Opportunity for All

All students deserve the opportunity to succeed. All children deserve the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. But across the country, not all students have access to the same opportunities. The “Opportunity Gap” refers to the unequal access to high-quality learning experiences—both in and out of school—that shape academic achievement, confidence, and long-term success. These gaps emerge early and widen over time, especially for students from communities with fewer resources.

 

 

A report by the Keystone Policy Center found that in 2024, only 23 % of students from low-income families in Denver Public Schools (grades 3-8) met state expectations in reading/writing, while 70 % of students from middle/higher-income families did.

Educators are working tirelessly, but they can’t close this gap alone. Students need more time to learn, more opportunities to explore, and more support to thrive. Yet they spend only about one-fifth of their waking hours in school.

That makes summer the “third semester”—a critical window for learning and growth. Unfortunately, access to high-quality summer programs is not equal. Where out-of-school time learning is available and affordable, students gain approximately 6,000 hours of extra learning by the 6th grade. Where it is not, students can test 2.5 to 3 grade levels behind.

Horizons changes this trajectory. Each six-week summer session provides a rich blend of academics, arts, STEM, swimming, field trips, and healthy living—so learning feels exciting and empowering. The results are clear: Horizons students gain an average of two months in reading and math each summer. That means two to three summers at Horizons can erase the pandemic-related gaps, and students who participate from kindergarten through 8th grade effectively gain the equivalent of 2.5 additional years of learning.