Announcing Our Partnership with Lumiere Education
Independent research is becoming one of the most compelling ways students stand out in selective college admissions. That’s why we’ve partnered with Lumiere Education, a highly vetted research mentorship program connecting students with PhD researchers from top universities.
At North Avenue Education, we are thoughtful about the partners we recommend to our families. Any collaboration we formalize must meet the same standards we hold for our own work: intellectual rigor, ethical practice, and a genuine commitment to student growth.
With that in mind, we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Lumiere Education, a globally recognized research mentorship organization for high school students.
Lumiere offers students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD researchers and professors from top universities to design and complete an independent research project in a field they care deeply about – from STEM disciplines to the humanities and social sciences. The result is not a résumé line manufactured for optics, but substantive academic work that reflects curiosity, persistence, and original thinking.
Why Does this Matter?
As college admissions become increasingly competitive, selective institutions are looking beyond grades and test scores to understand how students think and what genuinely excites them. Independent research—when done well—can be a powerful way for students to demonstrate intellectual engagement, initiative, and readiness for advanced academic work.
We’ve vetted Lumiere carefully. Their programs are founded and overseen by researchers from institutions such as Harvard and Oxford, supported by a global network of mentors, and backed by transparent outcomes data. Notably, students who included Lumiere research in their college applications were significantly more likely to receive offers of admission to highly selective universities. Importantly, Lumiere does not promise publication or admissions results—an integrity we respect and share.
This partnership is not about acceleration for acceleration’s sake. Rather, it’s about offering the right students—those with curiosity, motivation, and a desire to explore ideas in depth—access to an experience that meaningfully complements the academic and admissions work we already do together.
We’re pleased to be able to recommend Lumiere as a trusted extension of our ecosystem.
Interested in Learning More?
We encourage families to explore Lumiere’s offerings at lumiere-education.com. If you’d like to discuss fit or next steps, you’re welcome to reach out directly to our primary contact at Lumiere (kevin.march@lumiere.education).
As always, we’re happy to help families think through whether this opportunity aligns with their student’s goals and readiness.
Note: While North Avenue Education may receive a referral fee for students who enroll through this partnership, our recommendation reflects a thorough vetting process and alignment with our educational values.
