The recent induction of the largest-ever cohort of Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) Jersey City scholars feels like a big shift in how our city helps public school students make their way to college.
The event at Saint Peter’s University welcomed a fresh group of high school scholars into a growing, data-driven program. YPIE aims to help Jersey City teens not just get into college, but stick with it and graduate.
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YPIE Jersey City Welcomes Its Largest Group of Scholars
At Saint Peter’s University, 45 freshmen and sophomores from three Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS) high schools officially joined YPIE Jersey City.
Another 22 students, who couldn’t make it to the ceremony, will enter the program in 2025. That brings the new cohort to 67 scholars in total.
This jump in participation says a lot about the rising demand for college-readiness support. It also shows how the nonprofit’s reach in local public schools keeps growing.
For many students, YPIE offers their first real, one-on-one experience with college advising, academic coaching, and long-term planning.
Including Ferris High School for the First Time
This year, YPIE welcomed students from James J. Ferris High School for the first time. Previously, the program only partnered with Abraham Lincoln High School and William L. Dickinson High School.
Adding Ferris expands YPIE’s reach into another neighborhood and a new group of JCPS students who could really use this kind of support. It’s also a sign that the nonprofit and the district are working more closely together as the program grows beyond its pilot phase.
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What YPIE Jersey City Does for Local Students
YPIE is the local arm of a Yonkers-based nonprofit on a pretty straightforward mission: help public school students from high school all the way through college.
In Jersey City, that work feels especially urgent because the student body is so diverse, and the costs—financial and otherwise—of higher education are steep.
The program builds a clear path from ninth grade to college graduation. It puts just as much emphasis on sticking with college as it does on getting those acceptance letters.
College Readiness, Step by Step
YPIE scholars get a structured support system that usually includes:
For first-generation college-bound students, these services often fill the gaps left by overworked guidance counselors, family members new to higher ed, and tight finances.
A Growing Footprint in Jersey City’s Education Landscape
Expanding to 45 inducted scholars this year—and 22 more joining next year—shows YPIE is digging deeper into Jersey City. The district seems to recognize that real, hands-on guidance can change outcomes for students.
The ceremony, covered by Jersey City Times education reporter Sarah Komar, sent a clear public message: in our public schools, going to college isn’t just a dream. It’s an expectation, and there are now real resources backing it up.
Why This Matters for Families and Neighborhoods
When programs like YPIE scale up, they don’t just change one student’s life—they can shift the direction of whole families. A first-generation college grad often becomes a role model for siblings, cousins, and even younger neighbors.
Over time, that ripple effect can support stronger local economies and more involved residents, helping communities across the city stay stable and connected.
In a city where housing costs, income gaps, and fast-paced development can make opportunity feel out of reach, steady academic support becomes part of the glue that keeps longtime residents connected to the city’s growth.
From Classroom to City: How YPIE Fits Into the Jersey City Experience
For these new scholars, college readiness unfolds right alongside the daily realities of city life. Between classes and counseling, they’re dealing with busy commutes, part-time jobs, and family obligations—all in a city that’s quickly becoming a regional center for education, culture, and work.
As more families come to town for college tours or to visit scholars at Saint Peter’s University, it’s only natural to wonder about where to stay in Jersey City. Luckily, there’s a growing selection of Jersey City hotels near Journal Square, the waterfront, and McGinley Square, making it easier for relatives to show up for big moments like induction ceremonies, award nights, and, eventually, graduations.
Connecting Education, Transit, and City Life
The ease of getting to Jersey City—by PATH train, light rail, bus, or car—plays a quiet but crucial role in keeping programs like YPIE running. Reliable transit lets mentors, volunteers, and college partners actually reach students more often, and it opens up a bigger range of campus visits and internships for scholars.
For visitors and locals, the city offers a surprising mix of things to do in Jersey City. You can wander the waterfront, spend an afternoon in Liberty State Park, or check out small businesses that give local teens their first jobs.
As YPIE scholars move through high school and into college, they keep shaping—and getting shaped by—the neighborhoods around them. That might mean historic residential blocks, new arts corridors, or those revitalized commercial strips you notice popping up across different districts.
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Here is the source article for this story: College Readiness Program Inducts Largest Class of Scholars Yet
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