About the Scholars Program

High Jump helps Chicago middle schoolers grow their curiosity, confidence, and academic skills in a supportive community of learners. The program lasts 2 years and includes six weeks of daily summer classes plus two Saturday sessions each month during the school year. Students learn through engaging academics, culturally relevant readings, and hands-on activities at one of our three partner campuses: Latin School of Chicago, Francis W. Parker School, or the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Learn More about High Jump Scholars

Do you attend George B. Armstrong Elementary or Philip Rogers Fine Arts Elementary? You may be interested in our Community Scholars program. Learn about Community Scholars

Eligibility for High Jump Scholars 

• Current 6th grader: Applicants must be enrolled in 6th grade now.
• Academics: A B average or higher.
• Chicago resident: Students must live in the city of Chicago.
• Curious and motivated: We look for students who are excited to learn and explore something new.
• Financial need: We typically serve families with a household income of $71,000 or below. Families with higher incomes are welcome to apply and share additional context about their financial situation. We use the Illinois State Board of Education’s Free and Reduced Lunch guidelines to help assess need. View the ISBE eligibility chart.

What you'll need to get started:

• 6th grade Quarter 1 report card
• 5th grade full-year report card
• First two pages of your family’s 2025 tax returns
• 3 Teacher recommendations:
  • Let your teachers know you are applying and remind them to complete their recommendation forms!
  • How do teachers receive the forms? In the application, you’ll add your teachers’ emails and once you submit, they’ll receive the recommendation form to complete!
• 1 student essay:
  • Prompt: Why are you a good fit for High Jump? High Jump students are curious, keep trying when things get hard, and want to learn and grow. Tell us 3 qualities you have that would make you a good fit for High Jump. Share examples from your life that show these qualities, such as a time you faced a challenge, learned something new, or worked toward a goal.
  • Check out our essay guide linked here!

Apply by the deadline! 

Priority Deadline: Monday, December 7 at 11:59 PM The first 75 eligible applicants to submit will receive a guaranteed interview!

Final Deadline: Tuesday, January 19 at 11:59 PM

Timeline: October 23, 2026 to January 19, 2027

Application Open

• Students currently in 6th grade can apply.
• Gather your materials: write your essay, collect your report cards, remind teachers to submit recommendations, and prepare your family’s latest tax forms.
• Priority Deadline: Monday, December 7 at 11:59 PM (the first 75 eligible applicants get a guaranteed interview).
• Final Deadline: Tuesday, January 19 at 11:59 PM.
• Need help? Check out our High Jump Informational Toolkit.

What Happens After You Apply

• January to March: Application Review. Our team carefully reviews all applications.
• Early March: Interview Invitations. Eligible students are invited to interview.
• March: Interviews. Students participate in interviews.
• April: Decision Announcements. Final decisions go out to students.
• June: Program Start. Accepted students begin High Jump the summer before 7th grade.