Our Programs
Academic Enrichment. Social-Emotional Support. High School Transition.
High Jump empowers Chicago’s middle schoolers to become well-rounded leaders through our tuition-free programs with one-of-a-kind experiences, resources, and educational support for curious and motivated 7th and 8th-grade students who want to challenge themselves academically.
What makes a student a scholar? A love of learning and a desire to seek experiences to challenge themselves socially and academically. Our students are intellectually curious and academically motivated; many are the first people in their families to attend college.
High Jump scholars graduate from our program, ready for what’s next. Our alums are lifelong learners seeking resources and opportunities to improve their lives. They advocate for themselves and their big ideas and stay connected with their High Jump peers as they grow and uplift their communities.
We support our scholars with academic enrichment, but it’s so much more. High Jump is dedicated to being there for our scholars. We provide programs and support during high school and are an ongoing resource for them through college.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Commit to two years of tuition-free academic enrichment through our Scholars or Community Scholars program.
HIGH SCHOOL
Continued academic enrichment, college counseling and readiness, and financial aid literacy support for getting to and through college.
COLLEGE
Stay connected and feel supported all the way through college with our alumni support programs.
Become a High Jump Scholar
High Jump Scholars is a holistic learning program designed to help learners develop the skills they need to thrive wherever they go.
The program consists of six weeks of daily instruction in the summer and an average of two Saturdays each month during the school year. Our curriculum exposes students to culturally relevant literature, themes, rigorous math instruction, and experiential learning.
Students will join us onsite at one of our three campuses in Chicago: the Latin School of Chicago, the Francis W. Parker School, and the University of Chicago Laboratory School.
The Change-Makers of Tomorrow.
Our Scholars are discovering new passions, building confidence, and following their dreams.
Moving Up! and on to New Things
At the 2025 Moving Up Ceremony this May, High Jump held space for a celebration two years in the making. Moving Up is the culmination of two years of hard work for students ready to embark on their high school journey. Held at the Diane and David B. Heller Auditorium at Francis W. Parker School…
Ready for their Next Chapter: Cohort 35
High Jump’s annual Moving Up Ceremony is the culminating event to honor students’ two years of hard work. Each graduating High Jump student gets to walk across the stage and receive their certificate—a physical reminder of all the work they’ve put in over the past two years and of all that they’ll carry with them…
Creating Hope and Fulfilling Dreams
Recently, Zak, a 7th-grader from High Jump’s 36th Cohort, sat down with Eleanor Nicholson, Co-Founder of High Jump to talk about High Jump. High Jump is a two-year tuition-free academic enrichment program for kids who are curious and want to learn. The program helps prepare students academically, gives them a sense of community, and gets…
Community Scholars Is Now an Official High Jump Program!
After 35 years of growing High Jump’s Scholars Program from our first cohort of 16 students to our most recent cohort of 225 students, we are so proud and excited to announce the next step of our continued growth: the formal adoption of our Community Scholars pilot as High Jump’s second ever official program! Community…
Learn about the Community Scholars Pilot Program
Community Scholars is a partnership with Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy and support from Chicago Public Schools and District 65 Evanston/Skokie. The program is designed to bring programming to neighborhood schools and reach more students across Chicago.
