The Challenge

Across our country, students from under-resourced communities face inequities in access to technology, cultural and educational enrichment, the arts, and more. These barriers to access results in gaps in academic and social-emotional skills, creativity, and health that have a profound impact on student achievement, engagement, and individual life success.

  • The academic achievement gap on average is 3 years by 5th grade
  • 2-3 months are typically lost in reading and math over the summer, and this loss becomes cumulative (watch this video to learn more about the summer slide)
  • Under-resourced students are 6 times more likely to drop out of high school and less likely to enroll in college
  • Young adults with a college degree earn more than twice as much as those without a high school credential
  • A 6th grade student who misses more than 20% of class, whose teacher reports poor behavior, or who fails math or English has a 70% likelihood of dropping out

What does this look like in Newark, New Jersey?

During the 2018 - 2019 school year:

39% of Newark students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts, 24% of Newark students met or exceeded expectations in Math, and 28% of Newark students were chronically absent from school

Horizons exists to close these gaps for students in Newark, to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed in school and in life. Through a combination of academics, social-emotional learning, family engagement, and enrichment supports, Horizons students gain the tools they need to thrive.