GEAR UP

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs encourages young people to have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take the right courses to go to college.

About GEAR UP

The mission of the GEAR UP initiative is to accelerate the academic achievement of middle and secondary school students in the Alleghany, Avery, Burke Counties in North Carolina, so that increasing numbers will graduate from high school and enroll and succeed in college.

The objectives of GEAR UP are to:

• Ensure that all students have access to rigorous courses that prepare them for college.
• Provide early information about college options, required courses, and financial aid.
• Increase the participation and success of students in "gateway" courses such as Algebra.
• Provide information to families about the costs of college and the availability of student financial assistance.
• Be a catalyst for school reform especially at the middle school grades.
• Provide support for parents in preparing their students for college
• Develop intensive tutoring, mentoring, and counseling programs that meet students' needs.
• Build capacity for continuous school improvement through funding and assistance for staff training and professional development.