Higher Achievement Baltimore

Aubrey recently celebrated a big win: earning a place in Bard High School Early College Baltimore’s incoming freshman class. Aubrey, an 8th-grade scholar at Higher Achievement Baltimore's Highlandtown Achievement Center, worked hard to secure this accomplishment while navigating doubts and challenges.

“When I finally got the letter saying that I had gotten in, it was shocking,” recalls Aubrey. “There was a line full of people wanting to get in, so being accepted to the school was a big thing to me.” Aubrey credits Higher Achievement with providing critical support during her preparation. “I don’t think I would have gotten into Bard without the help of Higher Achievement,” she says. “It’s a big accomplishment going to an early college school. I want to make my family proud, and I want to go to college, and I feel like getting into Bard is a big step forward in accomplishing my goals. I’m proud of myself.”

Higher Achievement places significant emphasis on developing high school readiness for scholars like Aubrey through academic enrichment, social-emotional skill-building, field trips, and mentoring. “At Higher Achievement, they’ve taught me that I don’t have to be scared to ask anyone for help. No one is going to see me as any less—they see me as a regular student who just needs help,” says Aubrey.

The experiences Aubrey has gained—and the confidence she has built—will continue to shape her as she pursues her goals in high school and beyond.

“A life lesson I’ve taken away from Higher Achievement is to not give up just because something doesn’t go right with you immediately. It’s one of the most important life lessons because every day can feel like a challenge, and sometimes you just want to give up. But I’ve learned if something is holding you back, you can’t give up.”

Read more on our blog: https://higherachievement.org/scholar-spotlight-aubrey/

We are proud to announce a new program investment that will extend Higher Achievement's support beyond 8th grade.

Our new Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship provides flexible financial support, up to $1,000, to help Higher Achievement alumni overcome financial obstacles that may impact their ability to complete college. This fund is designed to remove barriers without the red tape often associated with traditional scholarships.

We are accepting applications now through August 21!

Apply today, or share with a Higher Achievement alumni: https://higherachievement.org/last-dollar-alumni-fund/