Horizons New York City

In 2020, Horizons New York City became a regional affiliate of Horizons National—an award-winning network of high-quality, tuition-free, and immersive academic enrichment programs serving children from under-served communities throughout the country. Beginning in 1964, the first Horizons program was launched at the New Canaan Country School in Fairfield, CT. Research grew to demonstrate participation in the program with its specific program model helped mitigate summer learning loss, and kept more students reading, writing, and learning within grade-level standards. Eventually the model went national, and steadily grew in multiple states, even expanding to include student assessments, STEM programs, and serve pre-K students. Overall, the program serves over 6,000 students across the country.

Under Horizons National, over 68 affiliate program sites in 19 states are independently facilitated through a partnership with local institutions such as elementary/middle schools, colleges, or universities. For metropolitan hubs such as Atlanta and NYC, affiliate program sites have been grouped into regional affiliates, still operating independently. After years of experience, we have learned that forming a region of programs is an effective way to have the greatest impact on students, families, and our community. By establishing several Horizons affiliate sites in one area and drawing students from local elementary schools, we have the opportunity to impact an entire district. HNYC currently facilitates three Horizons programs: Horizons Brooklyn, Horizons at St. David’s, and Horizons Riverdale who altogether have over fifteen years of operational tenure and results.

Over the next few years, HNYC intends on expanding to at least five regionally coordinated program sites, eventually enabling over 1,000 NYC students to participate in Horizons, and benefit from the incredible resources our programs provide. Each HNYC site is unique, representing the diverse traditions and opportunities of their host institutions, and maintaining deep connections to their local communities. Our host institutions share professional development tools, enhance collaboration among teachers and students, and help support growth in our HNYC region.