What if studying for the ACT could feel like a job—and even pay like one? Thanks to a unique partnership between Urban League and KIPP Nashville, 26 students are going to their “after school job” taking a Princeton Review course online.
Funded through the Tennessee Youth Employment Program and administered by the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, this initiative makes top-tier test prep more accessible for KIPP students while treating their academic success like the investment it truly is.
KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School senior, Haydar, says, “The class is helping me have dedicated time for studying, and it’s helping me figure out the right strategies for taking the test.”
Haydar, like many of his peers in class, has already taken the ACT multiple times, and relied on doing his own research online to find tutorial videos about how to improve his score.
Angie says, “The first time I took the ACT I looked up online tips for taking the test. I went through a four-hour video of them taking the test, and all the strategies they did. I tried to do it, but I realized everything I was doing was so disorganized.”
The stakes are high: an ACT score of 21 unlocks state financial aid, and a 25+ opens even more doors to scholarships and competitive college opportunities. Students who participate in the intensive prep program have a real chance to raise their scores. Last year, KIPP students who took the same course (unpaid and on their own time) saw their scores jump an impressive 3-5 points on average.
Chioma, who is interested in attending Alabama A&M to become a mechanical engineer, says if it weren’t for the class, she probably wouldn’t have the time to study on her own.
“I’m glad we have a teacher who helps specifically with the ACT,” says Chioma, “And I get to be around my friends and ask them questions, too.”
Ms. Guydon is the Dean of College and Career Counseling at Collegiate, and says ACT scores are a critical part of the college admissions and financial aid process.
“The higher a student’s score, the more scholarship opportunities they’re eligible for. Most private scholarships have a minimum GPA and ACT score. It’s specifically make or break for HBCUs, because they have the lowest percentage of scholarship and institutional funding, so most students have to have private scholarships if they want to attend without paying out of pocket or using student loans.”
The prep course, which lasted five weeks, meets right after school making it convenient for students to take the class together on campus as opposed to doing it on their own time.
Through the grant funding, four additional Collegiate students were also hired as paid interns at the high school, giving them a chance to get real-world experience assisting with administrative and operational tasks required to run a school.
The Urban League of Middle Tennessee says the grant initiatives have been so successful, their organization has been able to work with about 500 young people across nine counties, ensuring students have access to work experiences and can explore different career opportunities.
Haydar, Angie and Chioma all agree that the class and experience is worth it, even if they raise their scores by one additional point.
