OUR PROGRAMS
Elementary School
Student success begins with deeply integrated partnerships with schools. In elementary school, Teacher/Mentors collaborate with school staff to enhance outcomes for students in grades 3-5. After school, Elevate partners with SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community Schools to deliver comprehensive services including educational enrichment, recreational, social and health services.
Middle School
High School
In high school, Elevate Teacher/Mentors serve as a consistent resource for personal and academic support. They ensure that our students are locked in academically and that they have access to a variety of career learning experiences. Each young person is positioned to build towards their own post-secondary success.
What does Elevate do?
We currently partner with school districts in Oregon and Washington, including Parkrose, David Douglas, Reynolds, and Vancouver. These districts are rich in talent, culture, and community strength.
Our program opportunities begin in 3rd grade and continue through high school graduation. Kids develop trust over time and from long-term support. We partner with schools that serve diverse youth with the capacity to thrive beyond economic and systemic barriers—and with districts that seek Elevate’s collaborative approach to student success.
Once Elevate Youth is available at a school, kids join by referral—from a teacher, counselor, friend, or even by referring themselves.
School leaders and classroom teachers value Elevate Youth as a culturally-responsive, relationship-driven program led by B.I.P.O.C. Teacher/Mentors who reflect the identities and lived experiences of the kids they serve.
Elevate provides a home base through our elective classes, available to both middle and high school students, where kids connect with peers and engage in a curriculum focused on skill-building and future-mindedness. Our dedicated Teacher/Mentors are on campuses all day, every day. They greet kids in the morning, check in during lunch, and connect in hallways—offering a consistent presence that builds trust and reliability.
It’s such an asset to have Elevate Teacher/Mentors in our classrooms. Their service is invaluable. Teachers feel supported, students are appropriately guided, and the educational results of improved grades and increased attendance are vital!
- Teacher, David Douglas School District
We empower kids to set and achieve their own goals. Central to our approach are the 13 Character Qualities we teach across all programs, supported by an age-appropriate curriculum aligned with school district goals. Youth build real-life skills through experiential learning, group activities, and meaningful discussions that bring these qualities to life.
- Kesha Roper, Elevate Youth Chief of Staff
13 Character Qualities and Life Skills
In addition to core subject help, Teacher-Mentors guide students through a curriculum rooted in 13 Character Qualities and Life Skills (below). Developed by an esteemed educator and aligned with district benchmarks, grade-specific lessons integrate meaningful values. These are a cornerstone of Elevate’s classroom teaching and learning. We ensure our kids grow both academically and personally, while they thoughtfully reflect on who they are and who they want to become.
- Vision
- Courage
- Respect
- Caring
- Responsibility
- Positive Work Ethic
- Integrity
- Career-Mindedness
- Communication
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
- Decision-Making
- Goal-Setting
My Teacher/Mentor helps me see me, and the value of me, and value of the future me.
- Elevate Youth Middle School Student
- In 2025, 100% of Elevate Youth’s students graduated from high school
A Closer Look At Our Programs
Through in-school electives and supportive relationships, we empower students to set and achieve goals. Afterschool & summer programs provide homework help, free school supplies, enrichment trips, family and community socials, and skill-building—blending academic growth with fun and fulfillment.
Ninth Grade Counts
This transitional summer-support program is for incoming 9th graders. It helps students elevate grades with confidence during a vulnerable precipice. They get ready for high school with STEAM programming, fun outings, career development, and skill-building activities.
Dream Reachers/Boys2Men
Dream Reachers focuses on empowering girls, while Boys2Men supports boys. Both programs help youth strengthen self-worth and develop leadership skills. Teacher/Mentors coordinate volunteers to provide tutoring in math, science, history, and English. Students also gain career exposure through workshops, volunteering, field trips, guest speakers, and college tours—transforming classroom learning into real-world experience.
Little Lift
We use integrated learning with our Little Lift after-school program, where Elevate high school leaders pair with elementary school kids for peer-to-peer mentoring. These sessions include activities to inspire the 13 Character Qualities.
No matter the season or school day, kids have a place where they belong. Elevate offers year-round programs that fuel education goals, expand life opportunities, and build futures. These include spring and summer camps, career days, college tours, field trips, community service projects, and sporting events. We believe that the more kids experience the world around them, the bigger and brighter their own worlds become.
5th to 6th Transition
We extend support beyond students to include families because when families thrive, kids do too. We involve immediate and extended family members through events that create connection, celebration, and care. From Black family socials, to free back-to-school supplies and clothing, families feel supported and informed. We also help families stay up to date on their child’s progress and offer emotional support when needed.
Community Events
Elevate Youth actively engages with broader communities of the schools we serve. These include social events where our kids, their families, and the community at large are welcomed to make connections.
