History

Founded in 1964 and expanding nationally since 1995, Horizons is a national network of high-quality, tuition-free, immersive, academic and enrichment programs for children impacted by educational inequity.  

The first Horizons program was launched in 1964 in New Canaan, Connecticut to serve children impacted by educational inequity in lower Fairfield County. Horizons National grew out of the original program’s desire to serve more children by replicating the model at other schools. Currently, Horizons has programs at over 71 independent schools and universities in 20 states across the country.

 

In 2013, Horizons at Episcopal Academy held its first 6-week summer program with 30 kindergarten and first-grade students from Frederick Douglass Mastery Elementary School. Adding a new kindergarten class each summer, the program reached full capacity in 2020, providing summer learning opportunities for 135 students in grades K-8. In 2016, Ardmore Avenue Elementary in Lansdowne, Delaware County (William Penn School District) was added as a second partner school. In 2022, Overbrook Educational Center (Philadelphia School District) was added as a third partner school. 

The Episcopal Academy has a long tradition of providing community service in the Philadelphia area. Episcopal is proud to support the Horizons at Episcopal program by providing its 123 acre campus, and sharing the deep knowledge and skill base of its teachers, administrators, and students through both volunteer and paid positions.