Higher Achievement Summer School (H.A.S.S.) commits to the principles of leadership, scholarship, community, and responsibility in order to produce a well-rounded student capable of success in both high school and higher education.
Higher Achievement Summer School (HASS) is an intensive four-week boarding school that takes place in the summer for students of Alabama’s Black Belt region. Three Teach For America teachers created HASS in an effort to offer underprivileged and under-served students a structured educational experience in the summer. The achievement gap widens during the summer vacation due to students of affluent backgrounds having access to a multitude of educational opportunities, whereas underprivileged students do not have an equal opportunity at academic growth during the summer.
Not only does HASS offer students a chance to grow academically, the summer school places its students in an environment focused entirely on college. Outside of the HASS academic curriculum, the school exposes its students to many post-secondary opportunities. This exposure comes in the form of visits to local museums and attractions, guest speakers, and college tours. This college-preparatory environment remains essential as many HASS students will be first generation college students; accordingly, the students require extra guidance in their post-secondary options.
HASS will be entering its second session in June 2012. The majority of the charter 2011 cohort will be invited back to attend the 2012 session alongside a new 2012 cohort. The 2011 cohort will be entering their sophomore year of high school, and the 2012 cohort will enter their freshman year upon completion of the summer school. The summer school will continue to invite each cohort to return to HASS until the students graduate from high school. This expansion structure will allow HASS students continual guidance throughout their high school careers. Consequently, HASS will enroll a new cohort of freshmen each year while simultaneously retaining previous cohorts moving up through high school. The summer school will eventually support and enroll four full cohorts.
