Why We’re Here

Achievement Connections began in 2010 as an extension of the impact and need of school-based tutoring programs throughout the Madison area. Recognizing achievement in algebra and geometry by 10th grade as a key indicator of high school graduation, Achievement Connections exists to support as many students as possible. We also recognize that in order to address academic success, we must acknowledge the context that students live in. Issues of institutionalized racism, implicit bias and systemic inequality are the root causes of disparities in academic outcomes, impacting students here in Dane County and across the country. But we’re here to challenge that by activating passionate AmeriCorps members and community volunteers to serve as tutors within East, West, La Follette, Vel Phillips Memorial and Middleton high schools.

What We Do

Achievement Connections is a partnership between United Way of Dane County, the Madison Metropolitan School District, the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District and the UW-Madison Morgridge Center for Public Service. Together, we mobilize AmeriCorps members and the community to support student achievement in algebra and geometry. We create positive relationships that allow us to support students by pairing them with a tutor for at least an entire semester, if not an entire year.

We train and place math tutors in supervised tutoring centers across five Madison-Area high schools. Each school has its own AmeriCorps members, supported by a team of volunteers and school staff, working closely with math teachers to wrap around the content and methods they use in class.

Achievement Connections currently has tutoring centers operating from 8am to 4:30pm, five days per week.