Post-Secondary Attainment

“Educational attainment matters today, and will matter even more in the years ahead.”

-Jeff Strohl, Artem Gulish, and Catherine Morris. The Future of Good Jobs: Projections through 2031. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2024. cew.georgetown. www.edu/goodjobsprojections2031.

Since 2018, Horizons National has partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse to track long-term outcomes for our students. The results offer compelling evidence that sustained participation in Horizons sets students on a stronger path to post-secondary success.

Key Findings

In 2024, we analyzed college matriculation rates for 1,233 students who completed Horizons through 8th grade. The chart below compares their outcomes to national averages:

 

 

75% of Horizons students who completed the program through 8th grade matriculated to college—well above the 61% national average (and the 51% average for students from low-income backgrounds). These outcomes are especially noteworthy given that most Horizons students enter the program performing below grade level. 

The data suggest a strong correlation between sustained participation in Horizons and a greater likelihood of attending higher education.

Staying the Course

Of the Horizons alumni who entered college, 61% have either earned a degree or are still enrolled. Among those not yet ready to graduate, 64% remain in a degree or certification program.

For comparison, just 56% of college students nationwide complete a degree, according to the Pell Institute. While ongoing research will continue to shed light on these trends, early indicators show that Horizons students are thriving in higher education—enrolling, persisting, and achieving their goals.