The Department of Educational Services conducts a number of programs to help boys fulfill their educational and athletic potential.

INDEPENDENT DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL PLACEMENT

The ISP program selects and places BCNY members into some of the best boarding and day schools in the country.
As part of the placement process, DES staff works to obtain the scholarships and financial aid families need to access these educational resources. Boys who maintain good academic standing are supported for all the years they are in the program.

While at school, the boys receive critical support and guidance from the DES. The program monitors student progress and conducts school visits, workshops and seminars for all participants and their families. Close contact is maintained with boys, school officials and parents to ensure that each student's academic, social, cultural and athletic needs are met. For more information, please contact Nina Pina.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL EARLY PREP PROGRAM

Understanding that the major obstacle confronting our boys on the path to independent boarding school admission is the decline in overall student performance from 3rd to 8th grade, the BCNY established the “Early Prep Program”. While the primary goal of the independent school prep program will be academic and social preparation for placement into independent boarding/day schools and specialized schools (i.e. Stuyvesant, Bronx Science…) the process and structure of academically preparing the students is designed to help prevent the aforementioned decline and to promote a healthy and engaged attitude towards school.

The primary goal of the independent school prep program is to prepare academically qualified students for admission to competitive independent middle and secondary boarding/day schools. The program consists of academic enrichment classes in reading, writing and math.  It also includes sessions in independent school test preparation, leadership training, cultural experiences, and sports.  Over the past 50 years, The Boys' Club of New York’s Education program has developed a reputation for sending well-rounded students to independent schools. For more information, please contact Nina Pina.

In recognizing the needs of student/athletes, the Academic All-Stars Program was established by The Boys' Club of New York's Physical Departments and Education Program to assist participants in their intellectual, social and physical development. While capitalizing on the agency's long and successful history of working with many of the nation's leading independent boarding schools, Academic All-Stars travel throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic States.  BCNY is in the unique position to advocate for its All-Stars, which has often led to substantial scholarship offers and important educational opportunities at both the secondary and post-secondary levels; 12 to 15 boys participate in this initiative each year.  Many of these members have dealt with academic and social obstacles and these young men are provided with support services including academic tutoring, SAT Prep, and personal guidance. International travel and student diplomacy being an integral part of the program, a select number of members have participated in tours and tournaments in China (1999), Cuba (2001) and Italy (2005).  The DES also hosts the Holiday Classic, the largest prep school basketball tournament in the country and the Future Stars Tournament for 7th, 8th and 9th Graders. If you would like to find out more about the Academic All Stars, please contact Mr. Sean Atkins, Academic All-Star Head Coach.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS BASEBALL PROGRAM

Following on the success and paradigm set by the Academic Basketball All-Stars, the Baseball Academic All-Stars program was recently established to assist participants in their intellectual, social and physical development. Every year the boys play a weekend series of games against independent boarding schools. This program exposes younger boys (ages 13-16) on the team to the DES program, which will advocate for them to be placed in independent day and boarding schools. The scheduled games begin in early April and finish at the conclusion of the independent boarding school schedule in late May. At each school, the team tours the campus, plays a game, and has a post-game meeting with personnel from the admissions office and the school’s baseball coach. As a result of the introduction to these schools from this travel experience, several baseball players have applied to and have been accepted to independent schools. Working with 13-16 year old baseball players allows BCNY to intervene early when the student-athlete is at a prime age for placement in independent school. Try-outs begin in the fall and the boys are offered tutorial assistance, SSAT test preparation, and other support services throughout the application process. For more information, please contact Bill Mitchell.

PARENT ADVISORY BOARD

The Parent Advisory Board to the Education Program serves in several different capacities. Participation is mandatory of all member parents and guardians. The Parents Advisory Board's principal focus is to help members face the unique challenges associated with independent day and boarding school placements. Each year the PAB conducts an orientation for new parents and then meet on a regular basis to develop and maintain an appropriate base of programming that will help to improve the quality of each family's experience. In addition, many fund raising activities and personal development activities take place to further support programming and its members throughout the year. The Parent Advisory Board works closely with the Department of Educational Services staff to ensure that the PAB is addressing the needs of the parents and the students.