Dedicated to closing the opportunity gap, Higher Achievement serves some 400 academically motivated middle-schoolers from under-resourced communities, providing them with rigorous academic enrichment, caring role models, and a culture of high expectations. At the Afterschool Academy, students build social-emotional skills, experience hands-on educational electives, and work with volunteer mentors on high school readiness, acceptance, and enrollment. (They also enjoy a healthy supper.) All students participate in the program’s three components — a serious commitment that results in college-bound scholars with the character, confidence, and skills to succeed. Summer engagement includes field trips and college visits. High school placement services help these middle schoolers advance to college-prep high schools and 95% graduate from high school on time (compared with 75% citywide). For these determined scholars, your help means success in high school and beyond.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 6

Where They Operate: DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; MD-Prince George's County; VA-City of Alexandria; Ward 1, DC; Ward 4, DC; Ward 6, DC; Ward 7, DC; Ward 8, DC; Alexandria, VA; Greenbelt, MD; Brookland, DC

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17)

Population(s) Served: Men/Boys; Women/Girls; Students

Schools They Work In: Meridian Public Charter School; Ida B. Wells Middle School; Brookland Middle School; Eliot-Hine Middle School; Kelly Miller Middle School; KIPP AIM DC; Frances C. Hammond Middle School; Greenbelt Middle School

Awards & Recognition

2014 - Recipient of $12 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education

2013 - Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating

2012 - Social Impact Exchange S&I 100: Named one of the top 100 most impactful nonprofits in the United States

2011 - MetLife Afterschool Innovator Award from the Afterschool Alliance

2009 - White House: Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities

2006 - Johns Hopkins University: Excellence in Summer Learning Award

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • The current budget for Higher Achievement is: $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

If you like Higher Achievement you might also like



This organization collaborates with