GEAR UP PROMISE funds college- and career-readiness opportunities for its students, parents, and teachers to ensure all members of the Classes of 2024/2025 meet the profile of a GISH graduate. 

Year 1 established the framework for the Gear Up Promise project here at Grand Island Public Schools for middle school students in the Class of 2024 and class of 2025. In the 2019-2020 school year, year 2 of this cohort, Walnut and Barr Middle School 7th and 8th grade students, their parents/families, and their teachers began participating in the program. Gear Up provides summer learning opportunities for science enrichment, immigrant education, and algebra Summer Bridge to assist students in the cohort to prepare for 8th or 9th grade. Additionally, motivational speakers from community partners, Coolspeak, and Paradigm Shift helped students stay encouraged to be and do their best. 

In Year 3, the Class of 2024 transitions to Grand Island Senior High. These rising 9th graders attend Transition Camp and receive supplies to kick off their high school experience. Teachers at Walnut and Barr Middle School and the Freshman Exploration Academy at Grand Island Senior High receive professional development. Canvas learning platform is utilized to create a common course system for student success and to mimic how Nebraska colleges and universities provide instruction. Year 3 marks a great year of transition into high school life and Gear Up hopes to set students up for success.

Years 4 – 6 will follow the Class of 2024 and 2025 through their high school experience. Gear Up will focus on direct academic support to prepare students to perform at higher levels on the ACT, take dual credit or AP classes to begin acquiring college credits prior to high school graduation, conduct workshops on college admissions, financial literacy, and career-readiness skills.

In Year 7, our first students in this cohort will be entering college. Check back later to see profiles of students attending their college of choice.