Cornelia Connelly Center champions under-resourced girls, empowering them to realize their full potential from middle school through college and beyond. Students enter our joyful and holistic program in 4th or 5th grade and continue on as Connelly Middle School graduates in the Graduate Support Program. Connelly Middle School consists of a Lower School (grades 4 and 5) and an Upper School (grades 6through 8), totaling almost 100 girls. The student population is primarily students of color (LatinX and Black). Most students hail from the lower East Side of Manhattan but all five boroughs are represented. True to its mission, the school focuses on accelerating student learning towards grade level work and beyond, tailoring the curriculum to ensure that the girls are successful in high school and college. Individual attention is prioritized by faculty and staff, with each class having two teachers and twenty students or less. The students have the freedom to be their best selves and develop confidence as they learn and grow. In the twenty-seven years, since its founding, the Connelly Center has empowered over 450 girls through our thirteen-year program.
After graduation from CMS, the alumnae remain a part of the Connelly Center family through the graduate Support Program which provides high schoolers with academic, financial, and emotional support. The girls have access to a quiet place to study and can attend monthly workshops on stress, time management, professionalism, and the college process. Following their high school graduation, CMS alumnae are invited to participate in GSP 2.0 which allows alumnae to remain connected to CCC. Participants are provided with a small stipend to assist with book expenses, incidentals, and travel to and from home as well as guidance and support in academics and finding campus resources. Many of the graduates are first-generation college students, and GSP 2.0 allows girls to fulfill their potential in college.
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