Three R's, Studied With a Fourth: Rigor

After-School Program Gains National Notice

"Pump it up, pump it up! Keep it going, keep it going!"

With cheers and clapping, the children who were crowded into the worn cafeteria of Plummer Elementary School in Southeast Washington chanted their mantra.

"Let's lead, let's learn, let's go. You know!"

Three times a week, the "scholars" of Higher Achievement -- a private academic enrichment program for disadvantaged fifth- through eighth-graders in the District -- gather to celebrate their not-inconsiderable achievements.

At Plummer, one child after another pops up to "shout out" his or her academic accomplishments.

"I'd like to give myself a shout-out for getting an A on my math and an A on my Spanish exams," said Dominique Tucker, 12.

"I got a 37 out of 40 on my math test," a child called out.

"I would like to give my shout-out for finally finishing 'Siddhartha' after two weeks," yelled another little girl.

This academic cheerleading is an integral part of Higher Achievement, a 30-year-old after-school program that survived a near-death experience in the late 1990s and came roaring back. It has 300 students in four centers, which are housed in D.C. public school buildings.

Its focus on rigorous academics is gaining the program national attention. It has won several national and local awards recently, including the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders award for its work to improve communities and the NPower/Accenture award for its innovative technology. A national research program is studying it to gauge the effect of such programs on middle schoolers' academic achievement. And earlier this year, President Bush dropped by to honor Higher Achievement and other programs that serve youths.

"One of the interesting things about the Higher Achievement program, they have got a good track record, good results," he said during his visit in April to the Paul Public Charter School in Northwest. "If you're interested in finding out what works, look at this program, because the results are clear."

Higher Achievement is launching an ambitious expansion into Alexandria next summer and then into Prince George's County. Within five years, it plans to triple in size.