The Impact of PALS
Mission
Founded in 1988, PALS is an academic enrichment and high school preparation program for students from the city of Lawrence, Mass. PALS, which stands for Phillips Academy and Lawrence Schools, brings 40 middle schoolers to the Andover campus for a free, five-week program each summer.
Key Features
- Academic Enrichment: Five-week summer program for rising 7th and 8th graders focused on STEM and the humanities, designed to strengthen core skills and support high school readiness.
- Experiential Learning: Field trips, athletic activities, and interactive projects that extend learning beyond the classroom and encourage curiosity, collaboration, and exploration.
- Community Building: A welcoming, supportive environment where students engage with peers from across Lawrence, forming new friendships and strengthening social and academic confidence.
Our Program
40
students in grades 7 and 8
10
Lawrence, Mass., middle schools represented
90%
of rising 8th graders returned to PALS or other Andover programs
36
years of PALS at Phillips Academy
1:1
high school application support
450+
alumni
In Action: PALS Summer 2025
Impact and Results
- 96% of students reported feeling prepared for the upcoming academic year
- 90% of students said they would apply to high schools visited during PALS
- 100% felt confident they can access resources to help them apply to high school
- 100% agreed they: had fun, learned something new, and made connections with peers and adults
One thing I have learned this summer in Language Arts is my identity. I’ve learned to embrace my ethnicity and culture with my friends and teachers.
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PALS is a great program that has helped me grow and meet better people and make new friends.
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I love how the environment is very welcoming and the people are very accepting. I also love the academic portion because the teachers find ways to make learning fun.
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Alumni Speak
“The PALS experience has a special place in my heart. It was an amazing experience with so many opportunities. The teachers were amazing and I was able to have a 'head-start' you can say in the school year with some topics. For example, in science class I would already have an idea of some topics because of PALS. Overall the PALS experience was really meaningful to me and I would do it again with no hesitation.” —Enzo, 2024, 8th grade cohort
“Honestly, PALS was such an amazing experience that it really did keep me going in school and helped me a lot with academics and connections. It was the one thing I looked forward to during both school years. I’ve made so many new friendships and it’s like a family. I’ve applied all the things I learned at PALS in my schoolwork and even during state testing.” —Norma, 2024, 8th grade cohort
Thank You
PALS is funded through the generosity of individual donors and foundations. As a result, the program is free of charge for all selected students. Thank you!