Youth Literacy on the Rise
As 1150 E. Main buzzes with the joyful sounds of summer camp, embodying the essence of freedom, we find ourselves reflecting on the past school year and its varied structures. This year, our focus was keenly set on literacy, prompted by the realization that many of our students were not meeting their reading benchmarks for their grade levels.
In response, we took decisive action: we conducted thorough research on benchmarks, ran surveys to establish baselines, and, most importantly, listened to our students' needs. The results speak volumes: it worked.
Here are the standout achievements:
Initially, 33% of our students scored significantly below the grade level benchmark and were identified as needing “intensive support.” We paired these students with tutors for weekly one-on-one sessions. By the end of the school year, after months of dedicated after-school reading support, 56% of these students met or exceeded their individual growth goals. This is a notable increase from previous years, where only 34% met their goals in the 2022-23 school year and 41% in the 2021-22 school year.
(This is the moment where we all pause to celebrate with a resounding "Eeeeeek!" for these incredible successes.)
Additionally, our surveys revealed that 85% of students enjoy coming here every day. Art classes with Richard Duarte Brown were a standout favorite, with 90% rating them as their top activity. STEM lessons and music classes tied for second place.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our dedicated Central staff, who worked tirelessly with the students, and to our wonderful tutors: Jim, Patty, Jaeda, Kayla, and Tessa, who showed up every week with unwavering commitment.
A huge thank you to our youth funding partners: Kiwanis, City of Columbus, Franklin County, Siemer Family Foundation, and United Way. Your support has been invaluable.
(As you’re reading this and you’re thinking “Hey, that’s awesome! I want to help,” you can. We’re actively running our Back to School drive to equip the students with all the tools they need for a successful school year. To donate to that, click here. To buy school supplies, please use one of our wishlists here and here.)
