Access Academies

Access was founded in 2005 by a small group of St. Louisans convinced that education was the most enduring path to economic stability. Embracing an innovative model that emphasized extended school days, a challenging enrichment curriculum, scholarships to private high schools, and 9+
years of counseling, they started the first Academy with 15 eighth graders in a single South
City middle school. This academic year, Access served 454 students in three partner middle schools, 39 area high schools — including 20 private, college-preparatory schools — and 49 colleges and post-secondary institutions across the country.

Since 2005, Access has invested more than $9 million in scholarships to high school and college students and positively impacted more than 1,450 students across the St. Louis region. 98% of our graduates have been accepted to private, college-prep high schools; 97% graduate high school on time; and 95% are accepted to colleges, universities, or other post-secondary institutions.