HORIZONS NATIONAL

There are 70+ affiliates of Horizons National serving more than 7,500 young people.

For almost 60 years, Horizons National has delivered high-quality academic, enrichment, and social-emotional student support by building lasting, long-term relationships and partnerships between students, teachers, families, and communities.

Horizons National is an award-winning, tuition-free, academic, and enrichment program serving under-resourced public-school students on the campuses of independent schools, colleges, and universities across the country. Horizons engages students and families throughout the school year (during out-of-school time), working in partnership to support students continually.

The programs are self-supported through independent fundraising. Horizons San Diego is the first and only Horizons program serving San Diego.

Program Model

Horizons students across the country attend a six-week summer program on the campus of an independent school, college, or university, and receive additional support throughout the year.

The project-based educational model is designed to fuel a life-long passion for learning, using a blend of high-quality academics with cultural enrichment and confidence-building activities like swimming, arts, and sports. In small classes led by professional teachers, students dive into a rich curriculum with a focus on literacy and STEAM.

Horizons serves students with a broad range of academic skills, providing them with the opportunity to experience success in a setting that, over time, becomes an inspirational and stable learning environment for students, families, and the greater community.

Results

Since our 1964 founding, Horizons sites nation-wide have been found to have positive impact on participants’ academic skills, self-confidence, and engagement. A 2018 Concentric Research & Evaluation (CRE) study of 15 Horizons sites in seven states, funded by the New York Life Foundation and the Scripps Family Fund for Education, found that compared to their peers, Horizons students had:

  • Higher attendance rates and lower rates of chronic absenteeism 

  • Higher scores on standardized assessments of elementary math and science 

  • Higher GPAs in 9th grade, a critical transition year

  • More course credit earned in 9th and 10th grade 

  • Fewer incidents of repeating a grade 

  • Fewer disciplinary referrals 

Read the report to learn more about Horizons’ impact nationwide.