Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. In Baltimore, DC Metro, and Richmond, Higher Achievement steps in to give scholars supplemental academic support in communities that lack the resources to start all students on equal footing.
Who We Are
We are educators, mentors, community partners, and citizens who see inequity in our communities and are driven to do something about it. Middle school is the last, best chance that a student has to get on the path for post-secondary success, and at Higher Achievement, we are committed to helping students in underserved communities defy the odds and set a different course.
Our Mission
Higher Achievement closes the opportunity gap during the pivotal middle school years. By leveraging the power of communities, Higher Achievement’s proven model provides a rigorous year-round learning environment, caring role models, and a culture of high expectations, resulting in college-bound scholars with the character, confidence, and skills to succeed.
What We Do
In and out of school, Higher Achievement invests in its scholars, providing an engaging environment to think, grow, and aspire.
Afterschool Academy:
Out-of-school programming meets academic intervention. Through mentor-led small-group instruction of a provided curriculum, scholars receive targeted support from someone who is invested in their success, both in the classroom and out.
Summer Link:
Learning doesn’t end when school’s out. We show scholars more of what’s out there through weekly field trips and a college visit, while also keeping them ahead of the academic curve through classes in math, literature, science, and social studies.
High School Placement:
Middle school isn’t the last stop. We work with our scholars to identify top-ranked high schools in their communities, and our staff provides ongoing support to make sure our students succeed once they get there.
Who We Serve
Our scholar population reflects the communities where we work: 75% identify as African-American and 12% as Latinx, and students join us with a range of academic performance and levels of support in and out of school.
No two scholars are alike, but we are all united in a strong belief in our four social justice pillars—voice, freedom, justice, and solidarity—and all students leave the program ready and able to realize their potential, regardless of where they started.
