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Articles
April 14, 2026
The path to college becomes clearer when scholars can see the destination. On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., high school scholars explored college campuses and experienced what life studying in the nation’s capital might look...
Articles
April 14, 2026
Kanisha King was on the clock. Facing career-based questions in a fast-paced Quiz Bowl, the Cleveland Heights High School junior had to think quickly, respond clearly, and trust what she had learned. In March, scholars from across...
Articles
April 14, 2026
“That was the first time he’s ever been proud of something he wrote,” Chelon Pleasure said. Her son, Anthony, had just participated in The City Club of Cleveland’s High School Essay Contest, winning second place with...
Articles
April 14, 2026
The welcoming applause and cries of “you got this!” faded. She checked her notes and took a breath. “Hi, judges. My name is Jayonna, and my product idea is the Moodmesh Mirror.” In February, scholars across our...
Articles
April 14, 2026
“I made trail mix with chocolate in it.” That was Jermaine’s highlight of the year. It was clear that the time he spent with friends, trying something new, and having a space to enjoy it together...
Articles
February 27, 2026
It started with a simple challenge: line up by birth month without speaking. For our scholars from Roxboro Middle School in Cleveland Heights, that small prompt quickly turned into strategizing, laughing, and a few dramatic hand...
Articles
February 27, 2026
Rebekah Hou, a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, played a short piece on her harp. “Wow, that’s beautiful,” said an elementary scholar from Anton Grdina. “Where does the sound come from in the harp?” asked...
Articles
February 27, 2026
“A–P–A–R–T–M–E–N–T.” A pause. “That is correct!” A grin spread across the scholar’s face as she returned to her seat. Later, still beaming, she shared, “I learned how to spell the word apartment!” Across every Open Doors Academy program this...
Articles
February 27, 2026
The first draft of a college essay is just a beginning. Strong writing is a process that requires reflection, revision, and trusted feedback. For many of our high school scholars, that process unfolded inside Taft’s downtown...
Articles
February 26, 2026
“Education makes you a good person.” That was the title of Tarris’s poem. Tarris, a fifth-grade scholar at our Orchard STEM program in Cleveland, wrote the poem in response to his coordinators asking: “what does education...
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