Annual Report 2011-2012 Determined Learners, Future Leaders During the two or three years that they are enrolled in High Jump, students participate in over 350 classroom hours of academic enrichment annually, including Saturday programming and daily six-week aid counseling, supplies and textbooks and are exposed to life-changing opportunities such as an annual educational leadership experience and other special activities. OUR MISSION High Jump equalizes access to education for middle school students who have exhibited exceptional academic ambition and potential, and who are of limited economic means. We provide academic enrichment, counseling, and support to students of diverse backgrounds, with the goals of sending our participants to superior college preparatory schools, ensuring their success while they are there, and enhancing their ability to gain admission to highly regarded four-year colleges and universities. HIGH JUMP annual report 11-12 1 from the Executive Director Dear Friends of High Jump, Shamsideen Musa, an Parker’s support coupled with Latin’s steadfast alumnus of Cohort 7, partnership and Lab’s commitment to allow us shared an observation to serve 40 percent more students in our Prep about the program that 6 program has allowed us to grow dramatically. resonates in many ways with the year we have We now serve 220 students and are on track to serve 280 by June 2013. path to his May 2012 graduation from the I admit, being new to High Jump, I was nervous Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of about pursuing a steeper trajectory of growth Chicago, Shamsideen told a room full of High than High Jump had ever undertaken before. Jump friends and supporters, “High Jump helped me turn opportunities that I thought were talented kids, help them develop their talents beyond my dreams into the next logical step.” and then connect them to earned opportunities In June 2012, High Jump’s leadership realized — has been extremely meaningful to me both a long-held dream to increase the number of personally and professionally. Our staff team was so eager to double our recruiting challenge “High Jump helped me turn opportunities of rigorous academics, powerful peer networks and character and leadership skill development. teachers to guide those students. Our board that I thought were beyond my dreams into We are increasing the number of young people members were so invigorated to secure the in Chicago who will experience the kind of the next logical step.” opportunities that Shamsideen was talking guiding our growth. I realized this was a chance about. One of our founding partners, the for High Jump to live up to the model Shamsideen Francis W. Parker School, joined Latin School and every other young High Jumper who had – Shamsideen Musa, Cohort 7 of Chicago and the University of Chicago Lab conquered fear, doubt and unease on their own Schools to welcome High Jump students into path has set for us. We would turn this opportunity their school communities. to grow into simply the next logical step. Such alchemy would be impossible without the ongoing support of our generous donors and partners. We thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to support High Jump’s determined learners and future leaders. With gratitude, Lee Hart Executive Director 2 HIGH JUMP annual report 11-12 3 from the Chair of the Board of Trustees “Our students work hard to achieve High Jump has a long history of providing high quality academic enrichment opportunities their education goals, and as a for Chicago’s brightest, hardest-working middle schoolers. Since its founding, our tuition-free community of supporters we know program has focused intently on helping to make an excellent education accessible to motivated that we must also continue to work Students graduate from High Jump’s two-year Dear Friends, course of study with a solid academic foundation, hard to help them succeed.” We are very pleased to share with you this annual report for High Jump’s 2011-2012 preparatory high schools in and around Chicago, – Vince Cozzi, 2011-12 chair of the Board of Trustees school year, a period marked by tremendous and across the country. Our students work change and growth for the program. At the hard to achieve their education goals, and as a beginning of the year, we welcomed Lee Hart community of supporters – faculty, staff, parents, as our new executive director. For those of volunteers and donors – we know that we must you fortunate enough to have met Lee, you also continue to work hard to help them succeed. will know that her energy and enthusiasm for As we look back on the year, we can say with working with High Jump’s talented students certainty that we did work hard on the students’ have only been matched by her drive to see behalf. With the generous support of the Francis the program serve more great kids. In just a W. Parker School community, we opened a new short time, Lee has raised the bar – pushing location that will allow High Jump to double the hard to grow the program to a third campus number of students the program serves. This location and to ensure that our results are is not only an exciting development for High tangible and measurable. Jump, but it is welcome news in our city and for from greater access to learning and choice. We are proud of our High Jump students, and of their achievements in school and in their careers. Their successes inspire us in so many ways. We hope that they continue to inspire you, too. Thanks very much for your support. All the best, Vince Cozzi Chair, Board of Trustees 4 HIGH JUMP annual report 11-12 5 Organizational Highlights 2011-2012 1 2 3 4 Independent, boarding and parochial In the third year of programming, the High Jump secured several large By June of 2013, High Jump will be schools have committed more than number of students in attendance at High multi-year gifts that allowed the serving 280 students annually. Since Jump’s University of Chicago Laboratory program to launch a third campus at the program’s inception, High Jump has 18 graduates of 2012’s Cohort 22. Schools Prep 6 program increased by more Francis W. Parker School in 2012. produced more than 900 alumni. than 40 percent. Even with the increase in students, High Jump was able to maintain a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio. To ensure a quality experience for all With increased funding in 2012, For the third year in a row, a High students, High Jump began working High Jump was able to create frontline Jump alumnus was awarded the Gates with Mission Measurement, nationally leadership positions for our campuses. Millennium Scholarship. In addition, respected consultants that work with one alumnus received the QuestBridge the goal of becoming a successful Scholarship and three alumni were named their social impact. multi-site organization with replicable Posse Scholars. These college-access and goals and outcomes. youth-leadership scholarship funds are highly competitive on a national level. 5 6 7 6 HIGH JUMP annual report 11-12 7 Programmatic Highlights 2011-2012 1 2 3 4 Exploring Chicago Students build personal libraries Cornell Professors Career Show & Tell Sixth grade students toured the University of fiction and nonfiction books High Jump’s Cornell University Professors The High Jump Annual Career Show & of Chicago and attended the acclaimed High Jump students ended the school year in Residence program welcomed three Tell, featured workshops such as “It’s Physics with a Bang showcase at the with a dynamic collection of books including: professors who worked with the students the Law,” facilitated by executive inspector University of Chicago Kersten Physics Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck in the areas of math, science, and Teaching Center. The day featured hands-on Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson communications. Professor Alan Zehnder Attorney General, Diane Saltoun; “Show demonstrations and lively lectures given Orphan of the Sun by Gill Harvey of the Department of Aerospace Engineering Me the Money,” led by senior associate by university physics professors. Students Chandra’s Secret by Allan Stratton worked with students on measuring the economist, Britton Lombardi from the were also given tours of physics laboratories. power developed by wind turbines; Brian Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; “All Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress O. Earle, Department of Communication Things Green” led by Hyatt’s manager of Seventh graders attended the Chicago by Dai Sijie and the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied environmental affairs, Marie Fukudome; Shakespeare Theatre’s world premiere Our America: Life & Death on the South Side of Chicago by LeAlan Jones Economics and Management, taught and “Real Estate Development,” presented family musical The Adventures of & Lloyd Newman students about interpersonal communication by High Jump trustee, Matt Means. The Pinocchio, and enjoyed the sites of Mexican WhiteBoy by Matt de la Pena skills, developing personal credibility students learned about the presenters’ Navy Pier. The Giver by Lois Lowry and how to secure and maintain it as a educational backgrounds and professional The eighth graders ventured to Six Flags presenter; and Susan Piliero, Emeritus challenges, as well as how the students’ Lord of the Flies by William Golding Great America to study the laws of Professor of Education, engaged algebra current studies will play a role in their Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury physics in motion and discover how future careers. A Midsummer Night’s Dream math and science apply to roller coasters. by William Shakespeare Students built model roller coasters Blink: The Power of Thinking Without and learned how force and acceleration Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell operate in the real world.