Our Mission & Story

NJ LEEP works to close the educational equity gap by partnering with first-generation and low-income students to build skills and offer experiences to achieve their college and career ambitions.

NJ LEEP has four core programs

100% of NJ LEEP students graduate high school; 99% of them enroll in college and 74% of NJ LEEP alumni have graduated from college within six years of high school graduation.

We define first-generation college students as those whose parent(s) did not earn a college degree in the United States. We define low-income as an income of $80,000 or below for a family of four (for each additional household member, we add $5,000 to the threshold). 

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Our Values

  • Community

    We work to co-create a space that fosters a feeling of belonging for all members. United around a common mission, we welcome diverse perspectives, support individual goals, and celebrate all wins.

  • Respect

    We treat ourselves with kindness and thoughtfulness. We acknowledge everyone’s unique lived experiences, contributions, beliefs, and boundaries, fostering an environment where people feel heard and supported.

  • Commitment

    We take responsibility for the things in our control. We follow through on our intentions to the best of our abilities.

  • Growth

    We take intentional actions to reach our goals, persevere through challenges, and develop as learners and people. We take the time to reflect, adapt, and ask for support when we need it.

Our Story

  • Launched in 2007 and initially focusing on 9th graders, NJ LEEP’s College Bound Program builds academic skills in ELA and STEM while also building social emotional skills needed to be successful in college and career.

  • By 2011, NJ LEEP grew the College Bound Program to serve 9th – 12th grade.

  • By 2017 NJ LEEP was serving 95 high school students and launched the College Success Program (CSS). CSS supports students academically and emotionally through college by providing one-on-one check-ins, webinars, career navigation and more. CSS currently works with about 140 students.

  • In 2019, recognizing a need to work with students earlier, NJ LEEP launched the Middle School Program. The program focuses on building academic and social-emotional skills, as well infusing project and place-based learning.

  • Throughout 2020 and 2021, NJ LEEP adapted its program to be delivered virtually to continue to meet its students' needs throughout the COVID pandemic.

  • NJ LEEP moved to its current office at 12 Lombardy Street in downtown Newark, a 15,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art educational space.

  • NJ LEEP recently completed its strategic plan to guide the next five years of growth and amplify our impact. Our goal is to triple the number of students we work with by 2028.

    The core priorities of the plan are as follows:

    1. Launch a school-based version of our College Bound Program to work with more students who aspire to college. Our plan is to work with schools to develop a place based after school program that students join just before 11th grade. To ensure success through college, these students will then join our College Student Success Program.

    2. Formalize and update the curriculum for the College Student Success Program.

    3. Improve recruiting for our core College Bound Program to engage as many students as possible and run the program at capacity.