Program Details

Times and schedules

Afterschool Academy meets three days a week during the school year (3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in DC Metro and Baltimore, 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Richmond). Summer Academy is five days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for six weeks. Scholars are expected to attend all sessions for all four years of the program.

At Afterschool Academy, scholars complete their homework in a supervised study hall with support from teachers and volunteers. They then have dinner provided by Higher Achievement. After dinner, they work on a specific subject in small groups of two or three scholars, with a trained volunteer mentor. A scholar's schedule might be mathematics on Monday, literature on Tuesday, and a seminar on Thursday. For each subject, scholars work with the same small group and the same mentor throughout the year.

Scholars attend Summer Academy 40 hours a week for six weeks. The program is a rigorous curriculum that includes mathematics, science, social studies, literature, and two elective cultural or arts classes. All classes are taught by trained instructors.

The High School Placement Program includes a 10-week test preparation class, application and financial aid workshops, school visits, and individualized support for families as they navigate the high school admissions process.

Locations

Both Afterschool Academy and Summer Academy take place at achievement centers, which are located in schools and run by staff members who work closely with the schools’ principals and teachers, as well as the scholars’ families.

See center locations for DC Metro, Baltimore, and Richmond.