Founded in 1975 in Washington, DC as a grassroots effort to create learning opportunities for children in low-income neighborhoods, Higher Achievement has impacted the lives of more than 10,000 young people, and currently operates achievement centers in Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA, Baltimore, MD, Pittsburgh, PA, and Richmond, VA. In 2009, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Brandon invited Higher Achievement to serve as a best practice model for closing the achievement gap by helping Richmonds middle school youth in greatest economic need navigate a path to academic success. Our two Richmond Achievement Centers, one of the Northside and one on the Southside of Richmond, opened in June 2011.

Higher Achievement’s model of rigorous academic mentoring, individualization of services, and comprehensive academic support is guided by leading research for effective out-of-school time programs. Our focus on the middle school transition, academic rigor, and multi-year, year round exposure distinguish us from other programs. Higher Achievements partnership model was recently highlighted by the Harvard Family Research Project, and the organizations focus on preventing summer learning loss was featured in an MSNBC special report, Making the Grade. In 2011, we received the MetLife Innovator in Afterschool Award for Aligning Afterschool with the School Day, further highlighting the strength of our program.