Higher Achievement Program (HAP)
The Higher Achievement Program (HAP) was founded in 1964 at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. In the years since, HAP has been offered by a number of Jesuit high schools throughout the northeast United States. This unique five-week program for boys entering eighth-grade combines academics, athletics and creative enrichment activities that prepare participants for 8th grade, the high school application process, and beyond.
Read more about the HAP Advantage in The Journal News.
Applications for the summer 2023 are now closed. Please contact us at HAP@fordhamprep.org with any questions.
ACADEMICS
Every morning, students take three courses designed to improve their academic performance on the TACHS (Test for Admission to Catholic High Schools): Critical Thinking Through Reading, Math, and Writing.
Critical Thinking Through Reading
- Foundations in reading comprehension and study skills
- Work prepares boys for the rigors of high school level work and questions encountered on the TACHS exam
- Activities include group discussions, vocabulary review, independent reading, and critical analysis of texts
- Students must complete a final project
Math
- Reviews topics covered in most 7th grade courses and explores topics covered in 8th grade as well as a few in 9th grade
- Goal is to prepare students for 8th grade math and math problems include on standardized admissions exams
- Topics include; solving algebraic equations, working with inequalities, graphing, simple geometry, and the techniques of solving word problems
Writing
- Focuses on the key elements of quality writing
- Tasks are worked in both individually and collaboratively
- Coaching includes writing purpose and audience, use of effective vocabulary, sentence structure and sentence variety
- Activities will focus on short stories, personal narratives, poetry, biological writing, and descriptive, persuasive, and informational paragraphs
GROUP ACTIVITIES
Each afternoon our HAP groups participate in a series of sports and games including
Basketball
Dodgeball
Touch Football
Softball
Soccer
Track and Field
Board Games
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
HAP also provides access to a series of unique activities designed to enrich our participants both inside and outside of a classroom setting. In past years, our special activities have included
Music Enrichment
Studio Art Workshops
Intro to Classical Mythology
Science Exploration & Enrichment
Culinary Arts
Theater Arts
Speech & Debate
Foreign Languages
Astronomy
Computer Science
Service Project
The balance of academics in the morning and the choice of sports, activities and other enrichments in the afternoon is conducive to an educational environment that strives to foster the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis (care for the individual).
SERVICE
Fordham Prep strives to produce “men for others” and service is a required of all Fordham Prep students. HAP participants are also asked to spend some time during the program in the service of others.
In 2022 HAP participants raised over $1,000 for Part of the Solution (P.O.T.S) by performing small acts of service in their home communities in return for a small donation.
PAST YEARS
2017 HAP Newsletter #1 2017 HAP Newsletter #2
Mr. Bradley Serton '95
Director of Enrollment & Marketing
Director of the Higher Achievement Program (HAP)
HAP Contact Information
HAP@fordhamprep.org
718-367-7500 x263
718-367-7598 (fax)
Important Dates - 2023 HAP Program
February 1, 2023 - Applications Open
June 28, 2023 - First Day of HAP
July 3 & 4, 2023 - Holiday (HAP not in session)
July 26, 2023 - Last Day of HAP
2023 HAP Tuition Rates
$1,500 - income $100,000 and up
$800 - income $55,001 to $99,999 per year
$500 - income up to $55,000 per year
HAP Hours
8:30 am - 2:30 pm