Higher Achievement

Higher Achievement is an intensive year-round out-of-school-time program targeting rising fifth and sixth graders from at-risk communities in Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA. The program serves students throughout middle school (grades 5-8) with up to 650 hours of academic instruction per year. During the school year, the Afterschool Academy operates three days per week from 3:30-8:00 PM over 25 weeks, providing homework help, dinner, arts/recreation electives, community gatherings, and 75 minutes of small-group academic instruction led by volunteer mentors using a structured curriculum aligned with DC/Virginia standards. The Summer Academy runs five days per week, 8 AM-4 PM for six weeks, with four core academic classes (math, science, social studies, literature) taught by paid teachers to groups of about 13 students, plus two electives, weekly field trips, and a three-day university trip. As students approach high school, the program increases focus on the transition through family nights, high school visits, individual parent meetings, and dedicated mentoring sessions on applications. Students and parents must complete an application, attend an interview, and commit to 3-4 years of participation.