Our Programs
Academic Enrichment. Social-Emotional Support. Lifelong Learning.
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.
6 Questions with High Jump 8th Grade Students
Over the past three decades High Jump has provided over 3,000 academically ambitious middle schoolers of limited economic means with the right resources at the right time, empowering them to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. As the first step of carving out that path to the future, High Jump helps 8th grade scholars…
The Years that Matter Most
As we prepare to welcome High Jump’s 35th cohort in just under a week, we wanted to share with you why we believe that the High Jump model works so well. The experiences of our current students and the lives our alumni are now leading speak for themselves in terms of the success of the…
The Rippling Impact of High Jump
Over the past 35 years, High Jump has impacted the lives of over 2,900 alums. Beyond middle school, beyond high school, and even beyond college, High Jump sets our scholars up to thrive for the rest of their lives. Because of that, the impact of High Jump doesn’t just end with our alumni themselves; as…
Thriving in Middle School and Beyond
When a scholar begins their High Jump journeys in the summer after 6th grade, the idea of being in high school can feel worlds away. For many students, the most pressing things are the here and now of middle school and the daunting high school application process. And over the course of two years, High…
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.