About

Tenacity’s mission is to provide a Pathway to Post-Secondary Success for Boston’s underserved youth by combining literacy, life skills, family engagement, and tennis/fitness to improve their scholastic, character, and physical development.

Since 1999, Tenacity has partnered with Boston Public Schools (BPS) to help close the opportunity and achievement gaps for 30,000 underserved urban youth. Tenacity’s Pathway programs substantially increase high school graduation and college enrollment/completion rates, provide an active, healthy activity, and give underserved youth the life skills they need to succeed and become productive citizens.

Students enrolled in Tenacity’s Middle School Academy (MSA) have historically outperformed their peers on the MCAS in English Language Arts. 95% of Tenacity Pathway students graduate from high school and 70% of Tenacity high school graduates have either completed or are currently enrolled in a post-secondary program.

Keys to Tenacity's Success:

- In-school or after-school programs in partnership with Boston Public Schools, with the core, intensive program in 6th – 8th grades, proven to be the key time to focus on youth for long-term academic and character development.

- Delivery of Tenacity’s own robust literacy curriculum focused on creating life-long readers and strengthening reading comprehension and vocabulary.

- Close communication and cooperation with parents/guardians and teachers, including at least two home visits per year and ongoing family engagement.

- Closely tracked, measurable academic, life-skills, and fitness results.

- College Prep program that provides Tenacity youth with the necessary academic and social support to succeed in high school and be prepared for college or approved post-secondary programs.

- Structured tennis and wellness curriculum that is focused on life skills development including individual responsibility, perseverance, teamwork, handling pressure, and practicing a healthy lifestyle.