When we work to quantify the impact High Jump has on our students and on Chicago’s educational landscape as a whole, it’s easy for us to give big, high-level stats that show the depth and breadth of our programs: We’re proud of these stats, and even prouder to know the unique stories of every single…
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After hearing from two students and a teaching assistant currently in High Jump, we want to share with you once again the real and powerful impact of the program as told from the perspective of students who went through it. But this time, we wanted you to hear from two of our alumni who graduated…
Read MoreFor over 30 years, High Jump has changed the lives of more than 2,500 middle school students in Chicago. While our first cohort in 1989 had just 16 students enrolled, High Jump has grown over the years and now serves more than 285 new students each year through our programs. After three decades of honing…
Read MoreWhen we talk about the critical work that High Jump does and the impact that we have on the educational landscape in Chicago, there is of course the cold hard data that backs up the power and success of our work including: 87% of High Jump Scholars graduate from college (compared to 41% of all…
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More than 3,400 high-achieving, low-income students in Chicago enter sixth grade each year. These students have limited means to invest in their education, with long-term implications; middle school performance is highly predictive of a student’s future high school achievement. And research from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute shows that the middle school years are critical…
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Moving Up is the culmination of two years of hard work for students ready to embark on their high school journey. Cohort 31 began the program in 2019, the summer following their 6th-grade year. After putting in the 700 hours of challenging but rewarding work, 157 students graduated from the program this year. Held at…
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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…
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If you could let it all out in a speech, what would you say, and to whom? This is just one of the thought-provoking exercises that High Jump High Freshman Seminar students work on this summer. Through this self-expression exercise, students reveal a need to “get noticed” and share that they are “relieved to get…
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Adapting our highly interactive in-person program for virtual lessons does not go without some obstacles. But with the help of our Tech TAs, students at High Jump’s summer session are supported with technical assistance at any time during their class day. Following Morning Assembly, where Campus Directors encourage students and help get them ready for…
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This year 160 eighth graders in Cohort 29 graduated from the High Jump program at the annual Moving Up Ceremony! It’s always a proud moment for the High Jump family to see students celebrate their accomplishments with their family and friends. These students have given it their all these past two years and we’re excited…
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