The TEAK Fellowship was established in 1998 to help motivated New York City students gain admission to top public, independent, and parochial high schools, and to succeed once enrolled. TEAK is one of the few outcomes-driven college access and persistence support programs that recruits students in the middle school years. TEAK’s high-achieving, low-income students participate in a six-and-a-half-year fellowship comprised of academic support, mentoring, college success planning, leadership training, and career guidance. This comprehensive approach provides the support necessary for 30% of TEAK students to earn admission to Ivy League colleges and 90% to earn admission to top-tier universities.
With our continued support, TEAK has greatly expanded its program and now features a college success program to support TEAK alumni through the college years. TEAK guides students through course selection, conducts personal visits on their respective campuses, hosts career exploration and readiness workshops through partner companies during holiday breaks and summers, and helps students and families renew their financial aid requests annually. In 2024, 100% of Fellows were placed at highly selective four-year colleges and universities (30% matriculating to the Ivy League) with need-based scholarships and financial aid covering 96% of college costs.