High Jump Chicago

09/01/2026

Every month, High Jump students show up ready to learn, grow, and discover what's possible. Monthly giving helps ensure we're ready for them.

Become a Founding Legacy Circle Member with a monthly gift of $25/month or more.

highjumpchicago.org/donate

08/22/2026

Over the summer, Community Scholars came together for one of the most anticipated parts of the week: Team Challenges! From pairs to trios to full teams, students introduced themselves, strategized, and competed in a new challenge — from paper airplane showdowns to puzzle building contests and telephone drawing — they competed in a new challenge every week.

08/14/2026

Expanding access to opportunity starts in the community.

High Jump’s Community Scholars program brings our one-of-a-kind academic and enrichment programming to students in their neighborhoods through partnerships with two CPS schools.

Through after-school and summer sessions, scholars experience hands-on learning, new opportunities, and the supportive High Jump community—all within their school community.

08/12/2026

🌟 On International Youth Day, here's to the students who inspire us every day and remind us what's possible.

Through shared experiences, meaningful connections, and a love of learning, our scholars challenge one another to grow, discover new possibilities, and imagine brighter futures.

Every opportunity we create is an investment in Chicago's youth—their ideas, their leadership, and their potential to shape the world around them.

08/10/2026

Why Middle School? Middle school is when a lot can change. Students are figuring out what they’re good at, what they enjoy, and what they might want for their future. But not every student has the same access to opportunities that can help them get there.

That’s where High Jump comes in. We give Chicago middle school students access to challenging, engaging, tuition-free learning experiences at a time when they can make a real difference. And it works: High Jump students’ math and reading scores improve at nearly twice the national average.

Middle school matters. So does making sure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
See what this looks like for High Jump students →
https://highjumpchicago.org/what-is-high-jump/

08/05/2026

Meet the newest members of High Jump's Associate Board! Through fundraising, community engagement, and advocacy, they're helping expand our community of supporters and create more opportunities for Chicago students.

Read our latest blog post to learn what inspired them to join, what they're passionate about, and why they're committed to High Jump's mission.
https://highjumpchicago.org/growing-our-community-of-impact/

Introducing Our New Associate Board Members The High Jump Associate Board brings together emerging leaders who are passionate about expanding educational opportunity for Chicago middle school students. Through fundraising, community engagement, and professional networking, Associate Board members he...

08/01/2026

Our Alumni Teaching Assistants do so much more than support classrooms—they bring their personalities, talents, and leadership to the program every day.

This week, we celebrated them with TA Awards, recognizing the unique qualities that make each member of the team special. From "Most Likely to Tell the Best Stories" to "Recess MVP" and "Most Likely to Become a Teacher," each award reflected the impact these alumni have on our community.

The celebration became even more memorable thanks to Spirit Week's "Dress as Your Favorite Teacher" day, where our TAs showed up dressed as one of High Jump's beloved campus leaders– Mr. Rodriguez.

As paid Teaching Assistants, High Jump alumni gain meaningful work experience while mentoring the next generation of Scholars. Their leadership, humor, and dedication help create the supportive, joyful environment that makes a High Jump summer so special.

Thank you to all of our Alumni TAs for giving back to the community that helped shape you. 💙

07/27/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Cog Hill for this year's Swing for Impact Charity Golf Tournament and to those who supported from afar through our silent auction.

Because of your generosity, we raised vital funds to help Chicago middle schoolers access transformative educational opportunities and build bright futures through High Jump's tuition-free programs.

A special thank you to our incredible sponsors for making the day possible. Your partnership helps expand access to opportunity for students across Chicago.

We're grateful for everyone who helped make this event a success. Thank you for being part of the High Jump community.

07/25/2026

When students step up, we celebrate them. We're proud to recognize scholars who go above and beyond—supporting their classmates, showing kindness, and giving their best effort in the classroom. Their positive choices make our community stronger every day. 💙

07/24/2026

Seeing High Jump in action turns curiosity into connection—and connection into lasting support for Chicago students.

At a recent Campus Tour, guests heard directly from the students and alumni who bring High Jump's mission to life every day.

They met High Jump alum and current Teaching Assistant Hadja, whose High Jump experience helped prepare her to thrive at Latin School of Chicago. Thanks to the academic enrichment and high school choice support she received through the program, she entered high school in Algebra II as a freshman. Now a rising senior, she's weighing college options—a path that began with the opportunities she found at High Jump.

Guests also met High Jump alum and Campus Intern Diana, who is studying Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis. Combining a love of art and math, her interest in architecture was sparked during their time at High Jump—and today she's pursuing that passion in college.

Current Scholars shared their own experiences, too—from exploring graffiti as a form of artistic expression in Art & Activism, to building confidence through daily social-emotional learning, discussing themes of identity and belonging in Humanities, and exploring what they want from a high school experience through High School Choice. By helping students identify schools where they can thrive, High Jump empowers them to make informed, right-fit decisions about their futures.

These conversations are what make Campus Tours so meaningful. Guests don't just hear about High Jump—they see firsthand how academic enrichment, caring relationships, and personalized support help students prepare for rigorous high schools, discover new passions, and build a strong foundation for college and beyond.