Over 600 10th- and 11th-grade students participated in GEAR UP 4 LA’s first in-person Jaime Escalante Math (JEM) program since 2019, challenging students to take an accelerated math class in four weeks and get ahead in their math courses and pathways.
Of those who completed the accelerated program, 81% – an increase of 7 percentage points over last year’s virtual program – passed their Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2 course with a C or better, advancing to the next level of math for the 2022-23 school year.
For Christian Guerrero, a 10th-grader at Academic Leadership Community at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, JEM provided an opportunity for him to get ahead and build the skills to achieve his goal of taking pre-calculus.
“I will definitely say it hasn’t been easy, but it has been fun. I’ve met new people and it’s been a good experience. I really enjoyed JEM. The teachers and staff were very awesome!”
Christian Guerrero, a 10th-grader at Academic Leadership Community at MCLC
Held in partnership with East Los Angeles College, JEM featured 18 rigorous classes taught by math teachers and included one-on-one support from GU4LA staff, as well as intensive on-demand tutoring through Tutor.com.
In addition to supporting their college readiness and fostering collaboration with their peers from other GEAR UP schools, JEM enhances students’ chances of completing AP calculus while in high school.
“JEM really does have hard-working, wonderful students,” math teacher Joyce Din said. “I am so proud of them. It was such a pleasure to be their teacher this summer.”