Additional Resources for Middle Schoolers
Thank you for your interest in Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship Programs. There are many other programs and organizations that serve high-performing students with financial need. This page is a resource to guide you in exploring additional opportunities.
National Organizations Serving Gifted Students
Some professional organizations exist to assist educators, students, and families in learning about what programs and services are provided for gifted students at all grade levels. Some of the topics they can help with include:
- School choice
- Advanced coursework like AP, IB, Honors, and Pre-College offerings
- Internship/research opportunities
- Academic clubs and activities for students
- Standardized testing information and support
Some of these recommended organizations include:
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
Gifted Resource Center from IEA
Davidson Institute for Talent Development
Other Opportunities to Look Into
National Talent Search is a gateway to opportunities for advanced learners around the country. These organizations are partners in widening access to high quality academic programs and resources for advanced students through testing, summer programs, online learning and other special programming opportunities. Each talent center has unique programs and initiatives that support students with financial need. Students may need to qualify for some talent center programs through the National Talent Search assessment to be eligible.
If you are interested in their programming and would like to directly connect to the Cooke Foundation contact at any of the regional talent search centers listed, please email scholarships@jkcf.org.
The National Summer Learning Association states that “all young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.” Summer is an especially important time for high-achieving students to pursue their interests and passions in meaningful and challenging ways.
There are too many summer programs and out-of-school academic opportunities to list in a single document, but below are some recommendations for selecting a program for your high-achieving student and receiving financial aid:
- Plan early. The most advanced and popular summer academic programs fill up quickly once registration begins. Research as early as the fall of each school year for summer program Deadlines may be as early as December or January in some cases. Families seeking financial aid and scholarships will likely need to apply early as well.
- Ask your school and community. As you research possibilities, ask your school faculty and administration, as well as people in the community (coaches, music teachers, etc.) for recommendations on programs. Often, subject- or content-specific professionals like teachers will be able to guide you to programs that may be of interest to your
- Research colleges and universities. Colleges and universities often have outreach offices and/or summer programs and special initiatives for middle and high school students. Some pre-college programs provide young students an early pipeline to fields and majors like engineering, computer science, law and public policy, arts, and more. Not all pre-college programs are similarly challenging or created with financial need in mind so be sure to review all the details and compare course offerings, program support, as well as scholarship
- Ask about financial aid. Always inquire about financial aid, even if there is no information available on the program or school site. Limited scholarships or special programs for funding may be available that are not publicized. Calling the program office also ensures that they know your child/student is interested in attending and you can ensure you have all the correct information/deadlines for submitting financial aid requests as
- Fundraise. Fundraising is an option to offset the cost of a program. Your child/student should be a part of the effort by writing down a statement of why this program is important to their academic growth and People in the community are often more willing to contribute if they see a young person with clear goals who is self-motivated.
Some resources for finding a summer program include:
Other Opportunities to Look Into
National Talent Search is a gateway to opportunities for advanced learners around the country. These organizations are partners in widening access to high quality academic programs and resources for advanced students through testing, summer programs, online learning and other special programming opportunities. Each talent center has unique programs and initiatives that support students with financial need. Students may need to qualify for some talent center programs through the National Talent Search assessment to be eligible.
If you are interested in their programming and would like to directly connect to the Cooke Foundation contact at any of the regional talent search centers listed, please email scholarships@jkcf.org.
The National Summer Learning Association states that “all young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.” Summer is an especially important time for high-achieving students to pursue their interests and passions in meaningful and challenging ways.
There are too many summer programs and out-of-school academic opportunities to list in a single document, but below are some recommendations for selecting a program for your high-achieving student and receiving financial aid:
- Plan early. The most advanced and popular summer academic programs fill up quickly once registration begins. Research as early as the fall of each school year for summer program Deadlines may be as early as December or January in some cases. Families seeking financial aid and scholarships will likely need to apply early as well.
- Ask your school and community. As you research possibilities, ask your school faculty and administration, as well as people in the community (coaches, music teachers, etc.) for recommendations on programs. Often, subject- or content-specific professionals like teachers will be able to guide you to programs that may be of interest to your
- Research colleges and universities. Colleges and universities often have outreach offices and/or summer programs and special initiatives for middle and high school students. Some pre-college programs provide young students an early pipeline to fields and majors like engineering, computer science, law and public policy, arts, and more. Not all pre-college programs are similarly challenging or created with financial need in mind so be sure to review all the details and compare course offerings, program support, as well as scholarship
- Ask about financial aid. Always inquire about financial aid, even if there is no information available on the program or school site. Limited scholarships or special programs for funding may be available that are not publicized. Calling the program office also ensures that they know your child/student is interested in attending and you can ensure you have all the correct information/deadlines for submitting financial aid requests as
- Fundraise. Fundraising is an option to offset the cost of a program. Your child/student should be a part of the effort by writing down a statement of why this program is important to their academic growth and People in the community are often more willing to contribute if they see a young person with clear goals who is self-motivated.
Some resources for finding a summer program include:
Scholarship Resources For All Ages
Few high school scholarships exist nationally for young academically talented students. There are several sources for receiving guidance and support before and during high school that help students and families access college preparatory education.
Below is a list of organizations providing scholarships and/or support to high-performing students during middle and high school.
Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
And here are two scholarship/fundraising websites that may help you achieve your high school goals:
College scholarships are available in varying amounts with different levels of support from various non-profit organizations and foundations. Many of the scholarships below are partner scholarship organizations that select based on merit as well as financial need. Included among them is the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program, awarded to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need.
American Indian Graduate Center
Asian Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Scholarships
Below are some free online directories for scholarships. Remember, you should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship. You may need to register for an account to access all of the features, which we encourage you to do with any of these listed below.
Scholarships for Undocumented Students (Department of Education resource guide, page 38)
Scholarship Resources For All Ages
Few high school scholarships exist nationally for young academically talented students. There are several sources for receiving guidance and support before and during high school that help students and families access college preparatory education.
Below is a list of organizations providing scholarships and/or support to high-performing students during middle and high school.
Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
And here are two scholarship/fundraising websites that may help you achieve your high school goals:
College scholarships are available in varying amounts with different levels of support from various non-profit organizations and foundations. Many of the scholarships below are partner scholarship organizations that select based on merit as well as financial need. Included among them is the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program, awarded to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need.
American Indian Graduate Center
Asian Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Scholarships
Below are some free online directories for scholarships. Remember, you should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship. You may need to register for an account to access all of the features, which we encourage you to do with any of these listed below.
Scholarships for Undocumented Students (Department of Education resource guide, page 38)
National Community-Based Organizations
There are many community-based organizations that provide on-site and in-community support to students and their families. The three mentioned below are a few examples of national organizations that have many local/regional chapters that provide education-focused programming.
Boys and Girls Club of America
For a comprehensive directory of college access programs, visit the National Partnership for Educational Access organizational members page here.
Programs By State
In this document, you will find some highlighted programs listed by state that Jack Kent Cooke applicants and Scholars have attended or participated in. The programs focus on different areas of support, including: college access, independent or selective high school admissions, test prep, and after-school or summertime learning.