BEAM 8th Grade + High School
STEM AND COLLEGE PREP
BEAM provides comprehensive support, focusing on deep enrichment courses and help with next steps in students’ STEM journeys.
Enrichment courses build problem-solving and logical reasoning skills; students work towards capstone projects.
Through group activities, students build a strong sense of community, belonging, and STEM identity. We support students to apply to strong-fit high schools and colleges, and rigorous STEM programs.
BUILDING A NEW VISION AT BEAM
For the last 15 years, BEAM has been changing lives. We've seen our students fall in love with math and science, succeed at highly competitive programs and colleges, pursue impressive STEM careers, and more.
We are now developing the next iteration of our 8th–12th grade pre-college programming.
A centerpiece of our work over the next three years will be building a new, more engaging and rigorous program, including best-in-class mathematical enrichment classes and STEM exploration and access activities.
The new model rests on three pillars: 1) academic majors, 2) a structured STEM exploration and access curriculum, and 3) capstone projects that allow students to do deep, authentic work and build skills to manage large projects.
Through this redesign, we aim to:
Provide the tools for students to deeply understand STEM subjects in college and beyond;
Enable students to find what fields of STEM resonate with them and navigate the pathway to those fields;
Support resilience and thriving for our students in academics, careers, and life.
We will begin rolling out our new vision for BEAM’s programs in Fall 2026.
8th Grade
ACADEMICS
Launching Fall 2026: During the school year, students take two courses: Foundations of Mathematics (building on the problem solving and reasoning skills from our summer programs) and a Programming course that gives them key tools to do more in-depth work.
STEM ACCESS AND EXPLORATION
In the fall, students and families receive high school admissions support. This support is particularly critical in New York City, where all students must apply to be matched with high schools. The high school students attend is one of the biggest predictors of their future opportunities. Learn more about New York City’s high school admissions process.
Launching Spring 2027: Time is provided for algebra skill building.
9th Grade
ACADEMICS
Launching Fall 2026: During the fall, 9th grade students take a “Try It Out” course to sample all three majors (math; mathematical biology; risks, decisions, and money) before deciding which is right for them.
Launching Spring 2027: Students will take the first course in a sequence of three courses in their major, building towards capstone projects.
STEM ACCESS AND EXPLORATION
Students participate in activities that help them develop a vision of themselves in STEM and enable them to navigate STEM pathways.
Students explore a career in depth, and participate in workshops to better understand how to connect their own strengths to STEM fields.
10th Grade
ACADEMICS
Launching Fall 2027: Students will take the second and third courses in a sequence of three courses in their major, building towards capstone projects.
For now, 10th graders may take courses in any of the three major areas: math; mathematical biology; risks, decisions, and money.
STEM ACCESS AND EXPLORATION
Students participate in activities that help them develop a vision of themselves in STEM and enable them to navigate STEM pathways.
Students explore a career in depth, and participate in workshops to better understand how to connect their own strengths to STEM fields.
11th Grade
ACADEMICS
Launching in 2028: Students will complete capstone projects guided by a BEAM mentor. These will be a meaningful academic achievement that students can include on their college applications, which may include research, analyzing large data sets, simulating and studying mathematical models, and more.
For now, 11th graders may take courses in any of the three major areas: math; mathematical biology; risks, decisions, and money.
STEM ACCESS AND EXPLORATION
Students focus on preparing to apply to college. Students will have the knowledge and experiences necessary to ensure their college list is aligned to their goals and will be equipped to present their backgrounds and interests in compelling ways to an admissions audience.
12th Grade
ACADEMICS
Students may take courses from any of the major tracks (optional).
STEM ACCESS AND EXPLORATION
Students participate in college admissions advising (college visits, help constructing a college list, support with applications, FAFSA, CSS, and more), with a focus on choosing a great-fit college that is fully aligned to the range of plans for the future they are considering.