How We Serve Elementary Students

What We Do

How We Serve Elementary Students

Every day after school, Heads Up works with children in the lowest-performing elementary schools in Washington, D.C., to help them gain the reading skills they need to succeed in school and later in life. By instilling a love of reading early on, we inspire them to attend college and become lifelong learners.

Children in the nation’s capitol attend some of the lowest-ranked schools in the country. In a study of 11 urban school systems, D.C. fourth-graders placed last in reading and math. Only 19% of the city’s schools met standards set under the federal No Child Left Behind law. To make matters worse, parents in underserved neighborhoods face a limited supply of constructive, affordable, after-school and summer activities for children.

To address this need, Heads Up runs after-school and summer programs for hundreds of children across Washington, D.C. Over 300 college students serve as tutors and help elementary school students with homework and reading skills. Our program offers a supportive, family-like learning community that reinforces in young people the values of hard work, continuing education and service to one’s community.

> Learn more about the after-school program >
> Learn more about the summer program >