The mission of the YMCA, Meredith Matthews East Madison Branch, is to build a community where all people, especially, the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body. With its long history in Seattle, the YMCA has been consistently working at the intersection of schools and community, supporting and leveraging the work of the community-based organizations that advocate for and fill the needs of students within Seattle Public Schools' diverse district.
Each spring, Y-Scholars recruits 30 incoming freshmen of African descent who have the desire to accelerate their learning potential and prepare for post-secondary education.Students are thus automatically placed in Honors level core classes their freshman and sophomore years, preparing students for Advanced Placement classes (AP) during their junior and senior years which prepares them for future success at a four-year university. Students receive individualized college readiness support during junior and seniors years.