Every 26 seconds, a student gives up on school in America. This has a tremendous impact on our youth and our country:
- High school dropouts are three times more likely than college graduates to be unemployed
- High school dropouts are eight times more likely to be in jail or prison than high school graduates
- Barely 50% of all African American students and less than 66% of Hispanic students will graduate with their class
- The more than 12 million students projected to drop out over the next decade will cost the nation $3 trillion in the coming decade
A breakthrough comprehensive study from Johns Hopkins University found that students who are most at risk of dropping out of school can be identified as early as middle school through three early warning indicators:
When just one of these off track indicators is exhibited by a student as early as the 6th grade, they have less than a 25% likelihood of graduating from high school.
City Year can help the right students at the right time with the right supports.
School Based Service
At City Year’s 21 locations across the United States, teams of diverse young people called corps members serve full-time in schools for 10 months working to improve student attendance, behavior and course performance in English and math.
As tutors, mentors and role models, corps members are uniquely able to help students and schools succeed through:
- Academic Support: Provide one-on-one or small group tutoring before, during and after school
- Attendance and Positive Behavior Encouragement: Lead energetic morning greetings, make attendance and positive phone calls home and lead mentor groups
- Community and School Improvements: Organize and lead activities, celebrations and projects to improve the community and school environment which includes performing physical service such as: painting murals, planting community gardens, renovating schools and refurbishing community centers
Youth Leadership
One of the important ways corps members share their belief in service and their commitment to helping children is by leading programs that teach elementary, middle school and high school students about how to be active citizens in their communities and make a difference.
For more information on what you will do as a corps member, check out Corps Experience