Mission & Vision
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 learning environment, caring role models, and a culture of high expectations, resulting in college-bound scholars with the character, confidence, and skills to succeed.
Our Approach
Middle school is a time of development, growth, opportunities, and possibilities.
Higher Achievement’s rigorous afterschool program supports middle school scholars as they build social-emotional skills and develop the academic skills and confidence to advance to a rigorous, college-preparatory high school.
- Academic Enrichment sharpens scholars’ critical thinking, reading, writing, and presentation skills while giving them time to complete homework.
- Social-Emotional Skill Building helps scholars develop confidence, build self-efficacy, and practice time management.
- High School Readiness supports scholars’ exploration of options for high school, college, and career while working alongside a weekly mentor.
- High School Transition supports scholars as they leave Higher Achievement and go on to their best-fit high school.
Evidence-Based. Proven Results.
Higher Achievement has been the subject of two randomized controlled trial studies, both demonstrating a statistically significant effect in academics.
The 2013 study resulted in positive findings in test scores, high school placement, and family engagement. A second RCT, published in July 2020, again found statistically significant results – this time with report card grades.
Our Core Values
We are guided by our five core values:
- Scholar Centricity: We seek to empower scholars in every decision, building authentic relationships with them and their families, and creating opportunities with them—not for them.
- Social Justice: We center the principles of freedom, voice, justice, and solidarity to advance a world where basic needs are met and opportunities are accessible to all.
- Voice: We respect, acknowledge, and elevate the power of every voice in our community, and encourage scholars to find and use their voice at Center and beyond.
- The Power of Community: Mentors, families, staff, alumni, and community partners develop and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships while embracing learning, celebrating uniqueness, and infusing joy.
- Striving for Greatness: We set high expectations for ourselves and our scholars, and recognize the unique talents that staff, scholars, and mentors bring to the organization.
Our Scholars
Our scholars are driven and talented. We are committed to providing them with the resources, opportunities, and encouragement they deserve so that they can become the scientists and engineers, poets and educators, artists and leaders that they dream of being.
Our History
2026
- Opened the Creative City Achievement Center in Baltimore, MD
- Established the Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship
2025
- Opened the Achievement Prep Achievement Center in Washington, DC
- Celebrated 50 years of partnering with middle school students as they pursue their ambitions
2024
- National Student Clearinghouse data shows that Higher Achievement scholars are three times more likely than their peers to graduate from a four-year college
2023
- Higher Achievement’s RCT studies are accepted to the What Works Clearinghouse
2021
- Opened the Highlandtown Achievement Center in Baltimore, MD
2020
- MDRC published a second randomized controlled trial (RCT) study of Higher Achievement once again demonstrating statistically significant results.
- Provided individualized academic and enrichment during the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual programming.
2019
- Opened the Greenbelt Achievement Center in Prince George’s County, MD, within the DC Metro affiliate
- Featured in the Aspen Institute Social, Emotional, and Academic Development Commission
- Featured in the Catalogue for Philanthropy
2016
- Opened Brookland Achievement Center within the DC Metro affiliate
- Opened two new Achievement Centers in Richmond
- Won “Excellence in Nonprofit Management” Award from the Center for Nonprofit Advancement
- Featured Charity in the Catalogue for Philanthropy
2015
- Recognized as an Outstanding Mentoring Program by the Virginia Mentoring Partnership
- Received the Raise DC Data Spotlight Award
2014
- Awarded the Department of Education i3 Grant to fuel expansion
- Winner of Impact 100 in Richmond
2012
- Received the Smarter Summers Grant from the National Summer Learning Association and The Walmart Foundation
- Received the HandsOn Greater DC Cares Deloitte Spirit of Service Grant
- Featured Charity in the Catalogue of Philanthropy
2011
- Opened Achievement Centers in Richmond, VA
- Received the MetLife Afterschool Innovator Award
2009
- Opened Achievement Centers in Baltimore, MD
- Received the Coming Up Taller Award from First Lady Michelle Obama, presented by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
2008
- Enterprise Winner for the Catalogue of Philanthropy
- Featured in the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region’s annual report
- Listed in Top Local Charities to Support by Washingtonian Magazine
2006
- Launched the first longitudinal, randomized study of an out-of-school time program
- Expanded to Alexandria, VA, within the DC Metro affiliate
- Named the National Winner of the Excellence in Summer Learning Award, given by Johns Hopkins University
- Received Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builder’s Award
2005
- Received the Washington Post Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award
- Received the NPower/Accenture Award for Nonprofit Innovation in Technology
1990
- Named a Point of Light by President George H. W. Bush
1985
- Incorporated as a 501(c)(3)
1982
- Won the Volunteer Action Award from President Ronald Reagan
- Founded in 1975 by Greg Gannon, a teacher at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC, to create learning opportunities for underserved youth so all students could have equal access to success, both in school and beyond.