What is our community’s greatest asset? Your answer may be – like ours – our children. Americans have always valued education. We believe education is a cornerstone of individual and community success. We know it’s essential to getting a job with a good wage and health benefits. And we know an educated workforce is fundamental to a community’s economic prosperity. We believe that by transforming education, we can change lives, provide families hope for the future, and break the cycle of poverty.
And yet… only 36% of Dallas County 3rd graders read on grade level. Reading at grade level for 8th graders is no better: still 36%. In math, only 36% of 3rd graders tested at grade level and this drops to 31% by 8th grade. This presents long term economic and social challenges for our community. At Beacon Hill, our response and our motto is Success Begins with Preparation. We supplement school systems and prepare students and families for success by providing reading and math tutoring, parent education, college preparation, and enrichment activities for low-income African American and Hispanic students in South Dallas and surrounding communities. In 2019-20 we:
· tutored 985 students (69% African American, 25% Hispanic, 95% low-income) in after-school, in-school, and summer programs at 22 public schools, charter schools, and community locations, and
· 94% of our students maintained or improved their reading and/or math grade level.