LOWELL – Lowell High School’s McDonough Freshman Academy has been awarded the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Supporting Additional Learning Time (SALT) Grant by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

This $600,000 grant will provide $200,000 in each of the next three years to fund essential after-school and summer programs, academic support, and career development opportunities for our freshman and sophomore students.

The funding will support The Compass Program, an after-school program for freshman designed to help students become part of their school and local community, make new friends, build relationships with mentors, and learn new skills. This will allow for the expansion of existing opportunities through partners including Green Dragons, Lowell Land Trust, Mass Audubon Society, and My Beautiful Mind, to work on skills related to mindfulness, healthy food choices, STEAM education, and college and career readiness. We will also be able to increase family engagement opportunities through multicultural events, student showcases, and family-centered outings and workshops.

“This is really exciting news for the school and we are thrilled to receive this award. It is so important for us to provide our students and families with as many engaging and dynamic after-school opportunities as possible,” said Kate Keefe, Lowell High School’s Community Schools Program manager and Director of The Compass Program. “The Compass Program provides a unique space for all of our students, but especially those who are unsure of what they might be into or those who are afraid to try something new. We recognize the transition into high school is fraught with challenges, but also so many amazing opportunities and we try our best to nurture students and build a community within the school community. The Compass Program has been pointing students in new directions for more than ten years and we are grateful to be able continue helping students chart their course through high school.”

Lowell Public Schools Title 1 Director Carolyn Rocheleau Feeney said “this achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. Special thanks to Kate Keefe, our Community Schools Manager, and Dr. Rebecca Duda, Coordinator of Special Programs, for their outstanding efforts in securing this vital funding.”