Our Program

Project EXCITE is a six-year program that provides an array of supports and services to minority students including: enrichment classes held after-school, on weekends, and during the summer; tutoring; practice on and preparation for important “gateway” exams for math and high school placement; and educational guidance and counseling. Students receive support until they begin high school, at which point they enter existing programs for minority students that are run by ETHS (e.g. Steps toward Academic Excellence (STAE), Advancement by Individual Determination (AVID).

Project EXCITE Model
Problem:	Underrepresentation of minority students in honors and AP® courses at Evanston Township High School (ETHS)
Solution:	Project EXCITE, an academic collaboration between Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development and School District 65, is designed to nurture gifted minority students’ skills and interest in math and science from grade 3 through grade 8, preparing them for advanced study and success upon entrance to high school.
Program Premises:	Underrepresentation of African American and Latino students in honors and AP math and science courses is preventable through early intervention. Intervention must occur early and must be sustainable through entrance into high school. Programs and activities must be developed in collaboration with partnering institutions and communities. Parents must be engaged and supportive.
Goals:	Prior to students entering grade 9, Project EXCITE will: nurture students toward and through completion of Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 and Geometry; expose students to significant laboratory science experience; and  create a vibrant learning community for the bright minority student, encouraging students to bond with and support one another as they begin to take honors and advanced placement high school courses.
Strategies:	Identify participants early -- in grade 3 -- to maximize program impact. Nurture skills and interest in math, science and reading through a six-year series of challenging and engaging enrichment courses offered after-school, on Saturdays and in the summer. Support students and their families throughout the program with family meetings, one-on-one student feedback, weekly tutoring sessions and access to additional academic and extracurricular resources.