Grace Oconnor

Buffalo Prep promotes educational access and opportunity by delivering rigorous and enriching programming for students throughout Western New York. We strive to nurture our scholars’ brilliance while empowering them to engage civically as their authentic selves. Since our founding in 1989, we have grown exponentially and now serve over 800 Western New York students and alumni annually with our unique pipeline of Prep Scholars Academy, Middle School Prep, High School Prep, College Prep, and Alumni Prep programs. Many students begin Buffalo Prep’s rigorous program in 5th grade and commit their summers, evenings, and weekends to prepare for higher achievement. Buffalo Prep is not a school, but a school of thought. We believe in educational equity. We believe in racial justice. We believe in our scholars and in their potential to change the world. Through rigorous academic programming, Buffalo Prep scholars have the opportunity to turn knowledge into power. While they’re putting in the extra hours in the classroom, we’re putting in the work to build a more inclusive, equitable, and just community around them. For our scholars, the future is bright. As they strive toward their most vivid, authentic selves, they become shining examples of what happens when we don’t settle for mediocrity. We are Buffalo Prep, and we are illuminating brilliance – for our scholars, for our community, for our future.