FAQs

Aspire is a transformative program that strives for each girl to cultivate her leadership characteristics in and out of the classroom. Every day at Aspire, girls have the opportunity to learn, grow, and challenge themselves by taking risks. Aspire is an extension of Hathaway Brown School; as such, there’s a deep commitment to educating and empowering girls.  

One Aspire parent said, “[This program] is a bright light at a tunnel’s end. It is a force that can’t be stopped or stalled. It is a beacon that stands for education, learning yourself, feeling safe, and finding sisters in this world.”

For three consecutive summers (prior to entering sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) Aspire girls commit to attending a five-week session starting in mid-June. The program runs Monday through Friday from 8:45 to 3:15 p.m. Breakfast is offered at 8:15 a.m.

Additionally, Aspire offers an optional Ninth Grade Academy to help students entering ninth grade, with a successful transition to high school. The Academy is held the summer prior to her ninth-grade year.

Aspire is tuition-free. Lunch and an optional breakfast are served daily at no charge. 

Aspire offers round-trip transportation during the summer session and for year-round activities. Bus routes include stops at schools and libraries in East Cleveland, Cleveland, Warrensville, and Cleveland Heights-University Heights.  

Aspire accepts online applications from fifth-grade girls only. The application period starts annually in December. If your daughter has already completed fifth grade, she is ineligible for the program.

Aspire accepts applications from fifth graders who attend any school in the Greater Cleveland community. The Aspire Admission Committee will prioritize applications from students who attend the following partner schools: 

• Cleveland Metropolitan School District 

• Breakthrough Schools

• Bedford City School District

• East Cleveland City Schools

• Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District 

The Aspire program is an extension of Hathaway Brown School. An essential component of HB’s commitment to girls’ education is to expand its reach to students of great promise across Greater Cleveland. The Aspire experience supports deep engagement and fully embraces HB’s motto to learn not for school, but for life. The majority of Aspire programming takes place on Hathaway Brown’s campus in Shaker Heights. 

No! Once Aspire girls graduate from the program, the summer prior to eighth-grade year, they become part of the Aspire Alumnae Association. Aspire alumnae receive high school and college guidance through the program.

Additionally, Aspire offers an optional Ninth Grade Academy to help students successfully transition to high school. The Academy is held the summer prior to her ninth-grade year.

The Aspire program runs for five weeks during summer. During the school year, Aspire girls are expected to attend four outings, called year-round events. Year-round events are held four times per year on Saturdays and transportation is provided. 

Aspire girls are expected to fully participate. Upon joining Aspire, girls commit to attending three summer sessions, prior to their sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade year. Full participation includes daily attendance during the summer and attendance at year-round events, held four times per year on select Saturdays. 

Families are discouraged from planning events or trips during Aspire’s summer session and on year-round event days during the school year. 

After graduating from Aspire, students are expected to maintain ties with the Aspire Alumnae Association by attending alumnae events and providing updates regarding her high school and college progress. 

Families play a crucial role in their daughter’s success and are asked to support their daughters throughout the Aspire process. This starts with the fifth-grade application process by completing a family statement and interview. Aspire families are asked to help their daughter honor her commitment by helping the girls attend all events and uphold all Aspire responsibilities through college. 

Families are invited to visit the summer program and attend special events, specifically student orientation, parent night, and the closing ceremony. 

Lastly, families are discouraged from planning events or trips during Aspire’s summer session and on year-round event days during the school year. Year-round events are held four times per year on Saturdays.

High school, college, and graduate students, plus early-career educators teach, inspire, and mentor Aspire girls through a creative and engaging curriculum that spans Math, Science, Social Studies, Computer Science, Adventure Learning on the ropes course, and yoga.

Aspire doesn’t administer any standardized tests. On average, a middle school student takes at least four standardized tests per year. Aspire recognizes the power of learning simply for the joy of learning.