High Jump is Chicago’s leading tuition-free academic enrichment program for talented and motivated middle school students. Since 1989, High Jump has provided innovative support to help students of limited family resources achieve their full academic and leadership potential. Participating in High Jump is a life changing experience for students, their families and their community.
Selected students participate in a rigorous two and one-half year course of study on Saturdays and daily during summer sessions during their 7th and 8th grade year. The hallmark of the High Jump experience is a course of study that builds academic and social skills, fosters self-confidence and independent thinking and provides critical information about future educational choices.
High Jump has made it possible for more than 850 deserving young students to be prepared for, and to succeed in, some of the most challenging college preparatory high schools in the country.
100% of program alumni matriculate to, and graduate from, top college preparatory high schools and more than 85% go on to attend college. We are extremely proud of this record of success and the impact High Jump has on educational attainment and future success. We salute the faculty, Trustees and staff for providing effective programming and thank the many donors and partner organizations for supporting High Jump’s important mission. High Jump is truly grateful to the Latin School of Chicago for generously serving as the program’s host since inception.
During the summer of 2010, High Jump expanded outreach and launched Prep 6, a pilot program at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Prep 6 targets students a year earlier, in the 6th grade, focusing specifically on math and writing. Prep 6 was made possible through generous funding from The John Buck Company Foundation.
We hope you enjoy learning about High Jump. To see the impact the program has on a student’s life, click on the video at the top of this page.
