Structured Program for Boys Ages 3 - 5 Years
Good Shepherd Academy for Boys will be the first of its kind in the country to specifically educate young Black males from low-income households, bringing them up in a safe, nurturing, and culturally-sensitive environment.
Suggested Supporting Text: Creating pathways that ensure young males of color enter kindergarten academically, socially, and emotionally prepared.
Our Mission
The Good Shepherd Academy for Boys helps families narrow the wealth and achievement gap through education by:
- Nurturing critical thinkers to adapt in a changing environment and world
- Providing trauma-informed care and wraparound services centered on the needs of boys of color
- Encouraging exceptional parent and community input and participation
good shepherd academy for boys
Why This Program Matters
The school-to-prison pipeline begins in early learning, with preschool expulsions predicting premature school exits that reinforce educational gaps and increase the likelihood of incarceration.
Due to unconscious bias, Black boys are disproportionately represented in school suspensions and expulsions despite making up a much smaller percentage of the student population.
Accessible, affordable education is often unattainable for families in high-poverty areas, making high-quality educational environments critically important.
Program Structure
Format: Open House Coming December 2026
Location: 5957 Page Blvd. St. Louis, M0 63112
Social-Emotional Learning
Parent and Community Engagement
Trauma-Informed Care
Wraparound Services
All mental health sessions are facilitated by a licensed mental-health professional with experience in early childhood trauma and family therapy.
Barriers Removed, Access Restored
Good Shepherd Academy for Boys recognizes that educational success requires more than classroom instruction.
To support students and families, the Academy will provide:
Nutritious Meals
Safe Learning Environment
No-Cost Educational Resources
These supports ensure that families can focus on learning and connection—not logistics.
Academy Highlights
By the end of each program cycle, participating students and families will experience measurable growth in key developmental and academic areas:
- Increased physical activity and healthy engagement
- A literacy-rich educational environment
- Spatial and hands-on learning opportunities
- Representation through predominantly Black male educators
- Positive role modeling students can identify with
- Improved emotional regulation and social development
- Stronger family and community engagement
- Increased academic and kindergarten readiness
Good Shepherd Academy for Boys creates pathways that ensure young boys are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for long-term success in school and in life.
The School
Good Shepherd Academy for Boys is designed as a safe, affirming, and culturally responsive educational environment created specifically to support the academic and developmental needs of young boys.
The facility provides intentionally designed learning spaces that promote growth, engagement, creativity, and emotional well-being.
The Academy’s location places it within the communities it is designed to serve — creating greater accessibility for families in historically underserved neighborhoods.
Program Cost and Sponsorship Opportunities
Your support directly funds a child’s growth.
$50
Provides 1 Mental Health Session for one boy during program participation
$100
1-Week of Meals including Breakfast, Lunch and Snack
$433
1-Month of Meals including Breakfast, Lunch and Snack
$1,000
Provides culturally relevant books for the library
$2,109
Sponsor one boy for 1-month
Every donation helps FSF offer hope and healing where it matters most.