Serving with impact.
The CONNECT After School Program at Highland Falls Intermediate School delivers measurable academic progress through a distinctive partnership between the West Point Association of Graduates and the United States Military Academy. Since fall 2022, CONNECT has delivered enhanced learning opportunities in English Language Arts and mathematics to students in grades 3–5, serving a district where 58% of students are economically disadvantaged. The program pairs consistent academic support with cadet mentorship, expanding opportunity while modeling leadership, discipline, and service.
The results are significant. Students who participated in CONNECT throughout their elementary years increased math proficiency from 18% to 52% and ELA proficiency from 30% to 59%, with economically disadvantaged students experiencing the largest gains. Nearly 300 cadets have volunteered, contributing more than 800 hours of direct support. While the program does not claim sole causality, the scale and durability of these outcomes demonstrate that sustained, no-cost academic enrichment reinforced by committed mentors produces lasting impact.
