BGCA has set a bold national goal to cut the dropout rate in half by 2018. Boys & Girls Clubs are working in partnership with schools and parents to maximize the out-of-school hours to enhance academic performance and success. Boys & Girls Clubs have already proven their impact in this critical role. While 70% of youth today do not graduate from high school, and 50% of minority youth don't graduate, over 90% of Boys & Girls Club alumni report having graduated from high school.
Communities across America are facing failing schools that cannot engage and retain many students. Among African-American and Hispanic youth, only 50% graduate from high school. Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to partering with other youth-serving organizations, communities, schools and parents to dramatically decrease the number of youth dropping out of high school.
This project will directly support the work Boys & Girls Clubs does to ensure that the 4,000 local Clubs across the country and on U.S.military isn't allations worldwide can offer comprehensive programming designed to bolster out-of-school and summertime learning. Boys & Girls Clubs reinforce and make fun what kids learn in school and give them the tools to find their path in life.
According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, the likely benefits for cutting the nation's dropout rate in half for only one class of dropouts would be tremendous, including as much as $5.3 billion in increased earnings for individuals, 37,700 new jobs, and a $6.7 billion increase in the gross domestic product.
