Homework Lab Helps Teens Thrive at School — and Beyond

From SAT prep to demystifying the college application process, Homework Lab supports Trinity Youth as they study, connect, and imagine what comes next. 

It’s a welcoming scene. Sunlight pours onto kitchen tables as teens focus on notebooks open to math, biology, chemistry. One trio, with the same science work in front of them, chats quietly — about what the teacher wants, yes, but also about their day. A tutor settles in next to a young man with an algebra problem; in an adjoining room, a circle of overstuffed chairs is filled with students, firing questions at another advisor — What should my essay be about? When do I start applying? — about the thorny college admissions process.

This is Homework Lab, a Trinity Youth program housed in Trinity Commons, the church’s community center and neighborhood hub. From 3pm to 6pm, Monday through Friday, high schoolers can come here for a quiet place to study on their own, in groups, or with tutors who are ready to help decode trigonometry or craft an essay, but also prep for SATs and tackle college applications. “Instead of figuring everything out for ourselves, we can chill after a hard day and do what we need to do without distractions,” says Vicki, one of the 15 kids taking advantage of the Lab on a recent Thursday.

“We strive for that midpoint between quiet library and busy cafe, where kids can eat an apple, check in with friends, but also get stuff done,” says Maureen Clare, the program head. Clare sees the first step of her job as building community, so kids can be vulnerable enough to ask for what they need. “It has to be relational,” she says. “Once there’s trust, we can help them fast-track to their goals.”

That communal trust is at the root of everything the Trinity Youth program sets out to do. For leaders Jennifer Chinn, director of programs, and the Rev. Matthew Welsch, priest and director, Children, Youth, and Family, success depends not only on the relationships forged between kids and advisors but also those among the kids themselves. “We create a flexible environment where everyone is encouraged to help each other, and the kids feel safe and supported no matter where they are,” says Chinn.

Over the past two years, attendance at Homework Lab has nearly doubled. Where staff used to host 3 to 10 kids a day, during the 2024-25 school year that number grew to more than 20. For Chinn, the big win is how many kids cycle in and out from other Trinity Youth activities. “We have regulars, but also this wonderful flow of kids dropping in,” she says.

Results can also be seen in the students’ rising SAT scores. Since Clare implemented her own SAT-prep methodology — manageable 40-question packets broken into levels — overall scores have increased by 200 to 500 points. “I was panicked about the test,” says Nachelle, who prepped for the PSAT last year. “Now, I know I can do well.”

The team is intent on demystifying the entire college process. “We talk about everything, from complex financial aid forms to scholarships to actual applications,” Clare says. “Some kids already have a spreadsheet of extracurricular accomplishments and only need us to say, ‘Breathe, you’re doing great!’ Others need help getting that spreadsheet started.” They also provide career guidance. “If a student asks for help finding environmental internships, I’ll figure out what’s behind their interest — plant biology, say, or environmental justice,” says Clare. “Fifteen minutes later, we have a Google doc with a list of links, and they’re ready to start applying.”

Clare is confident the community vibe will keep the kids coming. “The best homework routine is one you want to stick to, and these kids are engaged,” she says. “They know this is their space. They know they matter. And it’s working! What could be better than that?”

Register for Trinity Youth to join Homework Lab and explore more classes, activities, and community groups for teens.