Programs
The need to create more opportunities for all young people to thrive and be successful is in sharp focus. The consequences of the opportunity gap reverberate long past high school to negatively affect employment, college attendance, college graduation, and career success. All of this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In communities where out-of-school time learning programs are readily available, students get approximately 6,000 hours of extra learning by the 6th grade. Horizons is providing these opportunities for students from our three partner schools in the Philadelphia area every summer from kindergarten through high school.
Summer Program
Our summer program allows Horizons at Episcopal students to develop a long-lasting love of learning and make academic gains between school years. Students grow with the program, returning each summer from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Our program features include:
- Six-weeks of tuition free, full-day academic instruction, enrichment and daily swimming each summer.
- 7-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, with full-time reading and math specialists.
- Pre- and post-summer assessments to track progress.
- Daily enrichment classes in STEM, art, drama, physical education, and French.
- Field trips for all students include museums, the zoo, parks, and bowling.
- Social-emotional support with access to a counselor focusing on students’ social-emotional needs, providing programs in the classroom as well as one-on-one support.
- Project-based learning opportunities where students participate in real-world, student-centered projects with a focus on different cultures, sciences and health.
- Three-week Ninth Grade Fellows program aimed at helping students position themselves for summer employment opportunities and the college application process.
- Daily bus transportation to Episcopal Academy’s 123-acre campus is provided, along with breakfast, snack and lunch.
Swim Program
Swimming is a key component of the Horizons student experience. Becoming a competent swimmer builds confidence and a desire to achieve. Most of our students come to Horizons with minimal to no experience in the water. Overcoming this fear and learning to trust qualified instructors build their self-esteem and encourages risk-taking in the classroom. Students quickly discover “If I can learn to swim, I can learn anything!”
Learning to swim:
- Encourages attention to detail and commitment to a goal
- Teaches resilience and strategies to overcome fears and obstacles
- Inspires children to adopt a healthy lifestyle
- Introduces a competitive sport
- Teaches skills for summer employment
- Is FUN! Promoting a love for and engagement in Horizons.
Year Long Program
To build upon progress made by our students over the summer and to maintain meaningful personal connections, Horizons provides enrichment programs to all grade levels on select Saturdays, called “Super Saturdays,” tutoring for students that need extra academic support, and a high school program for our 8th grade graduates.
Super Saturdays
Super Saturdays are a cornerstone of Horizons at EA’s year-round programming, designed to sustain the joy of learning and strengthen the bonds within our community during the academic year. Each session includes breakfast, engaging activities in literacy, art, and community-building, and concludes with a shared lunch that deepens relationships among students, volunteers, and staff.
More than just academic enrichment, Super Saturdays create space for connection, creativity, and growth, helping students feel supported and inspired beyond the summer months.
Episcopal Academy Middle School students play an important role as volunteers, engaging with Horizons students as mentors and role models. Any current 7th or 8th grader interested in getting involved must first complete a mandatory orientation. For more information, please contact Ryan Learn (rlearn@episcopalacademy.org).
School Year Tutoring
Horizons at Episcopal Academy provides free, high-quality tutoring to all students throughout the academic year. Students participate in 18 weeks of hour-long sessions—one in the fall and another in the spring—ensuring consistent academic support beyond the summer.
For grades 1–5, Horizons teachers lead focused sessions that strengthen grade-level math and literacy skills identified during the summer program. Grades 6–8 students attend office hours for individualized support on homework, projects, and subject-specific challenges.
By extending learning year-round, our tutoring program helps students build core skills, stay confident in the classroom, and lay the foundation for long-term success.