Educational partnerships between urban school districts and institutions of higher education provide a powerful means for enhancing student achievement and cultivating college-going cultures. This article describes how Boston University and the Malden, Massachusetts, school district worked with the community to support English learners and develop a curriculum around five "habits of mind." The five habits of mind are: (1) Integrated Curriculum; (2) Socio-emotional Learning: Building Successful Character; (3) Intercultural Awareness and Competence Development; (4) Integration of the Arts; and (5) Role Models.