Higher Achievement
Baltimore
Higher Achievement Baltimore is a place of joy and connection, rigor and high expectations, exploration and big dreams.
Where Talent Meets Opportunity
Higher Achievement’s afterschool program for 5th through 8th-grade scholars combines academic enrichment with social-emotional skill building, culminating in placement in college preparatory high schools.
Scholars participate in learning blocks to complete homework and work on high school applications, build relationships and high school readiness skills with a weekly mentor, practice social-emotional skill-building during gathering times and community meetings, explore new interests through electives, and take part in field trips throughout the year.
Our Centers
Baltimore Main Office
1100 Wicomico Street, Suite 333
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (434) 216-8086
Email: info@higherachievement.org
Highlandtown Achievement Center
Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School
231 S. Eaton Street
Baltimore, MD, 21224
Lakeland Achievement Center
Lakeland Elementary/Middle School
2921 Stranden Road
Baltimore, MD 21230
Creative City Achievement Center
Creative City Public Charter School
2810 Shirley Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215
Mount Royal Achievement Center
Mount Royal Elementary/Middle School
121 McMechen Street
Baltimore, MD 21217
Creative City Achievement Center currently serves only 5th-grade scholars. This partnership is possible thanks to the support of the Family League of Baltimore.
Our Scholars
Higher Achievement scholars are driven and talented. They dedicate over 300 hours per year to Higher Achievement, strengthening their academic skills, building their confidence, and exploring their passions.
We match their commitment with dedicated staff, supportive mentors, and joyful learning experiences to support their development.
“Now I’m more confident, have better social skills, and know how to resolve conflict in effective ways. Higher Achievement has also shown me how to manage my time for school work and my own life.”
Nomareliz,
Lakeland Scholar
“The program’s impact on leadership skills, STEM knowledge, and community involvement has been remarkable. It has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in school.”
Marco,
Highlandtown Scholar
“Higher Achievement helped me understand what it was like to be in high school, so I knew what to prepare for.”
Aiden,
Mt. Royal Scholar
Rigor. Relationships. Results.
Higher Achievement is where talent and opportunity meet to launch lifelong success. Scholars make academic gains while building the social-emotional skills that are critical for success in high school and beyond.
170+
scholars supported
across our Baltimore Achievement Centers
63%
of scholars maintain an A or B or improve a letter grade in English
60%
of scholars maintain an A or B or improve a letter grade in Math
98%
of scholars are accepted into at least one of their top three high school choices
Supporter Spotlight
Community is at the heart of our work. Higher Achievement is honored to work with partners who share our commitment to seeing, supporting, and caring for every single scholar.
There are plenty of ways to get involved, from mentoring and joining the Advisory Board, to hosting a career day and donating financially.
What We’re Up To
We`re hiring! 🎓
Higher Achievement is looking for passionate, people-first educators to join our afterschool team this fall:
Achievement Coach – $50/hr | Mon–Thu, 3:30–5:30 PM
Lead learning blocks for up to 15 middle schoolers, provide academic coaching, and help scholars build the study skills they need to thrive in high school and beyond. A minimum of two years of classroom experience with middle schoolers is required; teacher certification strongly preferred.
Center Lead – $25/hr | Mon–Thu, 3:30–6:30 PM
Facilitate learning blocks, electives, and community meetings for middle school scholars. A great fit for current college students or those with at least 3 years of structured youth work experience.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for both roles.
Both positions offer paid training, consistent afterschool hours, and the chance to make a direct, visible impact on scholars during a critical stage of their development.
We believe talent is everywhere — but opportunity is not. If you`re ready to help expand opportunities, we`d love to hear from you.
🔗 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/e2pwHBeu
At our annual Green Apples graduation ceremony, we celebrated our 8th-grade scholars` accomplishments, honored our dedicated mentors and supporters, and saw the talents of our scholars shine through showcase performances.
Each year, Higher Achievement selects one outstanding 8th-grade scholar to receive our "Maureen Holla Award." This scholar must maintain a 3.0 GPA, have high attendance and participation, and demonstrate a commitment to our core values. This year`s Maureen Holla award winner, Naza`riah, shared the impact Higher Achievement made on her middle school journey:
"Higher Achievement has helped me in school by giving me chances to work on Math and ELA. It has helped me by improving my spelling and my writing. And it has helped me in my social life by giving me confidence and allowing me to meet new people."
Our CEO Lynsey Wood Jeffries hit the airwaves! 📻✨
She recently sat down with @iheartradio @washfm`s Community DC to share the story of Higher Achievement — how we`re closing the opportunity gap for middle schoolers in under-resourced communities, one mentor-mentee relationship at a time.
Head to the link in our bio to listen to the full segment. 🎙️
Rising 9th graders + families: join us TONIGHT or this Thursday at 6 p.m. for an information session for our 9th Grade Bridge Retreat!
Virtual meeting link in bio 👆
Thanks to the support of the @ChesapeakeBayFoundation, our 8th-grade scholars had the opportunity to attend a 3-day overnight trip to Smith Island.
Scholars spent the weekend setting crab traps, fishing, marsh mucking, learning about local species and environmental stewardship, and even spotting dolphins. Experiences like these help young people build confidence, curiosity, teamwork, and a deeper connection to the world around them.
This spring we officially launched our first Family Navigator Session for 7th-grade students, in partnership with the @thefundbalt. This session was designed to create clarity, confidence, and direction for families and students as they navigate the complex high school landscape in Baltimore prior to the application process beginning in the fall.
Dr. Toni began the 90-minute session with a hands-on activity for students and families to identify their hopes and dreams for high school.
We are excited to announce that we have already awarded 8 scholarships for alumni through our Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship, and applications are still being accepted!
This scholarship is designed to support alumni as they work toward college completion or finishing a trade program. Each year, we hear from alumni facing unexpected financial obstacles that can disrupt their progress. The Last Dollar Alumni Fund provides flexible financial support—up to $1,000—to help remove these barriers.
Learn more and apply on our website: https://ow.ly/ga7Q50YWgxF
Aubrey recently celebrated a big win: earning a place in@bardbaltimore`s incoming freshman class. Aubrey, an 8th-grade scholar at @higherachievement.baltimore`s Highlandtown Achievement Center, worked hard to secure this accomplishment while navigating doubts and challenges.
“When I finally got the letter saying that I had gotten in, it was shocking,” recalls Aubrey. “There was a line full of people wanting to get in, so being accepted to the school was a big thing to me.” Aubrey credits Higher Achievement with providing critical support during her preparation. “I don’t think I would have gotten into Bard without the help of Higher Achievement,” she says. “It’s a big accomplishment going to an early college school. I want to make my family proud, and I want to go to college, and I feel like getting into Bard is a big step forward in accomplishing my goals. I’m proud of myself.”
Higher Achievement places significant emphasis on developing high school readiness for scholars like Aubrey through academic enrichment, social-emotional skill-building, field trips, and mentoring. “At Higher Achievement, they’ve taught me that I don’t have to be scared to ask anyone for help. No one is going to see me as any less—they see me as a regular student who just needs help,” says Aubrey.
The experiences Aubrey has gained—and the confidence she has built—will continue to shape her as she pursues her goals in high school and beyond.
“A life lesson I’ve taken away from Higher Achievement is to not give up just because something doesn’t go right with you immediately. It’s one of the most important life lessons because every day can feel like a challenge, and sometimes you just want to give up. But I’ve learned if something is holding you back, you can’t give up.”
Read more on our blog (link in bio)
