Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs - GEAR UP

We provide support that will enhance academic skills to help middle and high school students with realizing their desire to go to college by helping to prepare for, apply to, pay for and enroll into college. 

GEAR UP

GEAR UP instilled in me the thought of success and higher learning through enrichment programs such as job fairs, college fairs, college campus tours, tutoring, academic workshops and mentoring. Through these experiences I began to network with numerous successful individuals and began to conceptualize my own success as a young African American male. The GEAR UP program and staff has had a hand in my success for over a decade. Today I am a sergeant in the United States Army and a full time student at one of the best historically black colleges, Fayetteville State University. I have received numerous awards and acknowledgements in my career field such as the Army achievement medal and have continuously made the honors and dean’s list while working full time. I thank the GEAR UP program and staff members for taking their time to mentor and mold a young African American boy into a successful young man today. Thank You.

Why Participate in GEAR UP?

As a leader in the college access industry, we have a strong track record of having positive effects on helping students complete middle/high school and enroll into college. Our dedicated team provides support to local target schools to increase the college-going culture. There is no cost for any services provided by our program.

Services Provided
  • After-school tutoring
  • Saturday Academy
  • Career Exploration
  • Assistance in Completing College Applications & Financial Aid Forms
  • Scholarship Search Assistance
  • ACT/SAT Prep
  • College Application Fee Waivers
  • College & Educational Tours
  • Transition to High School/College
  • Parent Workshops
  • Summer Camps
  • Teacher Professional Development
Eligibility Requirements

All services provided from FSU GEAR UP including tutor.com, after school/ virtual tutoring, academic coaching, field trips and all other services are for students who have attended the following middle schools that are in the 6th and 7th grade during the academic year of 2025-2026:

  • Anne Chesnutt Middle
  • Douglas Byrd Middle
  • Lewis Chapel Middle
  • Luther Nick Jearlds Middle
  • Westover Middle School  

Target Schools

If your child attended the following schools at any time during the 2025-2026 school year in the specified grades below, they are automatically a GEAR UP Student and are eligible for all GEAR UP Student Services.
School Year 2025 - 2026 (6th & 7th grade)

School Year 2026- 2027 (7th & 8th grade)

School Year 2027 - 2028 (8th grade)

Anne Chesnutt Middle - Douglas Byrd Middle School - Luther Nick Jerald's Middle School

Lewis Chapel Middle School - Westover Middle School

    Federal Funding Statements

    The Fayetteville State University GEAR UP Program is funded from 2025-2032 entirely from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $1,908,800 annually.