High School Prep

“The best part about participating in Buffalo Prep is meeting new people and having a valuable education that has and will forever take me through life.”

High School Prep (HSP) is an intensive, 14-month program that prepares scholars for acceptance and success at top independent, Catholic, charter, and criteria-based public high schools and higher education. This nationally recognized, culturally relevant program takes place at the University at Buffalo South Campus the summers before and after 8th-grade, and two nights per week and on Saturdays during the 8th-grade academic year.

2021 (35 scholars)

2022 (37 scholars)

2023 (45 scholars)

High School Prep consists of two classes of scholars that overlap during the summers.

35% male 65% female HSP Class of 2022 had an 80% retention rate

Science

Students attended 40 different schools

Approximately 50% of the Class of 2023 participated in MSP

Mathematics

Six different languages were spoken in students’ homes

Rising 8th-graders studied climate change and how it affects different races and socioeconomic groups. Rising 9th-graders investigated power, energy, and circuits.

Scholars explored the origins of geometry and learned some foundational concepts of geometry, including Euclid’s Five Axioms.

Scholars participated in a course called “Racism X” in which they chose a song and conducted a technical and critical analysis of the lyrics. They created their own poetry and paintings based on their selected song.

English Language Arts

Scholars explored connections between historical circumstances and current events. In addition, scholars brainstormed how to maintain or restore its significance in a cultural and educational system that devalues these expressions.

Social Studies

An interview with Rafiath, a scholar in the High School Prep Class of 2023

How did you get connected with Buffalo Prep?

A letter came in the mail in an envelope that said Buffalo Prep, and my mom was interested. My 6th grade teacher encouraged me to do it because a lot of her scholars did Buffalo Prep.

What made you join?

Seeing that I could get a scholarship made me want to do it, and I had nothing to do in the summer.

What is your view of Buffalo Prep? What is it to you?

It’s a second family because you’re with kids your age and can be with them during the summer and during the school year, and it helps you with academics too.

How has Buffalo Prep helped you?

Buffalo Prep has helped me socialize. Middle School Prep helped me talk more and be myself more around people, and I didn’t have to hide myself from others.

We believe that our scholars have superpowerswhat do you consider your real-life superpower, and why?

Being able to do math easily. Before I had a lot of trouble with math, and after I got extra help, I became better at math and am now in an advanced math class.

Why do you continue to be a part of Buffalo Prep?

Because it’s a good community to be in and it’s better to socialize outside of school. I want the opportunity to receive a scholarship for high school and teachers understand their scholars better here.

What would you say to a scholar who is thinking about joining Buffalo Prep? They should join, but getting through the work MSP and HSP can get difficult. All that effort results in making new friends, learning how to socialize, and having an opportunity to get a scholarship!

89%

89% of scholars felt that their teachers at Prep really cared about them

80%

80% would recommend Buffalo Prep to other scholars

86%

86% felt Prep helped them feel more confident in their abilities as a scholar