SE DC After-school
Why after-school?
- Children suffer from deficiencies in public schools - our after-school programs support the physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual development of youth
- When low-income children regularly participate in after-school programs, they improve their standardized test scores and work habits.
- Children who participate in after-school are half as likely to start using drugs or skip school
- Youth who do not participate in after-school programs are 3 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than those who do.
- In neighborhoods where after-school is offered, juvenile crime drops as much as 10% and juvenile drug activity drops as much as 22% (Promising Afterschool Programs Study, 2007; MDRC; America After 3 PM, 2009)
Fast Facts:
SE After-School
- Located at the Mary Virginia Merrick Center in SE DC
- Monday through Friday, 3:30 pm-6:00 pm, for children ages 5 to 13
- Open gym: Tuesday & Friday, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm.
- Provides homework help, tutoring and hands-on learning activities.
- Serves an after-school snack and dinner before they return home for the evening.
- Serves a neighborhood in which 46% of children live below the poverty line
City Gate offers after-school that focuses on homework help and reading and math skill building. The program also offers a science club, much like the one City Gate offers at DC public schools. At the end of the day, before the children head home, they are fed a hot,
nutritious meal.
Twice a week, the children and youth are invited to stay longer at the center to take advantage of open gym. City Gate and the Merrick