Our Mission
Our City Lights after-school program provides hands-on academic and social enrichment to local low-income elementary school students at no cost to them. Currently, we offer homework assistance, music and creative art lessons in a personalized, safe, and caring environment.
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We believe our kids can be the lights of the city, providing hope to others in the midst of a dark and uncertain time. We want to empower vulnerable children to break the cycle of poverty by receiving academic support designed for their grade level. With individual attention and inspiration to achieve more, they can potentially light up their future and the people around them.
The Problem
Government statistics on education show that throughout New York City(1):
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53% of the children are not proficient in English Language Arts (ELA).
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57% are not proficient in Math.
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In East Harlem (categorized as School District #4) the New York State Education Department showed an overall 40% proficiency in 2018. In other words, 3 in every 5 students in East Harlem are NOT proficient.
Absenteeism
29% East Harlem
20% NYC
East Harlem ranked #12 in elementary school absenteeism in all of NYC. (20 or more school misses on class days.)
Impact & Performance
Currently, City Lights is partnering with the Roberto Clemente P.S. 38 Elementary School, a school whose student achievement was classified as “Fair” by the NYC DOE in 2018.
In 2018, out of all their students, only 17% met State standards on the English test.
District 4 average: 40%
City average: 46%
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6% met State standards on
the Math test.
District 4 average: 38%
City average: 47%
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We are also partnered with the Lexington Academy that was rated "Fair" by the NYC Department of Education for the 2018–2019 school year. We want to see growth in our students' achievements as we partner with them. This is why we do what we do here at City Lights!
