The Summer Institute

Since 2018, The Summer Institute (TSI) has provided high-quality educational enrichment for low-income middle school students in Houston on the campus of Presbyterian School. Through rigorous coursework and mentorship, TSI helps students strengthen academic skills, develop leadership abilities, and build confidence both during the summer and throughout the academic year. By fostering a love of learning, TSI equips students with the academic and social-emotional foundation needed for high school success. With access to Presbyterian School’s top-tier facilities and dedicated educators, students thrive in a structured, supportive environment. Many Presbyterian School faculty members serve TSI through teaching, administrative leadership and board membership.

Designed as an “educational wrap-around” program, TSI offers what the existing public school structure cannot always provide. At the heart of TSI is a five-week summer program, where experienced teachers deliver coursework in math and language arts as well as holistic wellness designed to close learning gaps and inspire intellectual curiosity. During the summer, when learning loss and opportunity disparities are most pronounced, TSI enables students to make meaningful academic gains. Throughout the school year, students continue their development in bi-monthly Saturday Sessions that provide tutoring and additional instruction, ensuring continued academic growth.  TSI challenges students to push beyond perceived limits, reinforce ambitious academic goals, and fill in knowledge gaps while exposing them to impactful enrichment experiences and career exploration.

By following the same students through sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, TSI provides motivated learners from Houston’s Third Ward and Sunnyside neighborhoods with the resources to change their trajectories and turn their potential into achievement. TSI is committed to equitable access, exclusively serving students from low-income communities who qualify for free or reduced lunch. To ensure financial barriers do not prevent participation, they provide scholarships for all who request them, along with transportation, meals, supplies, and trips. TSI services over 80 students each year. Students who wish to participate in TSI are encouraged to apply online at https://www.summer-institute.com/apply-now.

TSI prepares students from low-income families to succeed in high school, college, and beyond by equipping them with strong academic foundations and long-term mentorship. Upon completing TSI, students are not only academically prepared but also empowered to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Furthermore, TSI graduates transition into the TSI alumni program, where they receive professional mentorship, standardized test preparation through Princeton Review, and career development opportunities. Many TSI alumni return as mentors, fostering a cycle of leadership and support. The TSI impact is clear—students achieve an average of six months of math growth in a single summer, and over 90% of TSI students are recognized as classroom leaders by their teachers.