Rise Scholars Incorporated

Chess program-our chess program continues to thrive, engaging over 200 students weekly and offering a dynamic blend of academic enrichment, critical thinking, and teamwork. Our competitive after-school chess team includes 40 dedicated students who train rigorously and compete at high levels. This year, our under-700 team competed at the us chess federation natonal tournament and placed 4th out of 36 teams nationwide-an extraordinary achievement. Beyond trophies, chess builds focus, patience, and strategic thinking, making it one of the most impactful and beloved programs at rise.

Summer programming-our five-week summer program served over 150 students, focusing on closing the achievement gap in math and language arts. At hamilton school, only 23% of students meet grade-level standards in math, and students who are behind by 3rd grade are significantly less likely to graduate from college. Our summer initiative combats this by accelerating student progress-participants typically gain more than one full academic year in proficiency. The program provides targeted instruction in small groups, using data-driven tools and individualized support, ensuring students return to school more confident and better prepard to succeed.

Other programs related to our mission, including school year math and reading intervention. In 2024, our intervention program expanded to reach more student than ever before, limited only by the number of available tutors. Every 2nd grade student who was reading below grade level received one-on-one or small-group support, and every one of them reached grade- level proficiency. In grades 3-5, our math intervention students improved by over one full grade level on average, with some advancing two full years. This program is core to rise's mission of educational equity, delivering transformative acidemic growth to the students who need it most.