In the Media
KVCR: UC Riverside’s Middle School Initiative Gets Kids on Track for College
Getting Ahead for College Success
Middle school is the perfect time to start dreaming big! But these students often get left out when it comes to college prep—elementary schools have tons of support, and high schools have experts ready to guide the way. Middle schoolers? Not so much.
That’s where the Middle School Initiative steps in! With fun events like essay contests, 8th grade graduations, and UCR campus visits, we’re here to show students they belong at a university like UCR. We want to kickstart conversations about college, share resources, and help every student believe: Yes, you can do this!
Would you like to partner with the School of Education, please fill out the interest form below (for students, admin, teachers, and partnerships) and we will be in touch soon.
Middle School Initiatives Interest Form
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Middle School Field Trips
The School of Education is pleased to sponsor field trips for partnered middle schools!
These fields trips are organized for middle school students to be inspired and informed on how to adequately prepare for high school, what STEM classes to take, available resources (i.e Student Organizations, TRIO, UCR STEM Summer Cap for High Schoolers, ARC Center), all of which is to ensure a smooth transition to four-year colleges.
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Middle School Book Drives
We are excited to provide resources to local middle schools to encourage multi-cultural views and perspectives and focusing on real world problems and self-identity in this world.
The Middle School Initiative Program recently hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month Book Drive to inspire a love for reading and celebrate the rich history and culture of the Hispanic community. The drive aims to provide 7th graders with diverse and culturally relevant books, promoting inclusivity and representation in their reading materials. All collected books were donated to Central Middle School to support students in their academic and personal growth.
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Why do we focus on middle school?
As educators concerned about the overall well-being of all students across the region, the SOE initiated a program in 2024 intended to connect with students at a critical moment in their academic career – middle school. Led by the Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Raquel M. Rall, the Middle School Initiative will connect middle school students with people and resources that can help propel them to attend a prestigious four-year university, ideally UCR.
Middle school is the key time to start preparing for a college career. Often, middle school students are left out. Primary schools generally are well resourced and well supported to prepare and nurture students in K-6. High schools have devoted professionals trained to help students navigate college prep and admissions. Middle school students typically don’t get the same type of attention.
The Middle School Initiative plans to fill that gap through outreach events such as essay contests, 8th grade graduations and UCR campus visits that will connect the SOE community with middle school students. The program will begin conversations about college preparation, identify resources that can help low-income students afford college and instill a belief in all middle school students that they do belong at a major university.
Many low-income students never even consider attending a major university and feel that they don’t belong at a place such as UCR. The Middle School Initiative wants every student to know – you belong!
Resources for Middle School Students and Families
