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Welcome to New York City

ACT-SO

Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics

Welcome to New York City ACT-SO

What is ACT-SO?

ACT-SO – the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics, is a youth program under the administrative aegis of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to encourage high academic and cultural achievement among underserved minority high school students.

High School students prepare in up to three of 32 offerings after school during the school year. The program culminates with the “Olympics of the Mind” competition and awards ceremony which give the students an opportunity to showcase their projects and to be recognized for their achievements.

STEM

Architecture
Biology/Microbiology
Chemistry/Biochemistry
Computer Science
Earth and Space Sciences
Engineering
Mathematics
Medicine and Health
Physics

Performing Arts 

Dance – Ballet
Dance – Contemporary
Dance – Modern
Dance – Traditional
Dramatics
Music Instrumental – Classical
Music Instrumental – Contemporary
Music Vocal – Classical
Music Vocal – Contemporary
Oratory
Poetry – performance

Humanities 

Music Composition
Original Essay
Playwriting
Poetry – written
Short Story

Visual Art

Drawing
Filmmaking
Painting
Photography
Sculpture

Business
Entrepreneurship

Culinary
Culinary Arts

Our Mission

The mission of NAACP New York City Academic, Cultural, Technological, & Scientific Olympics (NAACP NYC ACT-SO) is to overcome the vicious cycle of low scholastic expectations and achievement that plagues Black underserved minority youth throughout New York City; to strengthen Black high school students’ academic skills and inspire the confidence they will need to succeed as adults; and, to offer individualized academic mentorship and diverse enrichment activities, of which there is short supply in the New York City public high schools.

Hall of Fame

National ACT-SO Hall of Fame
Outstanding Achievers

NAACP ACT-SO

ACT-SO is a major youth initiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO provides a forum through which African-American youth can demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise, thereby gaining the same recognition often only reserved for entertainers and athletes.

Over

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Students have participated in the local workshops and competitions since the inception of the program.