Community Minute: Promoting Academic Excellence Through Out-of-School Time Enrichment

Higher Achievement DC Metro works with local students to encourage high-level academic achievement through out-of-school time programs.

Higher Achievement DC Metro provides rigorous year-round programs to close the opportunity gap for middle school youth in at-risk communities. The program serves more than 500 students in five achievement centers in the District and one in Alexandria, Va. From 5th through 8th grade, participants stay with the program, which combines demanding academic work with mentoring, skill-building, individual student achievement plans, and personal encouragement. The Afterschool Academy includes supervised study hall, small-group instruction in core subjects, along with seminars, electives, field trips and community service projects. Students in Higher Achievement’s six-week Summer Academy complete coursework in core subjects and elective topics, and take a three-day trip to a college. Higher Achievement’s program culminates with high school placement services, which help students advance to top-performing high schools. Students receive help identifying schools that fit their needs, preparation for placement tests and interviews, application assistance and financial aid resources. 93 percent of program graduates advance to college.

For more information, contact:
Higher Achievement – DC Metro
317 8th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.544-3633
info@higherachievement.org

This WAMU 88.5 Community Minute is part of WAMU's American Graduate series. "American Graduate:  Let’s Make It Happen" a public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help local communities across America address the dropout crisis.