Tenacity

Founded in 1999, Tenacity’s mission is to improve the scholastic, character, and physical development of urban youth through a combination of academic instruction and tennis instruction/competition with a focus on life skills. The Ace Academy is an intensive three-year program consisting of academic enrichment, homework help, study/life skills development, and tennis/fitness programming. Working in partnership with the Boston Public Schools, Ace Academy currently delivers an intensive three-year experience for middle school students at four partner schools the Curley K-8 School, Frederick Pilot Middle School, BCLA/McCormack Middle School, and East Boston High School. The ACE Academy currently serves approximately 150 middle school students. The Ace Academy offers an Extended Learning Time model or embedded school day model (based on the partner school site) which integrates academic-based programming and supervised tennis and fitness activities in a structured, supportive environment. The activities focus not only on building academic and tennis skills but promoting resilience and 21st-century skills among young people facing challenges on the path to adulthood. Academic support is guided by Ace Site Directors, who work closely with the teachers at the partner schools to help identify the needs and strengths of each of the students. Ace Academy offers an academic curriculum closely aligned with state and city English Language Arts frameworks and aims to support Tenacity students with academic success.