In 2005, Access Academies was created to help underserved middle school students find success in high school and beyond. In its first year, the nonprofit served 15 eighth graders. Twenty years later, it now provides support for 390 youth annually, and the organization’s services have benefited 1,437 students in its lifetime. Access Academies’ impact only continues to grow. “In 2006, 87% of our students were accepted into private high schools, now that figure is 98%,” executive director Shelly Williams says. “We’ve seen similar success with acceptance to college and other post-secondary programs. Through our efforts, more students are experiencing equitable access to academic spaces.”
Working with the middle schools, Access Academies provides enrichment through extended school days and summer sessions that help students develop academically while building character and leadership skills. Williams notes that this transitional time is especially important for students, making the support the nonprofit offers even more crucial to help them find success. “Middle school is a critical time for students’ development—they are taking on more responsibility, looking for independence and learning how to advocate for themselves,” she says. “Academically, things are starting to get more rigorous as well. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, and underserved students especially may not be aware of all of their options for high school.”
Along with enrichment focused on high school and post-secondary preparation, Access Academies also supports students through financial assistance and counseling. The nonprofit has provided more than $9.7 million in tuition to 26 partner schools across the region. It also helps students with costs related to ACT testing, applications and college visits. Counseling starts when students are in eighth grade, and Access staff works with them through their secondary and post-secondary academic journey, a more than nine-year partnership. “We provide students three pillars of support, and it takes all three working together cohesively to get results,” Williams notes. “You can have the brightest students but if they don’t have financial resources, personal support and knowledge of their options, they don’t have the same academic opportunities.”
On April 3, Access Academies will hold a 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Saint Louis Science Center. The evening will give guests the opportunity to explore the center through hands-on activities and fun experiments while also learning about the success and achievements of Access students. The event is critical to making the nonprofit’s programming possible. “The anniversary celebration allows us to bring crucial resources into underserved communities,” Williams explains. “Unlike grant funding, the money raised is unrestricted. That flexibility means we can use it where it’s most needed, whether that’s scholarships, programming or other support.”
As Access Academies enters its third decade, its commitment to cultivating success for local students remains strong. “While the anniversary is a time of reflection, we also are setting the stage for moving forward,” Williams says. “Access Academies was founded to provide historically underserved students a more enduring path to stability through education. In the next 20 years, we’re looking forward to continuing to create economic mobility for local youth while elevating the St. Louis community.”
Access Academies partners with underserved middle schools to prepare students for success in high school and beyond through enrichment, counseling and scholarships. Its 20th Anniversary Celebration Event is April 3 at the Saint Louis Science Center. Pictured on the cover: Executive director Shelly Williams and chair Tom Wheeland with Access Academies students. For more information, call 314.898.0430 or visit accessacademies.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at top: Shelly Williams with Access Academies students from Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School
Photo: Tim Parker Photography
