Citizen Schools operates a national network of apprenticeship programs designed to lift the educational trajectories of low-income middle school students (ages 9 – 14), connecting adult “citizen teacher” volunteers to young people in hands on after-school learning projects that develop skills like oral and written communication, critical thinking, and use of technology. Staff also provide additional academic support such as homework help, study skills instruction, college campus visits, and civic activities. By demonstrating the impact of this added learning time and access to opportunity on student achievement, Citizen Schools is working to catalyze broader change in the field of after-school education.
Results from a 2005 comparison evaluation, conducted by Policy Studies Associates, found that regular participants outperformed peers on six of seven academic measures, including school attendance, number of suspensions, and academic achievement. Additionally, its participants go on to “college-track” high schools at more than twice the rate of the matched comparison group.
Reports:
Youth Served
*Note: Citizen Schools is now using a revised methodology for calculating the number of youth served. Numbers reported here may differ from previous reports.
Historical Revenue Performance (in millions)
*In 2001, Citizen Schools undertook a fundraising campaign, leading to a spike in revenue. These grant dollars were spent down during the following years.
**2005 was a short fiscal year because Citizen Schools changed their fiscal year end. The number presented here is an annualized figure. Note: Consistent with GAAP, revenue figures include certain grants received for use in future years. Growth capital commitments, for which revenue is contingent on future organizational performance, are not reflected in these figures.
Annual Operating Revenue
As an organization implements its growth plan, growth capital provides the revenue necessary for the organization to scale up its operations. By the end of the growth plan, the organization is expected to grow its revenues from reliable, renewable sources, and, if it were to stop growing, become sustainable at its new, larger scale.
*Actual figures (2008 and beyond are projected targets)
**Overall expenditures include amounts allocated to Citizen Schools’ for reserve funds.
Projected Growth Capital Raised and Expended
Growth capital refers to funds raised specifically upfront to underwrite the cost of expansion efforts in new sites or of expanding services in existing locations. The chart below shows the amount of growth capital committed by funders, funds used each year to cover expenditures, and the rate at which growth capital is being used. Citizen Schools undertook a growth capital campaign starting in 2007.
*Actual figures (2008 and beyond are projected targets)
**Assumes Citizen Schools meets all performance milestones as outlined in the investment agreement.
***A list of co-investors will be available on EMCF’s website, www.emcf.org, in late June 2008.
Campuses and Regions
Citizen Schools defines a campus as a school site where the organization's programs are held. A mature region comprises 8-10 campuses within a certain geographic area.
Outcomes: Percentage of 8th Graders Who Selected Highest Quality High Schools
Note: Results are from the 2007 Policy Studies Associates evaluation of students who participated in Citizen Schools’ program in Boston in 8th grade. “Highest quality” refers to college-track high schools as defined by Citizen Schools; schools designated as “highest quality” may change across years.
Outcomes: Students with On-Time Promotion to 10th Grade
Note: Results are from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Policy Studies Associates evaluations of students who participated in Citizen Schools’ program in Boston in 8th grade. Samples are overlapping and include students from multiple program years. Matched non-participants may have participated in other after-school programs.
Outcomes: 10th Grade Achievement on the Massachusetts Standardized Test (MCAS)
Outcomes: 10th Grade Achievement on the Massachusetts Standardized Test (MCAS)
*The sample populations for Citizen Schools in these charts differ, resulting in slightly different participant performance data.
**Students at Boston’s selective exam schools are excluded from both groups.
Performance: Full Year Retention
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