Higher Achievement Scholars on Confidence

Every chance we get, we at Higher Achievement talk about the wonderful changes that we’ve seen in our scholars. For a change, we’ve decided to let you hear about those changes straight from the scholars themselves:

“I feel that Higher Achievement has built up my confidence. When I first jointed, I felt like I wasn’t going to meet anybody. Ever since I joined Higher Achievement, I have good self confidence. I’m not afraid to speak to a crowd. It has also helped my social life. The confidence that I have now cannot be compared at all to the confidence that I had 3 years ago. I love being the leader of my classes. I am the one that is not afraid to speak what’s on my mind. I would have to say that if I never came to Higher Achievement, I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.”

- Reynaldo L., 8th grade scholar

“Higher Achievement helped me with my confidence by showing me that being smart wasn’t something to hide, but something to be proud of. They also helped me with public speaking, by encouraging me to participate in different events like the Literary Love Poetry Competition, Spelling Bee and the Ambassador Competition. Higher Achievement helped me gain two really important qualities, like public speaking and people skills, neither of which I had before starting the program.”

- Greglena S., 8th grade scholar

Baltimore's Spelling Bee a Huge S-U-C-C-E-S-S!

This month, Higher Achievement Baltimore hosted its Inaugural Spelling Bee. Over 30 scholars participated, practicing each day so they could tackle words such as “proximity,” “blatant,” and “benign.”

Click here to see the video of scholars preparing for the Spelling Bee.

Parents, mentors, principals, teachers, and our esteemed judges packed the house to cheer on the scholars and celebrate the importance of academic competition! After rounds of intense competition, 3 scholars per Center emerged as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place champions!

We are proud of all of our scholars for their effort, sportsmanship, and demonstration of Higher Achievement’s culture principles: Excellence, Respect, and Spirit. We look forward to seeing the scholars perform again at our upcoming Love Poetry Performance in May!

Special thanks to our judges: City Councilwoman Conaway, Bea Scott, Karan McClimans, Kristie McManus, Rosalinda Fleming, and Ronald Triplet.

Higher Achievement Featured in Harvard OST Study!

Click here to read the overview and download the study in its entirety.

Mayer Brown Hosts Mock Trial for Higher Achievement Scholars

Twenty DC scholars participated in a career day and mock trial at Mayer Brown on Monday, and it was highlighted in BISNOW, a media company.

Click here to see the feature. Scroll down to the story entitled, "Your Replacements."

Higher Achievement Scholar Testifies Before the Maryland Senate

Higher Achievement scholar Ta’Shawn Miles has done it again!


(Ta'Shawn is photographed above with Senator Catherine Pugh.)

This time, Ta'Shawn had the opportunity to testify before the Maryland Senate in favor of Senate Bill 580, an After School and Summer Learning Activity fund. SB580/HB1197 “Maryland Afterschool and Summer Learning Activity Program – Income Tax Checkoff,” establishes the “Maryland After-School and Summer Learning Activity Fund” which is funded through a voluntary donation by taxpayers via a check-off on the Maryland State income tax return.

You can read an excerpt of Ta'Shawn's remarks below:


"Our mentors help us to feel confident in what we have learned in school and help to teach us more. They don’t only teach us educational lessons, but they teach us skills such as how to deal with conflict, right from wrong and how to work with others in a team.

Mentors are great because they are like family that knows how to tutor you. It feels good to have adult friends that I know want the best for me and will help me to get the best.

I would like to become a mentor as soon as I am able to so that I can help children through the education and life experiences that I have and will gain.
I am thankful to Higher Achievement for giving me these opportunities. I think every child should have an after school and summer program like Higher Achievement.
Thank you."

Be Spellbound by Higher Achievement Baltimore’s First Annual Spelling Bee!

Higher Achievement Baltimore will be hosting their first annual Spelling Bee, joined by Council Member Belinda Conaway, who will assist the organization in facilitating their very first signature event. The Spelling Bee will feature the spelling talents of middle school students from Higher Achievement’s West Baltimore Achievement Center, and is an annual celebration of the students’ hard work and academic excellence. The Spelling Bee will be held on Tuesday, March 2, at 6:00 pm at Dr. Nathan A. Pitts Ashburton Elementary/ Middle School, which will be followed by an Award Ceremony.

Event Details:
Who: Higher Achievement Scholars
What: First Annual Spelling Bee (with Council Member Belinda Conway)
When: Tuesday, March 2nd
6:00 pm
Where: Dr. Nathan A. Pitts Ashburton Elementary/ Middle School
3935 Hilton Road Baltimore, MD 21215

Higher Achievement Spotlighted by Baltimore's Education Channel 77

Click here to check it out! Higher Achievement's coverage begins a little after the 12 minute mark, and ends shortly after the 15 minute mark.

ENJOY!