Horizons Student Enrichment Programs have addressed the achievement gap for more than forty years, by imbuing a diverse population of economically disadvantaged children with a love of learning and the academic and social skills essential to becoming responsible, contributing citizens. Horizons’ hands-on approach to learning engages students in academics, computer literacy, cultural enrichment, swimming and team athletics, special events and field trips. Operating on the campuses of independent schools, Horizons programs begin with Kindergarten and offer a unique combination of: a relationship between the program, its students and parents that lasts for many years; a nurturing and creative professional teaching staff; a mutually beneficial relationship with the independent host school; an effective evaluation component; a diverse classroom with a low student to teacher ratio; and the support of a National organization.

Horizons Students
Horizons Affiliates serve children from low-income families. Students attend a tuition-free six week summer program from K-8, and it is a goal of the program to support students with additional activities through 12th grade. Setting it apart from most other academic enrichment programs, Horizons does not accept only "gifted" students. Approximately two-thirds of the enrollment for each program comes from students who are achieving at or below the national average for their grades. The third who perform above grade level often take leadership roles within the program and provide role models for those who have further to go in order to reach their potential.
The Horizons Student Enrichment Program addresses many of the problems present for high-risk, inner-city children. In academics, recreation, and all program activities, Horizons children are well supervised and receive a lot of individual attention. Most of these children, whose families live at or close to the poverty level, do not have age-appropriate activities available to them during the summer.  Horizons not only gives them a safe and exciting place to be, it includes them in an extended family and provides sense of community.

Long-term relationships
Research has clearly shown that engagement over multiple years is critical to the success of summer and out-of-school academic programs. Horizons programs provide a six-week summer experience supplemented by activities during the school year that include academic, cultural and recreational programming  for children enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grade.  Students remain with Horizons for an average of five years. Many families are involved for decades as additional siblings make their way through the program and graduates return to volunteer or teach at Horizons.

Professional Teaching Staff and Innovative Curriculum
Each classroom is staffed by a professional teacher, typically drawn from the host school or the local public school system, and supported by teaching assistants. The creative, hands-on curriculum includes reading, math, swimming, other recreational sports and activities, and weekly academically and culturally enriching field trips. Horizons National provides teacher training, and a database of more than 150 lesson plans written by Horizons teachers.

Strong Relationship with Host School
The relationship established between the independent host school and the Horizons program is symbiotic and vital to the success of the program. Horizons provides the host school with a powerful way to achieve their mission objectives; increasing exposure on national and local levels; attracting faculty, staff and parents committed to diversity; and providing summer employment and community service opportunities for students, graduates and faculty. Horizons in turn benefits by being able to provide students with an environment for learning not otherwise accessible to low-income children; from operating under the 501(c)(3) of the host school; and from support of the Head of School and involvement of many of the school’s students, faculty, parents, administrators, and trustees.