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Achievement Plus
What does an average day look like at the University Academies? The classroom is just the beginning of the work being done on site every day. From the 8am opening of the Eastside Family Center in the morning, volunteer tutors at the East Side Learning Center in the afternoon, to the HUB Center ELL adult education course at night -- our days are full for students and families alike, thanks to the community school model being implemented by Achievement Plus.

Achievement Plus is a private-public partnership created in 1996as a joint venture between the Saint Paul Public Schools, the AmherstH. Wilder Foundation, the city of Saint Paul, and Ramsey County, withadditional financial assistance from the state of Minnesota. 

AchievementPlus began its initiative at the University Academies for Boys and Girls at North End Elementary School in 2008.  In addition to the University Academies, Achievement Plus operates at John A.Johnson and Dayton’s Bluff elementary schools.  The initiative’s primary focus is to raise the achievementlevel of students through creating community schools where all aspects of students' lives are supported.  At the University Academies, this means giving families what they need to help their students succeed to become future leaders.


Achievement Plus has a three-segment focus – academics, extended learning (after-school program) and learning supports.

  • Theacademic segment is supported through the Saint Paul Public Schools’Project for Academic Excellence, which provides a rigorousstandards-based learning curriculum and staff development opportunitiesfor teachers.  PAE was first implemented at the Achievement Pluselementary schools and later implemented in all elementary schools inthe district. 
  • An extended learning program isprovided for students in an after-school setting at the AchievementPlus schools, where students needing additional assistance are providedacademic and enrichment classes.  Teachers in the after-school program(many also teach in the regular daytime program) work to make certainthat the curriculum is aligned with the daytime program and that itfocuses on the areas in which students need additional help.
  • Thelearning supports segment of the program provides assistance tostudents, families and community members and is the result ofpartnerships with community organizations located on site at John A.Johnson, some with satellite locations at the other Achievement Plusschools.  The organizations include:  the Eastside Family Center, theEast Side Learning Center, St. Mary’s Health Clinic, Children’s DentalServices, the Eastside Housing Opportunity Program, and the WilderFoundation.  These organizations support the students and families ofJohn A. Johnson, Dayton’s Bluff and the University Academies at North End in many ways, such asassisting with food and clothing needs, health services, and mentalhealth counseling; assisting with housing needs related to ownershipand rental issues; adult language classes; and helping families andcommunity members connect with other needed services that are availableat the state and federal levels.