Summer Programs | Mission Dolores Academy

Data indicates the gap in academic achievement between underserved student populations similar to the Academy’s and students from middle- and upper-income households can primarily be attributed to lack of summer educational and enrichment opportunities available to underserved students.  A significant percentage of academic gains made during the school year sadly are lost during this “summer slump.”

Mission Dolores Academy students in grades 4-8 participate in variety of summer programs meant to keep students engaged over the summer, including:

  • The Magis program at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory
  • Summer Institute at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep
  • Summerbridge program at University High
  • Breakthrough San Francisco at San Francisco Day School
  • SMART
  • AIM High
  • Hope Academy

Recognizing that few summer programs exist for serving students in the lower grades, the Academy launched a voluntary summer program in 2014.  The program reinforced concepts and skills learned during the school year while also providing a variety of fun enrichment opportunities including field trips.  Feedback from parents and the school was extremely positive, resulting in the expansion of the program for 2015 to a five-week,  full day (8:30am to 5pm) program.

The Mission Dolores Academy Summer School program has been specially designed to meet the needs of MDA students. Over the course of 5 weeks, academic teachers will deliver engaging and rigorous curriculum in the morning in order to maintain and extend student learning, with the hopes of eliminating any “backsliding” of knowledge and skills during the summer months.  Academic focus areas will be English and Math. Enrichment classes will meet in the afternoons, each class working up to a final demonstration of learning. Examples of enrichment classes may include visual art, drama and PE.