Dive deep into your academic interests, discover new things, and have fun!

Made possible by Onward 2 High School and The Smet Foundation, Summer Institute welcomes rising 7th and 8th graders from different schools within the ADLA, charter, and public schools who have a variety of talents, interests and perspectives. We seek students who are enthusiastic about learning and motivated to start their path to college even earlier. 

Summer Institute bridges the gap between middle and high school for rising 7th and 8th graders in an exciting, vigorous academic environment. From hands-on learning STEM projects to immersive field trips, our offerings are extensive, and all connected by our mission to assist students in building a strong foundation for success in middle school and future high school years.

97%

Over 97% of parents are highly likely to recommend O2HS to other families.

100%

100% of parents reported being very satisfied or extremely satisfied with the program. 

Program Requirements

Onward 2 High School is open to rising 7th and 8th grade students within the ADLA, charter, and public schools who are motivated to succeed in high school and beyond. Applicants must currently have a 3.0 GPA to be considered for acceptance into O2HS.

What our students are saying

video testimonials and quotes

“I really enjoyed all the activities that we did. I made many friends who are now best friends. I especially liked the field trips because I saw things I had never seen before! Thank you for this opportunity and scholarship to attend!”

Student Testimonial

“I love it! I came here last year and after it ended, I immediately wanted to come back!”

Student Testimonial

FAQs

  • Summer Institute offers students a chance to explore topics outside of their school’s normal instruction and dive into their academic interests without the demands of the regular school day.

  • Summer Institute welcomes rising 7th and 8th graders from different schools including ADLA, charter, and public schools. Applicants must currently have a 3.0 GPA to be considered for acceptance into O2HS.

  • Summer Institute takes place July 2025, 8:30 am - 1:15 pm, five days a week (Mon-Fri).

  • Summer Institute is hosted at Sacred Heart High School (Los Angeles) and St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy (Downey).

  • Students are required to submit an application. Apply here.

  • Summer Institute tuition is $100. Some scholarships are available to students, determined by application.

  • Every course at Summer Institute is designed to build up essential concepts, inspire a growth mindset, and prepare students for the next level of academic challenges in the fall. Our curriculum is full of hands-on learning and STEAM projects. We offer a diverse array of theme days that are sure to spark students’ interests, such as earth science, financial literacy, art history, and food science, and more. Click here to view past curriculum.

  • 7th and 8th graders discover the same curriculum designed for their respective grade level.