Empowering Sunset Apollos: A Growing Legacy of Support
The partnership between Sunset High School and the Beaverton Education Foundation (BEF) is built on a shared commitment to helping students navigate the critical transition into high school. Since at least 2021, as students returned to classrooms post-pandemic, BEF has provided focused academic support for 9th and 10th graders to ensure they stay on track for graduation. This support has evolved alongside student needs, beginning with an afterschool Think Tank in the 2021-22 school year, which later transitioned into a morning Breakfast Club.
By the 2024-25 school year, this initiative became known as the Cram and Jam Homework Club, serving 111 students with a specialized focus on math and science. Teachers observed that students from marginalized communities who attended regularly gained the confidence and skills needed to move from failing grades to solidly passing their STEM Physics classes. As one student noted, “I improved my grades and I had fun!”
For the current 2025-26 school year, the Homework Club has been integrated into a comprehensive framework known as 9GS (9th Grade Success). This approach recognizes that freshmen who remain “on track” are significantly more likely to graduate on time. Sunset now employs several integrated components to support these students:
- Small Learning Communities: Students are organized into “Houses” to foster a sense of belonging.
- Teacher Collaboration: Educators utilize “Kid Chats” and shared planning time to coordinate interventions for individual student needs.
- Personalized Outreach: Staff conduct empathy interviews to understand student challenges and send “Good News” postcards to celebrate growth.
- Credit Recovery: Innovative “ACT Power Up Days” provide dedicated time for students to recover credits in core subjects like History, ELA, and Math.
Record-Breaking Impact
The shift to the 9GS approach has led to a dramatic increase in student engagement. While daily attendance typically averages between 7 and 12 students, the program has served a total of 260 individual students during the 2025-26 school year to date. Participation peaks during high-stakes periods, such as “Cram and Jam” weeks in January, when attendance has surged to nearly 30 students per session. The program also leverages peer mentorship, with National Honor Society tutors and upperclassmen modeling academic success for their younger peers.
Securing the Future for 2026-27
The future of these vital resources is secured through the Sunset High School Success Initiative. Established by the Sunset High School Class of 1961, this fund ensures current Apollos have the tools necessary for modern academic success. We are proud to share that the first use of this new funding will support the continuation of the Homework Club and Cram and Jam sessions for the 2026-27 school year, continuing a multi-year legacy of helping students thrive.
