Politics & Government

Program Boosts Science, Math at Northwestern

Students at Northwestern High School are getting extra mentoring in science and math through Walter Reed program.

A group of about 70 Northwestern High School students are taking advantage of a new partnership with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research to give the students additional science and mathematics mentoring.

Named GEMS, an acronym for "Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Sciences", brings young college and graduate students into the classroom to teach twice a week. The hope is that the "near-peer" mentors will be able to make math and science more palpable for the high schoolers. 

A Washington Post report details the impact the young program is having on students at Northwestern.

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"My adviser told me about this program, so I thought I would try it…This is helping me. We’re looking at different world problems where each subject is realistic and really relates to everything.” - Matthew Gray, 16, Northwestern High School Student to the Washington Post

Perhaps most attractive for educators: the program doesn't cost the high schools a dime. The program is entirely funded with a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Awards program. 

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Six schools currently participate in the program, including two Prince George's County high schools, Northwestern and Bladensburg. The other four high schools are in Washington, D.C.


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