Long Beach School District's Summer School Programs Set Precedent For Success

The Long Beach School District’s summer school program provides students in grades 6-12 with the chance to learn, gain credits towards graduation and to receive effective intervention and enrichment opportunities.

The program offers students the opportunity to prepare for Regents exams and obtain class credit while simultaneously providing structure and personal attention to help students develop positive academic habits. The small-group setting allows students and staff to connect on a more personal level and teachers and administrators to maintain frequent contact with parents.

“Over the past few years, Long Beach summer school has strived to re-envision summer school as a place to improve student learning well beyond the six-week program,” said summer school principal Dr. Andrew Smith. “We try to help students change their behaviors to become more interested, invested and involved in school to help them succeed in fulfilling the ultimate goal of earning a Regents diploma.”

The middle school summer school program offers students support in English language arts, math, science and social studies, while a new ESL immersion course for non-native English speakers helps students achieve greater fluency and comprehension and builds a foundation for success in other areas.

Through the summer school program, the high school has increased its graduation rate from 91 percent in 2011 to 97 percent in 2014.