Organization and Contact
Organization Type
Nonprofit
Website Address
Headquarter Location (City, State)
Washington DC
Contact Name
Lynsey Wood Jeffries
Contact Email
ljeffries@higherachievement.org
Program Overview
Mission
Higher Achievement is an academic enrichment program focused on the critical middle school transition. Leveraging volunteer mentors, Higher Achievement supports its scholars year-round from 5th - 8th grade, culminating in placement in college preparatory high school programs.
Program Description
Higher Achievement offers small-group academic mentoring in math and humanities/ELA for middle grade students. It has been the subject of two randomized controlled trial studies by MDRC, both of which demonstrated positive academic effects.
Type of service
Tutoring Program
Academic Intervention
Year Program Launched
1975
States of Operation
Maryland,
Virginia,
Washington DC,
Virtual
Operation Locations
Washington DC, Alexandria VA, Prince Georges County MD, Baltimore MD, Richmond VA
Students and Offerings
Number of Students Served in the Most Recent School Year
600
Grade Levels
5th Grade,
6th Grade,
7th Grade,
8th Grade
Subject Offered
English Language Arts (ELA),
Math,
Reading
Languages of Instruction
English
Delivery Model and Staffing
Delivery Mode
Blended (for the same student, in-person and virtual sessions),
In-Person,
Virtual with a human tutor (e.g. Zoom)
Setting
During School,
Immediately before/after school
Tutor-Student Ratio
1:3
Number of Weeks Per Program
32
Number of Sessions Per Week
3
Number of Minutes Per Session
60
Type of Tutor
Tutoring Staff, Volunteer
Percentage of tutors who can speak a language other than English
20% speak Spanish, roughly
Race/Ethnicity breakdown of tutors
15% Hispanic/Latino, 55% Black or African American, 30% White
Does your program engage with parents?
Yes
Family Engagement Description
Interview families before admission to Higher Achievement, family advising 3x per year to support eventual placement in college preparatory high schools and to build navigational capital.
Customer and Cost
Customer Type
District, Parent, School, Student
Average cost for typical tutoring cycle
Varies. Roughly $1000
Research Evidence
Randomized controlled trial (RCT) study conducted?
Yes
RCT effect size
0,2
Quasi-experimental (QED) study conducted?
No