Some students at DeVargas Middle School will see much more of their school this coming school year.

Citizen Schools, a national organization that partners with communities to lift failing schools, thinks that's a good thing.

When classes start Aug. 23, some 135 seventh-graders and 30 eighth-graders at DeVargas will get extra time after school for tutoring and apprenticeship programs. The extra two hours a day, until 5:30 p.m. four days a week, is the result of a partnership between the Santa Fe schools and Citizen Schools.

Sue Goodwin, Citizen Schools' New Mexico operations executive director, said the program has been in place at DeVargas for three years, but now it will be serving more students.

"We're growing," Goodwin said, noting that previously the program served 60 to 70 students. "That's all we had funding available for, and now we've been able to grow that to 160 this coming school year. We're anticipating that we will be serving all grade-seven students."

The program is optional, and parents will be able to sign up during registration.

Diane Garcia Piro, DeVargas principal, who was formerly Capshaw Middle School assistant principal, has seen how extended-day programs can benefit students.

"The (programs) that I've been familiar with have been highly successful," Garcia Piro said. She said she's seen the improvement in proficiency statistics from other Citizen Schools programs. "We're hoping to be able to replicate that here at DeVargas."

The DeVargas program is funded with a state 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. Goodwin said the organization is also hoping to receive funding from the federal government.

DeVargas Middle School, and the two middle schools with the program in Albuquerque, were chosen because all were designated "high need." The majority of DeVargas students are Hispanic; 85 percent are economically disadvantaged, recent state data indicate.

Bobbie Gutierrez, superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools, believes the initiative is the future of middle schools and hopes the program can expand to Ortiz Middle School.

Goodwin said extended time in an academic setting has helped students nationally. Citizen Schools maintains that a Boston Middle School improved sixth-grade proficiency rates using a similar program over three years. Math scores rose from 15 percent proficient to 37 percent; and in English language arts they rose from 27 percent to 49 percent proficient.

Students will be partnered with volunteer professionals for apprenticeships that get them thinking about college and the future, Goodwin said. Other volunteers come from Genzyme, a biomedical company, Assistance Dogs of the West and SITE Santa Fe, she said.

"Our mandate is to prevent dropouts and be proactive and preventative and get these kids really excited about learning," Goodwin said. "The apprenticeships get kids considering real career options."

Parents can sign their students up for the program at the DeVargas registration, which is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 for seventh-graders and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 12 for eighth-graders.

"For parents, it's really great," Goodwin said. "I'm a working mom, and you get home and your kids say, 'Help me with my homework.' You've had a long day, and that's the last thing you want to do."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Information session about the Santa Fe Public Schools and Citizen Schools partnership
When: 6 to 7 tonight
Where: DeVargas Middle School cafeteria, 1720 Llano St.