The program employs advisors, several of whom are bilingual, who utilize large, small, and one-on-one groupings to inform students on the importance of, not only staying in school, but making a formal plan for a career.  Middle school students are encouraged to make a smooth transition to high school.  The advisors also plan or assist in planning college fairs at the school.

Students research various careers and the requirements needed in order to pursue careers of their choice.  Four-day summer programs, by region, are held for all interested juniors in High Horizons schools. 

Students involve themselves in such tasks as writing their college resumes and essays, identifying people to write letters of recommendation, researching majors and colleges, and identifying at least three colleges of interest and complete a formal application.  Another aspect of High Horizons program is to experience and visit at least one college campus with a planned tour.

The High Horizons program goals are to fill the pipeline with students who are prepared academically and have necessary financial support, such as grant and scholarship opportunities, to be successful in their post-secondary options. 

This project is an innovative and dynamic way to encourage students to include college in their future.

The uniqueness of High Horizons is that this program serves all students in identified schools.  We have a four-year track record of success.  High Horizons has a curriculum, developed with college-prep expert The Princeton Review, which is defined and delivered at each grade level.  Our curriculum focuses on encouraging eighth graders, freshmen, and sophomores to stay in school and to sign up for challenging courses.  We encourage them to begin thinking about and research careers in which they would be interested.  We emphasize the five essentials that most college admission officers require – GPA, ACT/SAT scores, letters of recommendation, extra-curricular activities, and community service. Students will be encouraged to not only sign up for various activities but to assume leadership within those activities both in and out of school.  They will also be guided to start community service and to begin to identify ways in which they can give back to the community, now and later in life.  In addition, at the eleventh grade level, students are given a checklist to see if they are on target for graduation and to encourage them to continue to research careers and the requirements needed for each of those careers.

During a student’s senior year, advisors will encourage students to evaluate their ACT score to see if a retake is necessary, check status of credits needed for graduation, examine scholarships to determine which scholarships for which they are qualified to apply, and then, follow through with a formal application to a post-secondary institution.  If that post-secondary option is college, then seniors are encouraged to apply to at least three colleges – one reach, one on-target, and one safety.

In addition to an outstanding curriculum which is supported by the staffs at our schools, High Horizons takes great effort in continuous, on-going training of the staff. Each year, the staff has grown professionally by analyzing the four needs of the program and pursuing the appropriate resources necessary to strengthen our curriculum and its delivery.   

One aspect of the High Horizons program is the financial aid nights which are held at each school.  Parents and students are invited to fill out the FAFSA online with the assistance of a High Horizons advisor.  Advisors attend back-to-school nights, parent conference nights and other events held in the schools which are focused on academic achievement and college admission. Our advisors work with students in finding community service opportunities which will allow them to further contribute back to the community. This community service also contributes to their many college admission and scholarship.

The High Horizon advisors, over the past three years, have held a summer program in which juniors in targeted areas are encouraged to attend.   The summer program is a four day session in which students who attend cover the following areas in-depth:

In addition, all advisors work closely with the administration and the counselors in each building in order to assist in implementing school goals and ensuring overlap with the counselors’ tasks is not occurring.  It’s this working relationship which allows us ability to identify students who need extra assistance.  We strive to be part of their team in order to better serve the students.