AACE Upward Bound

Asian America Communities for Education Upward Bound

Upward Bound is a federal pre-college TRIO Program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The AACE Upward Bound program at JCYC was established in 1995 to provide comprehensive college and career preparation for high school students in San Francisco. The program targets low- income high school students who represent the first generation of college bound students in their respective families.

The year-round program, Upward Bound serves 65 eligible students each year through an offering of academic year services and an intensive, five-week summer program at San Francisco State. A unique aspect of the Upward Bound program design is that students are recruited during their freshman and sophomore years and continue participation in the program throughout their high school experience until graduation. Upon their graduation from high school, Upward Bound alum are tracked and monitored by staff to ensure retention and successful completion of their postsecondary program of study.

Participants of Upward Bound receive the following services:

Saturday College sessions during the academic year, which are provided on a college campus and focus on critical thinking and creating professional development, SAT math training, as well as youth leadership development and community service learning;

Academic and Career advising, which includes assistance in high school course selection for college admission eligibility, financial aid assistance, college application assistance, SAT and ACT test prep, fee waivers, college campus field trips, and exposure to social/cultural activities;

In its initial ten years of implementation, JCYC's Upward Bound program has produced well over a 90% success rate of college acceptance and completion amongst participating students.

For more information, please contact:
Zebunissa Bradley at 415-202-7900 or zbradley@jcyc.org.
Or visit www.aaceupwardbound.org