Research
Horizons National was founded more than 30 years ago as the result of research from Yale University that demonstrated the success of the original Horizons program, which began in 1964. Since the beginning, a commitment to continuous improvement, research, and evaluation has been central to our approach, shaping how we deliver high-quality programs and how we grow the Horizons Network.
Promising Impact
In 2018, Horizons National commissioned Concentric Research & Evaluation to conduct a rigorous, independent study with the goal of determining whether students who participate in Horizons for at least four summers outperform similar peers in long-term academic success.
Funded by the New York Life Foundation and the Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts, the study found that long-term Horizons students, compared to their peers from similar backgrounds, experienced:
-
Higher attendance rates and lower chronic absenteeism
-
Stronger scores in standardized assessments of elementary math and science
-
Higher GPAs in 9th grade, a critical academic transition year
-
More course credits earned in 9th and 10th grade
-
Fewer grade retentions and disciplinary referrals
-
Higher college matriculation and completion rates
With growing demand for programs that address learning gaps and educational inequity, this research confirms that Horizons is a model for an effective solution. And with each new site we launch, more students gain the chance to succeed—in school, and in life.
The study was reviewed by Horizons National's Research Advisory Board comprised of leaders from across the country with specialties in areas including child development, urban poverty, K-12 education, rigorous evaluation methodologies, and the use of data to drive improvements in practice and policy.