Mentorship Programs

The Academy welcomes rising sixth- through ninth-graders to Taft’s campus for four weeks each summer. The program is designed to both close the summer learning gap for local students, and to prepare participants for the rigors of the SSAT. Many Academy graduates have gone on to enroll at Taft and at other independent schools.

In addition to academic enrichment and SSAT prep in math and English, Academy participants choose from a variety of course electives that may include things like astronomy, public speaking, computer science, or “The Game of Life,” where they learn to build budgets, pay bills, and manage real-world decision-making.

As many of the Academy instructors are current and former Taft students, the program also supports our commitment to developing the next generation of mentor-leaders. Academy instructors create, update, and implement the curriculum each year; returning instructors mentor the first-year teaching assistants.

According to the National Mentoring Partnership, there are currently 18 million children in the United States who want and need a mentor, but only three million have one. Taft’s student athletes are doing their part to fill this gap locally through mentoring programs built on sports clinics and a powerful partnership with the Police Activity League (PAL).

Taft teams have collected toys for local hospitals, hosted skill development clinics on campus and at area schools, and worked with Special Olympians. Area youth have come to Taft to explore golf, ice-skating, squash, rock climbing, volleyball, basketball and more. Through our Service through Sports program, Taft teams have baked cookies and raised funds for local charities that support children and families; they have opened doors, built friendships, and filled an important need in the community.