Horizons Greater Washington

Horizons offers an intensive summer program and school year programming that build critical skills in reading, math, swimming, and social and emotional development to prepare our students for successful school years and transitions. Our project-based STEAM curriculum focuses on the whole child while allowing veteran and new professional teachers to hone their craft with us. Throughout the nine years their child is in our program, we partner with our families and remove the physical barriers to learning by absorbing the full cost of each student and providing transportation, supplies, and meals. In 2023 our hallmark summer program served 422 students in our largest roster ever and we successfully implemented our return to full in-person learning. All 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 summer program was supplemented by our new school year weekend programming launched in Fall 2022 that engaged our current students and alumni through skill-building, career exploration, and support navigating the transition to high school and beyond.High-quality instruction, hands-on experiential learning, and individualized support from skilled professional teachers are the pillars of our model. 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.Through pre- and post-program stakeholder surveys, we work to ensure our students' voices and the voices of their caregivers drive program design and improvements. We believe that every child should have access to opportunities that help them thrive.