Horizon S.O.A.R. students develop dynamic leadership skills and graduate prepared for post-secondary success.

Program Overview:

The Horizon Students Of Academic Rigor (S.O.A.R.) program is designed to enlighten, enrich, and excite students. The S.O.A.R. program provides structure and support for high-achieving students to prepare for college and post-secondary success. The S.O.A.R. program is specific to the individual student and their own area of educational emphasis. It is designed to promote a well-rounded high school experience including Advanced Placement courses, extra-curricular activities, community service involvement, and extended learning opportunities. The aspiration of the S.O.A.R. program is to furnish a variety of learning opportunities to challenge and engage students.

Program Objectives:

•  Inspire dynamic leadership skills
•  Achieve 100% college and workforce readiness by customizing a meaningful and sustainable post-secondary plan
• Foster collaboration, culture, and community
• Continuously improve in academics and personal growth

S.O.A.R. Standards:

• Self Actualization
• Dynamic Leadership: Communication and Collaboration
• Creativity and Innovation
• Community and Civic Engagement
• Experiential Learning and Skills Transfer
• Post-Secondary Readiness

Benefits of being in S.O.A.R.

College and Career Readiness 

Many honors classes place a great deal of emphasis on lifelong learning and continuing education.  With a focus and a mind set on college entrance exams, S.O.A.R. students will receive advice and counseling from mentors on selection of colleges, scholarships, and application procedures for college and career planning.

Experiential Learning

Students who participate in the S.O.A.R. Honors Program will have opportunities to participate in personal academic challenges, cultural events at theaters and museums, campus-wide recognition banquets, annual university visits, round table discussions, visits with congressional leaders, and many more.

Public Speaking Skills

Throughout students enrollment in the S.O.A.R. classes, they learn communication skills that they can utilize in a variety of public speaking situations.  ur students become strong, confident speakers due to the multiple opportunities for practice and performance throughout their experiences in the class and in the program.

Scholarship Opportunities, Test Preparation, and College Credit

Students who participate in the honors program may also qualify for certain scholarships and college credit.  We spend time from Freshman year on exploring scholarship opportunities that match each S.O.A.R. student's individual eligibility.  Students will spend time in class completing college and scholarship applications with guidance.

All S.O.A.R. students have multiple opportunities to prepare for college entry exams, particularly the ACT/SAT.

All S.O.A.R. students currently take at least one, and usually many more, AP level classes.  Through S.O.A.R., we help facilitate study groups, learning strategies, and test preparation that can maximize chances of attaining scores worthy of college credit.  There are also opportunities to earn credit through some concurrent enrollment classes.

Registration Guidance

S.O.A.R. students are given opportunities to meet and discuss their course selections through the registration process and before school begins.  We work hard to ensure that S.O.A.R. students have optimal schedules, with a balance of rigor and high interest. S.O.A.R. coordinators will hold registration meetings during evenings while registration is taking place.

The overall S.O.A.R. curriculum map ensures a high level of rigor, college preparation, and potential for college credit.

Community Service/Generous Leadership

S.O.A.R. students have multiple service opportunities within the program, most notably the addition of participating in a Community Improvement Project, which will allow S.O.A.R. students to earn community service hours by creating service projects that promote generous leadership.  This passion and purpose has helped students in S.O.A.R. earn grants, scholarships all while completing their community service requirement. These interpersonal skills are often set our students apart from others in interviews and application processes. 

Travel Opportunities

SOARing through Thailand!  June 2023 a group of S.O.A.R. students traveled to Thailand for eleven days.  During our time there, we volunteered at a school in Chang Mai for two days and spent two days at an elephant sanctuary. We learned so much about the Thai culture through the people, food, monk chat, and temple visits. It was the trip of a lifetime!

Look for more information on SOARing to Peru - Summer of 2025