A Scholarship
to attend one of our partner private college-preparatory high schools across the city.
Students
Unlock your potential with SSP!
Access to quality education is an essential ingredient to breaking the cycle of poverty. But New York City students are often limited by their zoned public schools which don’t offer the attention and guidance academically average and vulnerable youth need to ensure success. Disparities in New York City high school graduation rates by neighborhood far exceed those by race, ethnicity, and gender.
That means students with the potential to succeed do not usually get the education and support they need to accomplish their dreams. The consequences of dropping out are severe for students and their communities. There is a strong correlation to crime and poverty among high school dropouts, causing strain on government resources and social services. That’s where Student Sponsor Partners comes in.
The SSP Student Journey
ENTERING 8TH GRADE
Complete your application to become an SSP Scholar. The application for 8th graders opens in August of each year, and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis through December 31.
FALL OF 8TH GRADE
Learn more about being an SSP Scholar by attending one of various high school fairs and partner school open houses. To learn more about available opportunities, click here or contact Director of Admission Laura Campusano at lcampusano@sspnyc.org.
FALL TO SPRING OF 8TH GRADE
SSP will notify students if they have been selected as an SSP scholar. Once accepted, SSP will then coordinate between you and your high school to address fees and enrollment.
SUMMER BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL
Once admitted, SSP students must attend a one-day Orientation and Summer Readiness at your respective school. In August of that year, incoming SSP students and a parent or guardian must attend one of several SSP orientations, where you will meet your SSP Engagement Manager and learn about the programs and supports SSP will provide during the next four years of your high school journey.
FALL OF FRESHMAN YEAR
You will be paired with a mentor who will stay with you throughout your four years of high school. You will meet your mentor at an orientation (either virtual or in-person), where you will learn about the mentorship process and be introduced to iMentor, our mentorship portal. Over the next four years, you will be in regular contact, and SSP will host regular events for SSP mentors and mentees.
FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORE YEAR
Your SSP Engagement Manager will come to your school and meet with you on a regular basis to ensure a smooth transition into high school, make sure you are aware of opportunities available to you, and support you in your academic success. You will be invited to occasional events, as well as in-person and virtual opportunities to explore careers and interests.
JUNIOR YEAR
In your junior year, we'll really start supporting you as you envision your future. Through our College & Career Planning programs, we offer you SAT prep courses, college campus tours, college essay workshops, and financial aid workshops, as well career exploration events, webinars, and site visits.
SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR
SSP students with a cumulative grade point average of 88% or higher are invited to submit an initial application for our Peter M. Flanigan Scholarship. Semi-finalists are invited to continue and receive recommendations. A select group of finalists are then invited for in-person interviews with a selection committee, and several are awarded the Scholarship, which provides up to $10,000 in additional funding for four years of college.
SENIOR YEAR
In coordination with your school guidance counselor, our SSP College & Career Coordinator will track your college decision process and ensure you are aware of opportunities for financial aid.
AFTER GRADUATION
After you graduate, you will always be part of the SSP community! Many of our graduates maintain lifelong relationships with their mentors, and we hope you'll come back and mentor a student yourself as you pursue successful careers. SSP loves to hear from alumni, share your successes, and have you join our programs in varying capacities! Of course, signing up for newsletter and following us on social media helps you stay in the know about how SSP is continuing to impact subsequent generations.
SSP Program Offerings
A Mentor
dedicated to providing guidance and support. These relationships often last far beyond four years.
A Community
committed to each students success, including SSP staff, alumni, volunteers, and partners.
Academic Support
to make sure each student is on track to succeed in school and set foundations for the future.
College & Career
prep programs that help students envision future academic and professional opportunities.
Partner Schools
Partner schools are academically challenging and nurturing environments that enable our students to reach their full potential through small class sizes, individualized attention, and support from school coordinators and our staff.
Prospective students and their parents or guardians should study the partner schools when applying for our programs. If you want to learn more about any of our partner schools, please contact the school to set up a tour or a “shadow day.”
Bronx
Queens
Staten Island
FAQs
WHERE DO STUDENTS ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL?
Our students can select to attend one of 22 quality, private high schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island. Student Sponsor Partners does not offer financial assistance to students attending schools outside its list of partner schools.
IS STUDENT SPONSOR PARTNERS A CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION?
No. Each of our partner schools has a long history of successfully educating youth in a nurturing school environment. Although most of them are Catholic schools, Student Sponsor Partners is not a religious organization, and students are not asked about their religious affiliations. Our partner schools provide a quality education at the most affordable cost.
WHAT ARE THE FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS OF FAMILIES?
Student Sponsor Partners sponsors cover the majority of student tuition. Students’ families are expected to contribute a portion of tuition per year. In addition, families may be required to pay school fees including registration, books, and uniforms. Families are encouraged to set up monthly payment plans with the schools to make these costs more manageable over the course of the school year.
WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DUE?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Due to limited seats available each year, we encourage you to apply as early as possible.
DO I NEED TO TAKE THE TACHS EXAM?
No. But students who apply to Student Sponsor Partners are strongly encouraged to take the TACHS Exam. To register for the TACHS Exam, please visit tachsinfo.com. Students accepted to a partner high school through the TACHS Exam are not guaranteed placement in our programs. If a student does not take the TACHS Exam and is accepted into Student Sponsor Partners, their prospective high school will administer a comparable exam at a later date.
I REALLY WANT TO ATTEND A PARTICULAR PARTNER SCHOOL. IF I AM ACCEPTED, CAN I GO TO WHICHEVER SCHOOL I WANT?
Applicants are given the opportunity to list their top three schools in order of preference on their application. Students are not guaranteed acceptance into their first choice partner school.
SHOULD I PAY THE SCHOOL'S REGISTRATION FEE IF I HAVE NOT YET BEEN ACCEPTED TO STUDENT SPONSOR PARTNERS?
No. Students who have not yet received a decision on their acceptance to Student Sponsor Partners should not register with a partner school unless they are prepared to pay full tuition at that school. Please note that most high school registration fees are non-refundable. Partner schools’ published registration deadlines can be disregarded by our applicants; registration dates for our students are different from those for schools’ general populations. If you have any questions on this matter, please call 212-986-9575 for assistance.
I HAVE APPLIED TO STUDENT SPONSOR PARTNERS. WHEN AND HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED WHETHER I WAS ACCEPTED?
Once an eighth grade student applies, Student Sponsor Partners determines whether the student is eligible for its programs according to the financial and academic guidelines. If the student meets the requirements, we will follow up with next steps. Notification of final decisions will come via email.
ARE STUDENTS OBLIGATED TO PARTICIPATE OVER THE SUMMER?
Yes. All new students must attend a one-day Orientation and the Summer Readiness Course at their respective schools during the summer before their ninth grade year. If students fail to attend our Orientation or the Summer Readiness Course, their scholarship will be in jeopardy.
During the summers following ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade, students who are failing classes or who have failed Regents Exams may be required to attend summer school in order to move to the next grade (or graduate). Students’ families are expected to cover any costs associated with summer school.
Success Stories
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