After School Matters

This year, After School Matters provided more than 26,000 program opportunities to teens across chicago. These apprenticeship and internship programs - in the arts, communications, science, sports and technology - provide a safe and enriching experience for chicago's underserved teens during the critical hours After School and during the summer when they are otherwise vulnerable. 81.7% of the teens we serve are from high poverty communities, and 95.8% are minorities.our teens are achieving success at higher rates than their peers who do not participate in our programs. 92.4% of our high School seniors recently graduated, while the statewide graduation rate for low-income students is just 82%. Our teens' freshmen on-track rate (a significant predictor of a teen's likelihood of graduating on time) is 91.2%, and is three percentage points higher than for non-participants. In addition, 73.1% of After School Matters teens enrolled into college.after School Matters has become a vital part of chicago through our service to underserved teens and communities. With hundreds of School year and summer programs taking place at chicago public schools, chicago park district and chicago public library locations, as well as at community-based organizations throughout the city and downtown at the gallery 37 center for the arts, we continue to realize our vision of providing teens with opportunities to discover their potential and find their future.