Since then, the NativityMiguel Coalition (NMC) model has expanded to 49 schools across the U.S. and Canada—with 7,834 graduates and alumni.
Our Story
Our Mission
Nativity Preparatory Academy is Rochester’s only tuition-free Catholic middle school serving students of all faiths. Strong academics coupled with the values of spirituality, morality, and personal responsibility create an environment where underserved students can transform their lives.
We deliver a holistic education through a proven model: an extended school day and school year; dedicated and caring teachers, staff, and volunteers; personal mentoring; and support that extends through high school and beyond. Nativity Prep’s secure and nurturing environment allows all students to realize their fullest potential.
How long has Nativity Preparatory Academy been open?
Nativity Prep opened in September 2009, after the McQuaid Jesuit High School Board of Directors and the leadership of Sisters of St. Joseph recognized the need for a quality school specifically designed for under-resourced students in Rochester. The decision to base the school on the Nativity middle school model was due to the model’s exceptional success nationwide.
Nativity schools have been around since 1971, when the Society of Jesus founded the very first one on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
How is Nativity Prep different from other middle schools?
Nativity is different because of our students—and how we teach them.
Our students come from a variety of diverse backgrounds, with more than 20 nationalities and multiple faith traditions represented.
However they may differ, our students have several things in common: they haven’t been well served by the schools they attended and are several years behind grade level when they first arrive at Nativity; and they come from families that, while economically challenged, truly care about education.
To help them catch up, our academic program is much more extensive than other middle schools.
Our typical day runs from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm and includes academic classes, afternoon sports, fine arts activities, study hall sessions with individual tutoring, and three meals. Students also attend Saturday sessions for enrichment activities and field trips, as well as a summer program that combines academics with leadership exercises and camp activities. All of this adds up to more than 550 additional “contact hours” per year. Plus, our ratio of just eight students to each faculty member ensures that all students get the individual attention they need.
This intensive program is geared to accelerate students’ academic progress.
Along with our daily attendance rate of approximately 95%, our program helps to promote students’ social development, physical well-being, and understanding of themselves. It all leads to dramatically higher levels of sustainable success for our students.
How does Nativity impact students long-term?
On average, central-city high schools typically have high school graduation rates hovering near 50%. It’s a significant problem not only for the school district, but for the entire community as it wrestles with issues such as unemployment, homelessness, and hunger.
The school celebrated its first graduation in June 2012, when all 11 graduates were accepted into Rochester’s college preparatory Catholic high schools — McQuaid Jesuit, Our Lady of Mercy, Bishop Kearney, and Aquinas Institute. Since then, more than 150 graduates have gone on to attend these and other rigorous college preparatory programs. Nativity’s first high school graduates proudly crossed the stage in June 2016, marking another milestone in our growing legacy of academic success.
Over 75% of our graduates since 2012 have completed a two or four-year degree. 15% entered the military or a vocation after high school graduation.
One reason for this continued success can be found in our extensive Graduate Support Program. In addition to our extended academic program, this ensures a seamless transition to high school, a positive acclimation process, and continuous skills development. We like to think that it’s also because we teach students to enjoy learning. Our students truly want to be here. And we work to ensure that they stay connected to the school and our ongoing support as they continue their academic and life journey long after their eighth-grade graduation from Nativity.