Campus Life

Partnership for Success

Partnership for Success!

Founded in 1990, Partnership for Success! is a partnership between the Pasadena Unified School District and four local independent schools (Chandler, Mayfield Junior, Polytechnic, and Westridge). Each summer, the Partnership! provides an intensive five-week enrichment program to approximately 400 public-school students who are chosen by their school principals based on their academic promise and financial need. Once students are nominated in their fourth grade year, they remain in the program for eight consecutive summers. This long-term commitment between the Partnership! and its students is essential to the program’s success. During their time in Partnership for Success!, students build their skills in math, science, and language arts. Virtually all graduates of the Partnership! go on to attend college, most at four-year universities. In order to provide this program at no cost to the students, funds are raised from corporations and foundations through the development departments of each of the four independent schools.

Polytechnic School hosts Partnership for Success! students in grades 8-12. During their five summers at Poly, students take a variety of academic classes to help boost their math and verbal skills, with an eye on college preparation. Classes are small (averaging 15 students), and teachers are joined in the classroom by college-age interns, most of whom are themselves graduates of the Partnership!. Throughout their time at Poly, students are exposed to a variety of community leaders and experts, and thereby learn about different career opportunities. Students also have the chance to visit several local colleges and to hear from Partnership! graduates about their path to college and their experiences once they are there. On top of the academic enrichment courses, students at Poly take classes in art, athletics, and cultural understanding.