HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON INC

HORIZONS OFFERS AN INTENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAM AND SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMMING FOR K-9 YOUTH THAT BUILD CRITICAL SKILLS IN READING, MATH, SWIMMING, AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEARS AND TRANSITIONS. OVER 90% OF HORIZONS' STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION AND ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS. STUDENTS EXPERIENCED GAINS IN MATH, READING, WRITING, AND SWIM PROFICIENCY IN SMALL CLASS SIZES. THE PROJECT-BASED STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH) CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON THE WHOLE CHILD WHILE ALLOWING VETERAN AND NEW PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS TO HONE THEIR CRAFT WITH US. STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HORIZONS RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 350 HOURS OF ACADEMICALLY ENRICHING EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY - APPROXIMATELY 30% MORE THAN THEIR PEERS.THROUGH THE NINE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO ITS YOUTH, HORIZONS BUILDS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS FOR STUDENTS WITH TRUSTED ADULTS AND PEERS. IT SUPPLEMENTS ITS INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM WITH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY AND TO PRIORITIZE THE TEACHING OF LIFE SKILLS. TO ENSURE OUR APPROACH IS STUDENT-CENTERED, HOLISTIC, AND INCLUSIVE, HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON'S PROGRAMMING ADHERES TO THE WEIKART CENTER'S PYRAMID OF PROGRAM QUALITY. THE PYRAMID'S STEPS; CREATING SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, INTERACTIVE, AND ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, INFORM ALL INSTRUCTIONAL, PROGRAMMATIC, AND SITE-SPECIFIC DECISIONS AND GOALS. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PYRAMID OF PROGRAM QUALITY, HORIZONS FOSTERS JOYFUL AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS FULL OF ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES THAT INSPIRE YOUNG MINDS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ENSURE ITS STUDENTS' VOICES AND THE VOICES OF THEIR CAREGIVERS DRIVE PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS. ALL OF HORIZONS' PROGRAMMING - DURING SUMMER AND ON SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAYS - IS COMPLETELY FREE FOR OUR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS. IN 2025, THE HALLMARK SUMMER PROGRAM SERVED 422 K-9 STUDENTS ACROSS THE THREE PROGRAM SITES. HORIZONS EXPERIENCED INCREASED DEMAND FROM AREA SCHOOLS, THE ADDITION OF TWO FEEDER SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO ITS BOARD AND INCREASED MAJOR GIVING SUPPORT WITH THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF ITS MAJOR GIFTS PROGRAM. HORIZONS' STAR READING AND MATH SUMMER SCORES IMPROVED, AND ATTENDANCE MET BEST-IN-CLASS SUMMER PROGRAM STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, HORIZONS' STUDENTS ARE 1.5X MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY THAN NON-HORIZONS PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON'S RESULTS WERE POWERED BY ITS NEW LOWER SCHOOL SUMMER CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED BY HORIZONS' PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND SITE ADVISORS - PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS FAMILIAR WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THE LOCAL EDUCATION LANDSCAPE AS WELL AS THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT SUMMER PROVIDES FOR ACCELERATING LEARNING FOR STUDENTS.EACH HGW STUDENT ALSO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAY ACADEMY FOLLOWING THE SUMMER PROGRAM. IN ITS THIRD YEAR, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE BOLSTERED OUR SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAY ACADEMY FROM 48 HOURS TO 108 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING ACROSS 18 SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAYS. IN THIS PROGRAM, K-8 STUDENTS DIVE INTO SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) DRIVEN BY THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES AND LED BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. THE 2024-2025 SATURDAY ACADEMY SERVED 75 K-8 STUDENTS AT ONE PROGRAM SITE.