Challenging Underserved Children to Achieve Academic Excellence

Does an intensive, academically-oriented after-school and summer program for low-income, urban youth have positive long-term outcomes on academic engagement, performance, and the selection of and admission to competitive high schools?

Does an intensive, academically-oriented after-school and summer program for low-income, urban youth have positive long-term outcomes on academic engagement, performance, and the selection of and admission to competitive high schools? The Higher Achievement Program (HAP) serves motivated 5th through 8th graders in Washington D.C. and Alexandria, VA. In 2006, the researchers began a randomized trial study of HAP with 952 student participants (enrolled over three years). The investigators will use this grant to finish the 24-month follow-up wave. They will also collect and analyze a 48-month follow-up of the first cohort to test the hypothesis that HAP leads to improvements in academic achievement after the second year of program participation, and that these gains—together with high school selection counseling—will increase the likelihood that students will enroll in more competitive high schools.