GEAR UP Districts

PA State GEAR UP provides services to three school districts within the eastern part of Pennsylvania: Allentown, Norristown, and Pottstown. Over the course of seven years, GEAR UP will serve between 2,027 and 2,845 students. To select these districts, GEAR UP hosted a Request for Proposal (RFP) process that invited eligible school districts from around the state to submit a proposal to be a part of our next GEAR UP grant.

Allentown School District
Norristown School District
Pottstown School District

To be eligible, schools needed to meet the following requirements:

  1. At least 50% of the students attending the originating middle schools must qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
  2. A need to substantially increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The college-going rate should be at or below the state average on the most recent three years of data.
  3. The ability to have a GEAR UP class period or scheduled time for GEAR UP services.
  4. A district commitment to support and integrate the efforts of GEAR UP within the district.

A key component for each GEAR UP school district is having support from their administrative staff and educators. While not a requirement for GEAR UP, each of these districts has built a network of community partnerships that will support GEAR UP goals. These partnerships include but are not limited to: Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), The S.T.R.I.V.E. (Strengthening Tomorrow Requires Initiative & Vision Everyday) Initiative, Junior Achievement of SE Pennsylvania, and Devereux Centers for Effective Schools.