What We Do

Guilford A Better Chance invites academically talented young women of color from under-represented communities to attend Guilford High School and to enjoy the many benefits of living in the Guilford community. The program's goal is to lessen the educational divide, one scholar at a time, and to prepare these scholars for a lifetime of achievement.

A Better Chance began in 1963 as an innovative experiment designed to expand educational opportunities for talented minority students. This national program initially worked solely with independent boarding schools. In the early 1970s, the program expanded to include fine public schools. In 1974, Guilford became one of the first ABC Community School Programs in the country.

Since that time, more than 70 Guilford ABC scholars have graduated from Guilford High School, gone on to competitive colleges and to fulfilling careers and community involvement. Many of our scholars now serve as definitive role models for other young, aspiring students.

Each of our scholars arrives in Guilford as a 14-year-old freshman with a distinguished junior high school record. First accepted by the national A Better Chance program, she is then selected from a large pool of applicants to become a Guilford ABC scholar.

Our scholars spend four school years living together in Guilford in a residence owned by the program and staffed with a caring and professional support team. They take rigorous academic courses, participate in team sports and a wide variety of extra-curricular school activities, and become part of the fabric of the community. Each month they spend one weekend living with a local host family, two weekends living together at the Guilford ABC house, and one weekend at home with their respective families.

We welcome volunteers in many, varied capacities from driving to doctors’ appointments to leading a cultural excursion or taking the girls to a sporting event. Please let us know if you can help in any of these areas.

All of us at Guilford ABC, thank you for your part in making our scholars a vital part of Guilford’s wonderful history for more than four decades.