Young Scholars (K-12)
The Young Scholars Model identifies and nurtures advanced academic potential in students from historically underrepresented populations.
What is the Young Scholars Model?
Young Scholars is:
- Designed to identify and nurture students with high academic potential who may face additional barriers to access and success in Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) and courses. This may include students who will be the first in their family to attend college in the U.S., multilingual learners, students who are economically disadvantaged, and students who are twice exceptional.
- A strategy to increase access to rigor, which is found in:
- The FCPS strategic plan.
- The Closing the Achievement Gap framework.
- In addition to, not a replacement of, advanced learning opportunities from the FCPS AAP continuum of services.
Why Young Scholars?
Young Scholars is a K-12 model:
- Designed to remove access and opportunity gaps
- For students historically underserved in advanced academic programming.
- That supports students through challenging coursework with a variety of strategies in elementary, middle, and high school.
How does Young Scholars work?
Because Young Scholars (YS) is a model rather than a prescribed program, schools meet the goals in different ways. Some examples of YS in action may include:
- Increased frequency and intensity of advanced academic curriculum and strategies.
- School-based extracurricular enrichment opportunities.
- Young Scholars Advisory Time (middle and high school students) activities like goal setting, study skills, career explorations
- Extracurricular enrichment experiences in Young Scholars Summer Learning (for elementary and middle school students).
- Young Scholars Summer Institutes (high school students at select high school sites).
- Ongoing family partnerships.
- Engagement with a mentor.
- Academic advising at transitions from elementary to middle to high school.
- Progress reflection and goal-setting conferences.
- Continued college and career readiness/counseling opportunities.
School staff at all levels work with students and families to make sure students have:
- Continued support for access.
- Success in advanced coursework.
How are Young Scholars identified?
A local school committee will meet and identify students for Young Scholars. Elementary school students are also identified for AAP services at that time. Secondary students may also be identified for a Young Scholar designation. These students are enrolled in advanced courses.
School Contacts
For questions about Young Scholars, please contact:
Elementary School
- Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs)
- Teachers
- School Administrators
- Counselors
Middle and High School:
- Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs)
- Teachers
- Director of Student Services
- Counselors
Young Scholar Schools
School staff at all levels work with students and families to make sure students are supported through challenging coursework with a variety of strategies.
