
Grant Funding Helps Us Meet Goals, Improve Outcomes, and Grow
Foundation and Corporate Grants make up a significant part of High Jump’s revenue stream (1/6). Pursuit and access to institutional funding provide long-term financial sustainability and promote continued growth and development within our organization. Grants can pave the way to meeting organizational goals such as: Increasing reach of the High Jump program to serve more…

Alumni Spotlight: Jessica
Jessica is a High Jump alumna who was part of Cohort 22. “As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized how lucky I was to be part of High Jump. It was the beginning of where everything has happened for me. It’s where I learned the tools I still use today, and it’s where I found a…

Alumni Spotlight: Derrick
Cohort 22 alumnus Derrick grew up in Hyde Park with a mother who always taught him to value education and to constantly search for ways to move forward. When they learned about High Jump, they knew it was an opportunity for Derrick to receive the academic rigor he wasn’t getting at school. “High Jump was…

Will the Pandemic Reshape Chicago’s High-stress High School Applications?
Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago – Apr 14, 5:14pm CDT Will the pandemic reshape Chicago’s high-stress high school applications? was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. Sign up for their newsletters here: ckbe.at/newsletter Maile Solis’ son wants to follow an older sister to Lane Tech College Prep, one of Chicago’s selective-enrollment…

High Jump’s Impact Recognized by Two Partner Schools
The Latin School of Chicago’s Winter 2020 issue of Latin Magazine featured High Jump in the article “30 Years and Still Rising: High Jump’s Lasting Impact”. With a focus on select Latin School & High Jump alumni, the piece provides an overview of High Jump’s history and the diverse, surprising experiences that its alumni have…

UPenn Freshman and Author, I’deyah
University of Pennsylvania freshman I’deyah was interviewed this past summer on ABC 7’s Chicago Graduation 2020 Special “The After Party.” Watch her full interview here. I’deyah has long used her talents to inspire other kids. At just seven years old, she published her first book to help budding authors find their voices through writing. “I…

High Jump Alumna and TA, Caroline
Caroline is a High Jump alumna and a junior at the Latin School, which is where her own Teaching Assistants (TAs) attended when Caroline was enrolled at High Jump. “My TAs went to Latin and I looked up to them a lot,” she says. “I guess I did end up following in their footsteps!” This…

Meet Daniel, Future Engineer
Daniel is the youngest of five siblings and the only one attending remote CPS classes this year. After learning about High Jump from his school principal and English teacher, Daniel enrolled at the Lab School campus last year, where he developed a passion for science lab. “I love dissecting animals and seeing what makes them…

Adapting Our Fall Programming Amidst COVID-19
By the spring of 2020, we knew that our summer program would have to be quite different than in years past. Thankfully, the changes we made for summer were strategic, research-informed, and ultimately successful. With the threat of COVID-19 greater than ever, we used the same structure for our fall programming. Here’s how we adapted…

High Jump’s New Chief Programs Officer: Yolanda Luna-Mroz
On December 1, 2020, High Jump welcomed Yolanda Luna-Mroz as our new Chief Programs Officer overseeing leadership and development for High Jump’s successful middle-grade enrichment program, alumni program extension, and upcoming pilot program. “I am professionally and personally driven by a commitment to equity and a belief that education can be an engine for social…