YouthBASE

YouthBASE is an evidence-based afterschool and summer program that is designed to help provide a better future for children in Greenville. We believe a deficit in one area affects the entire child, and that every child deserves to have a promising and hopeful future.

The Risks of Childhood Poverty

• Children who are not reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school before graduating – Annie E. Casey Foundation
• 14% of children in Greenville County are living in poverty and the number of children whose families are one crisis away from poverty is even higher – KIDS COUNT 2020
• Children who live in or have experienced poverty are less likely to graduate compared to their more affluent peers – Annie E. Casey Foundation
• South Carolina ranks 39th in the nation for overall child well-being and 43rd in the nation for education outcomes- KID COUNT 2022
• 58.9% of children in Greenville have experienced at least one ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) which is directly related to trauma.

Educational Outcomes in Greenville, SC

• SC Department of Education recently reported that “students in the earliest grades suffered the greatest learning lag” as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic
• 39.8% of third graders in Greenville County are testing below state standards in English Language Arts (2018-2019) (68% of fourth graders in SC are not proficient in reading)
• 39.5% of children in Greenville County are not ready for Kindergarten based on Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (2022)
• 41.8% of third graders did not meet SC Ready standards for English Language Arts
• 36.8% of third graders did not meet state math standards (2022)
• Of the Title 1 Elementary School YouthBASE serves, an estimated 60% of students are NOT meeting grade level standards in reading and math