Higher Achievement - DC Metro

At our annual Green Apples graduation ceremony, we celebrated our 8th-grade scholars' accomplishments, honored our dedicated mentors, experienced the talents of scholar poets, and heard from an alum of the program.

Each year, Higher Achievement selects one outstanding 8th-grade scholar to receive our "Maureen Holla Award." This year's award winner, Angie, shared the impact of her time in the program:

"Higher Achievement gave me self-confidence. It helped me discover a part of myself I never knew I had.... Higher Achievement has and still is preparing me for my future. The program overall built the person I am today and I'm so grateful they did. I realized I wasn’t alone anymore. This time, I knew I belonged right here in Higher Achievement.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 — we are cheering you on always!

Wells Achievement Center scholars recently visited The Bonifant senior apartment community in Silver Spring for a service-learning field trip.

Scholars spent time connecting with senior residents by playing games, serving ice cream, and listening to their stories. Scholars and residents experienced meaningful connections throughout the day. Scholars Madison, Zoe, and Kendall created drawings for residents, and another scholar, Chadwin, concentrated deeply during his game of checkers with a resident.

Big shoutout to Ms. Tammy, one of Wells' Center Leads, for coordinating this experience! This trip was a great example of our scholars striving for excellence and showing the power of community by putting others first.

Jordan Dowtin-Dorsey's earliest memory of building community outside of her family began at Higher Achievement. "That experience changed my trajectory in life in so many ways,” reflects Jordan.

Higher Achievement offered Jordan tools to manage her emotions, form friendships, and dream big. “Being part of Higher Achievement changed how I perceived my abilities. It gave me the tenacity and confidence to go after what I wanted.”

After earning her degree in Neuroscience and a Master of Biomedical Studies from Drexel University, Jordan is now teaching a STEM elective at an elementary school in Anacostia while pursuing her goal of attending medical school. Before that next chapter begins, she's giving back as a Higher Achievement mentor, helping to build the community that meant so much to her as a scholar.

"Everything I am able to do now is because people poured into me. Higher Achievement poured into me. I come every single week to mentor to pass that on to the next person."

Read Jordan's full story: https://higherachievement.org/alumni-and-mentor-spotlight-jordan-dowtin-dorsey/

We are excited to announce that we have already awarded 8 scholarships for alumni through our Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship, and applications are still being accepted!

This scholarship is designed to support alumni as they work toward college completion or finishing a trade program. Each year, we hear from alumni facing unexpected financial obstacles that can disrupt their progress. The Last Dollar Alumni Fund provides flexible financial support—up to $1,000—to help remove these barriers.

Learn more and apply on our website: https://ow.ly/el7h50YWgxy

We are proud to announce a new program investment that will extend Higher Achievement's support beyond 8th grade.

Our new Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship provides flexible financial support, up to $1,000, to help Higher Achievement alumni overcome financial obstacles that may impact their ability to complete college. This fund is designed to remove barriers without the red tape often associated with traditional scholarships.

We are accepting applications now through August 21!

Apply today, or share with a Higher Achievement alumni: https://higherachievement.org/last-dollar-alumni-fund/

Higher Achievement was honored to host City of Greenbelt Government City Councilmembers Councilmember Jenni Pompi and Danielle McKinney for Greenbelt, along with Stephanie Havard from the Jones Foundation, and other distinguished guests for a tour of our Greenbelt Middle School Achievement Center last week.

Guests witnessed two signature elements of our program (learning blocks and mentoring) then joined scholars, alumni, and staff for an engaging roundtable discussion on the impact Higher Achievement has had on current scholars and alumni. A highlight was when Esther reflected on her opportunity to speak at our annual Going Places event and shared, “Higher Achievement lets everyone have a chance.”

We are grateful for the community of support that enables us to offer every scholar opportunities to bring their big dreams to life.

We are deeply grateful for the steadfast support of Bates White Careers

The scholars at our Brookland Achievement Center had a blast visiting their offices, learning more about the world of economic consulting, and participating in a hands-on case study about the economics of running a cupcake shop.

This month we officially launched our first Family Navigator Session for 7th-grade students and families at Brookland Middle School as they begin thinking ahead to the high school application process.

This 90-minute session was designed to create clarity, confidence, and direction while navigating the complex high school landscape in DC.

During the session, students and families:
📝Reviewed the My School DC high school application process
🏫Heard directly from middle and high school Assistant Principals about what 7th graders can do now to set themselves up for success
🎓Completed individual surveys where they indicated what components of high school are most important to them and received a personalized list of their 3 best-fit high schools based on their responses

This event was about early exposure and informed decision-making to ensure families have the knowledge and tools they need before the application process begins next fall.

Family Navigator Sessions are a part of our newly expanded High School Transition programming, designed to reach and support more students in the communities we serve.

We are excited to share a new partnership with The Phillips Collection workshop and gallery at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC). Phillips@THEARC recently hosted a hands-on workshop for our Achievement Prep scholars led by teaching artist Sanah Brown-Bowers. Inspired by The Phillips Collection’s dedication to the transformative power of art, scholars used collage to explore color, image, and storytelling.

Scholars pieced together a whimsical world of stories through the artist's practice of collaging. From the playfulness of Dr. Seuss and Mr. Rogers—shows that influenced the artist as a child—to photos representative of youthfulness and joy, scholars created a collage-based time capsule on a charcuterie board, with a splash of paint and a sprinkle of glitter.

This , we're proud to celebrate the compassion and commitment of our volunteer mentors, including longtime mentor Ms. Shalonda.

Ms. Shalonda deeply understands the impact mentoring has on both mentors and scholars, reflecting:

"It is fun to talk with them, laugh with them, and celebrate them. I cherish the opportunity to instill a sense of pride in these young people. It is truly fulfilling to see them embrace challenges and believe in their unlimited potential. Ultimately, every child needs a safe environment where they can simply be themselves. I am proud to be a part of that."

Read more on our blog: https://higherachievement.org/why-i-mentor/