College Academy Offers Free Mentorship in Jackson
Blackburn Middle School students gain access to free career guidance and college prep resources through a new partnership.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you believe nonprofit mentorship programs improve long-term outcomes for students in your community?
The nonprofit Improve Your Tomorrow provides free mentorship and academic support to Blackburn Middle School students through its College Academy program. This initiative, which launched in 2025, partners with Jackson Public Schools to help local students prepare for college.
Why it matters
The program aims to expand educational access for young men of color in Mississippi by offering career guidance and college readiness resources. By supporting families with academic planning, the initiative seeks to increase long-term college enrollment rates.
Improve Your Tomorrow aims to assist 600 young men of color in Mississippi on a path toward college completion by 2031. The College Academy program has been operating at Blackburn Middle School since 2025 at no cost to participating families.
The players
Improve Your Tomorrow
A nonprofit organization that provides mentorship and academic support to students with a goal of increasing college access for young men of color.
Jackson Public Schools
The local school district that partners with nonprofit organizations to offer supplemental academic programs for city students.
Blackburn Middle School
A school in Jackson currently serving as a hub for the College Academy mentorship and career preparation program.
The details
The College Academy program delivers mentorship, structured career planning, and advice on college entry requirements directly to students. By partnering with Jackson Public Schools and city officials, the nonprofit facilitates parent involvement and coordinates college visits to expose students to higher education environments. The organization plans to build on these current offerings by expanding the program model to additional middle and high schools.
Timeline
2025: Improve Your Tomorrow began offering the College Academy at Blackburn Middle School.
2031: The nonprofit aims to have assisted 600 young men of color on their path through college.
The Home Front
This program aligns with the broader push to implement community-based support systems that supplement traditional secondary education. It reflects a growing reliance on local partnerships to help families bridge the gap between middle school academic performance and long-term college goals.
Parents with students at Blackburn Middle School should contact the school administration to confirm current enrollment windows for the College Academy. Families should also look for upcoming notices regarding college visit schedules and career planning workshops.
The takeaway
Nonprofit mentorship programs like the College Academy provide a structured resource for families navigating the path to higher education. Parents can support their children by staying informed about school-based academic resources and attending informational meetings provided by local partners.
Further reading
Learn more about local academic initiatives in the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WAPT.
Live Poll
Do you believe nonprofit mentorship programs improve long-term outcomes for students in your community?
