Young Scholars: June 29—August 2, 2024

Whether the goal is to test drive the boarding school experience or gain confidence for the upcoming school year, the Young Scholars program is designed for talented middle school students who intend to attend rigorous public and private secondary schools. Students can expect to build essential skills, improve time management, and increase their independence and self-confidence.

Young Scholars Course Offerings

The Program

Based on goals and personal interests, students will select two 100-level (major) and two 200-level (elective) courses from the Young Scholars offerings. Advanced math students may choose an appropriate course from the Liberal Studies course catalog.

Outside the classroom, students take full advantage of all the cultural, athletic, and recreational opportunities offered by Summer@Taft.

In the dorms, participants will be living on a floor with students of the same age and gender. Typically, everyone is assigned a roommate, but several single rooms are also available upon request. Applicants must be 12 years of age by June 1 of the program year.

Learn more about extracurriculars, athletic offerings, and residential life

Academic Counseling

If the goal includes attending a boarding school full time, we encourage students to meet with their advisor, senior teacher, and an admissions officer to help develop a strategy for successfully meeting the demands of a college preparatory curriculum. By taking advantage of these resources, students will gain a clearer sense of what will be expected of them and how to meet these expectations in an organized and systematic fashion.

Reports

At the conclusion of the summer session, parents will receive a description of the work covered in each course, a report on the student's progress, and a grade. The student's advisor will send a report on the student's overall record. If copies of reports are to be sent to anyone in addition to parents, the Summer@Taft office should be informed well in advance of the end of the session.

Daily Schedule

Classes begin after breakfast and continue through the early afternoon. Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, the students gather for Assembly to hear teachers address the community. Following afternoon sports, students are free to play games in the student union, walk to town or simply relax until dinner. Outdoor athletic facilities, the library, and art studios are also available for use during this time.

  Weekdays Saturdays
7:00—7:45 Breakfast Breakfast
8:00—9:30 First Period Rotating Schedule
9:30—10:00 Assembly or Break Free Time until Lunch
10:00—11:30 Second Period Rotating Schedule
11:30—12:15 Lunch Lunch
12:30—1:10 Third Period Trips & Activities
1:15—1:55 Fourth Period Trips & Activities
3:15—4:30 Athletics (Wed. 1:15—2:30) Trips & Activities
5:00—6:00 Dinner Dinner
6:00—7:30 Extracurricular/Free Time Extracurricular/Free Time
7:30—9:30 Supervised Study Hall Activities
10:15 Dorm Check-in Dorm Check-in
10:30 Lights Lights

Tuition and Fees