At the elementary level, the focus is on helping students see mathematics and science as interesting and engaging subjects in which they can be competent. Students learn to work together in groups with hands-on, minds-on activities that are designed to help them build math and science as well as literacy skills. Field trips encourage elementary students to look at the larger world and help them begin to contemplate their place in it.

MESA programs provide both academic and social structure for elementary school aged students to engage them in after school programs which provide hands-on activities, tutoring and mentoring with MESA advisors, parents and community volunteers as role models. MESA places a strong emphasis on encouraging middle school students to enroll in and complete pre-algebra, the critical gatekeeper course for higher-level course work in mathematics and science.