Two Decades of Success: North Carolina State University's NC-MSEN Pre-College Program

Abstract

For almost twenty-five years, North Carolina State University has helped to coordinate a state-wide Mathematics and Science Education Network Pre-College Program that serves disadvantaged youth in grades six through twelve. The university-school partnership includes middle school and high school academic enrichment in math, science, and communication through Saturday and summer academies that focus on STEM activities, an annual math/science statewide competition, and an annual awards program. The long-term results of the program are impressive: 99 percent of participating students go on to attend college, students maintain higher grade point averages and SAT scores than their peers, and two-thirds of the participants major in STEM or education in college.