What causes our community’s low high school graduation rate? Today only half of our kids get a diploma. Too many of our children arrive at school with at least one issue that puts them at-risk for falling behind academically. Many never catch up. The reasons are complex and multidimensional.

What does poor performance in school cause? When kids don’t get the support they need, or choose to drop-out of school, the streets become a viable option for them. In Rochester, nearly six out of every ten adults read at a sixth grade level. Reading and academic success are key to breaking the cycle, and getting kids on track to graduate.

What are you doing about it? When you give to the United Way’s Community Fund, your gift joins with those of co-workers to put almost $10 million into programs that improve our children’s success—by touching many aspects of their lives during different points.

• Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection helps teenagers who are considered at-risk of failure find success in school—and in life.  Youth Advocates offer mentorship and guidance to help give kids the tools they need to graduate. In fact, nearly eight out of every 10 graduates of the program go on to higher education.
• The University of Rochester’s Strong Start. Research indicates nine out of every ten students who are enrolled graduate from the program testing ‘at’ or even ‘above average,’ while improving their ability to listen and focus, and increase social skills significantly—all of which are critical elements in building a strong academic foundation.
• Boys & Girls Club, Community Place of Greater Rochester, the Urban League, Southwest Area Neighborhood Association, Baden Street Settlement, and Charles Settlement House operate before and after-school programs that get more than 22,000 kids off the streets, and on the right track to make continued healthy choices.
• Bry Achievement Mentoring programs are several city schools now. This program helps students that are at risk of falling behind. In a national study of Bry programs, students enrolled in the program were eight times less likely to drop out of school—and they had significantly fewer school problems, less criminal behavior,substance abuse and unemployment one year later. Five years later, only 10 percent of Bry students had a criminal record, compared with 30 percent of comparable students.

There’s no one solution, but our children are have a better chance at academic success when we act as one.