Community Impact
Horizons establishes lasting partnerships between public and private elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, building strong learning communities.
Expanded Horizons: Horizons programs are located on independent and post-secondary school campuses, rather than in their familiar public schools. This encourages Horizons students to broaden their experience and sense of possibility. These facilities offer new surroundings, resources, and relationships, and so promote the integration of academic content with high quality experiential learning activities. The opportunity to explore and learn in a new environment adds meaning, increases engagement, and promotes social and academic growth.
Enriched Learning Environment: The Horizons model allows students to benefit from the unique resources and experience of their host independent school, college and university campuses as they return each summer. Students feel at home in their Horizons program, which reflects its host institution and the surrounding community.
Enduring Relationships: Since lasting connections create the greatest impact, Horizons makes retention a priority, resulting in average student and teacher retention of over 80% annually across the network. Many families are involved for decades as additional siblings make their way through the program and graduates return to volunteer or teach at Horizons.
"Horizons had a huge impact on my life. It allowed me to dream, to think big, to aspire. It let me see beyond my everyday world."
-Joe Chan, Executive Vice President of Business Development, Empire State Development Company, Board Chair of Horizons at Brooklyn Friends School, and Horizons graduate.