Higher Achievement
Richmond
Higher Achievement Richmond 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 6th 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
Richmond Main Office
100 Everett St. Office #4
Richmond, VA 23224
Phone: (804) 566-7705
Email: info@higherachievement.org
Boushall Achievement Center
T.C. Boushall Middle School
3400 Hopkins Road
Richmond, VA 23234
Dogwood Achievement Center
Dogwood Middle School, RPS School of Art Integration
1701 Floyd Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220
Henderson Achievement Center
Thomas H. Henderson Middle School
4319 Old Brook Road
Richmond, VA 23227
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.
“Higher Achievement not only helped me academically, but also taught me positivity, respect, empathy, and confidence, and so much more. Skills that I will need in everyday life.”
Kennedy,
Richmond Scholar
“The most meaningful thing about Higher Achievement to me is my mentor. We talk about how we feel—in school and in life—and get to know each other.”
Jada,
Dogwood Scholar
“Being able to have opportunities has gotten me to where I am now. I first learned collaboration at Higher Achievement. It shaped me, and I’ve taken that skill with me everywhere.”
Davion,
Boushall Alumna
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.
120+
scholars supported
across our Richmond Achievement Centers
75%
of scholars maintain an A or B or improve a letter grade in English
67%
of scholars maintain an A or B or improve a letter grade in Math
94%
percent of scholars are accepted at one of the schools/programs to which they applied
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:
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
During our High School Readiness Academy, scholars strengthened their time management, critical thinking, goal setting, and writing skills.
A huge thank you to our volunteers, including a team from @EY_US, who helped lead mock interviews for our scholars, many of whom apply to college preparatory high schools that require rigorous application processes.
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 👆
Congratulations to our 8th-grade graduates! 🎓
At our annual Green Apples graduation ceremony, scholars, mentors, and staff received recognition for embodying Higher Achievement`s culture principles of spirit, respect, excellence, and collaboration.
Each year, Higher Achievement selects one outstanding 8th-grade scholar to receive our "Maureen Holla Award." This year`s Maureen Holla award winner, Lemaris, created a unique artistic and written reflection of his time at Higher Achievement in the form of a book, with each chapter representing a piece of his experience.
At the graduation ceremony, Lemaris shared, "I`m leaving here tonight feeling better about my future than when I came in. And that`s because of this program and every person in this room."
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/TYbf50YWgxE
Thanks to the support of the @ChesapeakeBayFoundation, scholars had the opportunity to put STEM learning in action during a field trip to the @cbfieldstation.
Scholars explored marine organism anatomy through a hands-on shark dissection and discovered the intertidal zone at Toms Cove on Assateague Island.
Higher Achievement scholars explored possibilities for their futures during a field trip to @officialvsutrojans.
Scholars toured the campus, ate at the dining hall, and visited Randolph Farm, VSU`s agricultural learning center. Scholars fed fish at their on-site fish hatchery, and learned about aquaculture, horticultural crops, nutrient management, and water quality while touring the greenhouse and demonstration garden.
