, at different rates. We meet with students and/or parents to help students in a particular subject that may be difficult for them. Our ultimate goal is to prepare students to be ready for high school. We provide information to students and offer them the skills to access information and use specific tools to meet their individual learning styles.
• Each year, the Director of Placement works intensively to help families choose the school best suited for their child. For parents who want to consider boarding schools, Summer on the Hill offers visits to some of the area’s top facilities.
• After students enroll in their new high school, the Director of Post Placement helps them maintain the competitive edge they gained through participation in Summer on the Hill. Students attend get-togethers in the City and at the Dorr campground, take part in community service projects as a team, and attend academic workshops that help them polish their presentation skills and prepare for the New York State Regents Exams and the SATs.

• The Post-Placement program also holds a summer internship program (see Mentoring) and college counseling. In 2005-2006, we plan to offer college visits and as a workshop on applying to college.