Neal Middle School’s school performance rating has improved from an F to a D from 2023 to 2024, in part thanks to Duke’s Bull City Scholars program, a student-run weekly-tutoring program where students volunteer tutoring services in under-resourced communities.
BCS originated from a house course at Duke where undergraduates created a service-learning project as part of the University Scholars Program. Now, volunteers who join the club learn contextual information about educational disparities in Durham and theoretical frameworks underpinning their service work. Currently, 22 undergraduate and graduate students are listed on their site as being active tutors.
“A lot of the students at Neal Middle School are behind in [certain subjects], whether that be math or reading or [others],” said Roni Ochakovski, a senior and the president of BCS. “Our mission is to come in and bring some of the students that are lagging behind up to speed.”
Aryan Donikena, a junior and treasurer for BCS, explained that the strong relationships between volunteers and teachers — and between the program and NMS administrators — were crucial in facilitating this improvement.
Ochakovski also spoke on the positive impact that tutors have had on the middle schoolers. As a biology major, he particularly recalled one moment where a group of students came up to him after class to ask for advice on becoming a doctor.
“[The goal is to] inspire that sort of curiosity in [the] kids,” Ochakovski said.
In addition to tutoring, the program has worked to engage students in several creative ways.
Selena Collins, a junior and the BCS student event management officer, described how tutors used hip hop as a tool to teach NMS students about writing and literature.
The program is now looking to expand to include more comprehensive mentorship beyond the classroom. NMS’s administration has expressed interest in having Duke volunteers also guide students through deciding extracurricular activities, Ochakovski noted.
While BCS tutors have contributed to NMS’ performance ranking, its members shared that they are still working to help the middle schoolers reach their highest potential.
“Our goal as a club has always been and will continue to be to get Neal Middle School to an A-rated school,” Donikena said. “[It] is a really lofty goal, but I think we are making strides in that direction.”
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Sarah Diaz is a Trinity first-year and a staff reporter for the news department.
Tanya Wan is a Trinity first-year and a staff reporter for the news department.