About Us

In November 2017, Duval County Public Schools received a seven-year, $12-million-dollar grant from the US Department of Education (USDOE) to administer the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) project.  The mission of the GEAR UP grant is to increase students’ aspirations toward high school and beyond and to create experiences that give students access to traditional/non-traditional postsecondary options.  It is our vision that every GEAR UP student has access to, attends, and graduates from a postsecondary institution receiving a certificate, degree, or specialized training and are thriving individuals in their respective communities. We currently serve a cohort of over 3,000 students in 7 high schools across Duval County and follow them through the completion of their first year of college.