Why Education?
A quality education is a foundation for life. When a person graduates high school, their future becomes instantly brighter. High school graduates are able to access more employment opportunities, earn more income + become better problem solvers.
Education provides HOPE.
A student's decision to drop out is not sudden; it is a slow process that is identifiable LONG BEFORE high school.
There are 3 main early warning indicators for whether a youth is on track to graduate:
Attendance
Behavior Infractions
Coursework Proficiency
These are often considered the "ABCs" of early warning indicators, + can be measured as early as 3rd grade.
We intentionally work with youth starting in kindergarten + on through Middle school - So that by the time they reach high school they are on a path to success.
9th grade is an especially critical benchmark: 9th graders who aren't on track are 3 1/2 times less likely to graduate than THOSE THAT ARE.
We're here to make sure youth are ready for success when they start 9th grade, which means they are set up for success throughout high school. To do that, we partner with St. Louis Language Immersion Schools + Lafayette Prep Academy + Kairos Academies + The Biome School to help their students make exponential gains to get back on track.
WHAT IS BEYOND SCHOOL?
Beyond School, an AmeriCorps program, prepares students to enter high school with the social, emotional + academic tools needed to be successful in high school + beyond.
We have a multi-faceted approach:
Academic Support
Social/Emotional Growth (Mentoring)
Community Engagement
Enrichment Opportunities/Experiential Learning
This is how we do it
Students entering our program are an average of 1.5 grade levels behind in reading. Through personalized reading programs, one-on-one tutoring + a variety of enrichment classes, our students receive relational + academic support after class. Our intensive, individualized instruction results in exponential growth of 2-3 months for every 1 month in the program.
In addition to getting back on track academically, youth learn social-emotional skills + are exposed to a variety of activities, broadening their horizons + sense of possibilities for their future. By graduating high school + going to college, youth have significantly more opportunity in life. They can find solid employment + break the cycle of poverty.
IN 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR:
192
students
97%
of students improved their reading + math + SCIENCE skills
151
enrichment classes
45
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Join Our Team
Do you want to work with children, have an impact on your community + serve for one year? Join our Beyond School team through AmeriCorps! Click here to learn more about the full + part time positions currently available. Benefits include a living allowance + education award that can be used toward tuition or to pay off student loans.
Interested? Apply here.
Volunteer Opportunities
As a Beyond School Academic Mentor, you will be trained to implement individualized literacy lessons, help scholars improve academic + organizational skills, + support Beyond School staff + scholars throughout daily program components. Academic Mentors have the opportunity to invest in meaningful relationships with our scholars + help them to realize their full potential.
ST. LOUIS LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOLS (SLLIS)
MONDAY-THURSDAY, 3:45-5:30 PM, GRADES K-8
1881 Pine St. • St. Louis, MO 63103
LAFAYETTE PREPARATORY ACADEMY (LPA)
MONDAY-THURSDAY, 4:00-5:30 PM, GRADES 4-8
1900 Lafayette Ave. • St. Louis, MO 63104
Kairos Academies
MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 4:00-6:30 PM, GRADES 5-8
2315 Miami St. • St. Louis, MO 63118
THE BIOME SCHOOL
MONDAY-THURSDAY, 3:30-4:45 PM, GRADES K-53:30 -4:45 PM
4471 Olive St. • St. Louis, MO 63108
Questions? Contact Kayla at kayla@missionstl.org
Beyond School is an AmeriCorps Program
AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, + community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Since 1994, more than 900,000 Americans have provided more than 1.2 billion hours of service to their communities + country through AmeriCorps. For more information, visit NationalService.gov. AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National + Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund + Volunteer Generation Fund programs, + leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve.
Beyond School is available to participants without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation or religion.
Beyond School Partners
Community organizations, local businesses + passionate individuals partner with our Beyond School program to provide comprehensive academic, emotional + social growth for our students. Beyond School partners expose our students to a variety of activities + experiences that continue to broaden students’ worldview.
AmeriCorps
A Million Wishes
ARCH Taekwondo
Brownpreneurs
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Care STL
CDA
CIGNA
City Garden Sculpture Park
City of St. Louis - Office of Violence Prevention
Dana Brown
Gateway 180
Grants Farm
Harris Stowe State University
Haven of Grace
Healthworks
Humane Society
Keiner Plaza Ice Skating
Kind Kids
Laclede's Landing Wax Museum
Lafayette Square Restoration
Leadership 220
LifeWise STL
Magic House
Make a Wish Foundation
MASN
The Open Space Council
Operation Gratitude
Peter & Paul Community Services
Relleke Pumpkin Patch
Saint Louis Science Center
Saint Louis Zoo
SLU High School
SLU Micah Program
Shelter Buddies
Shrewsbury Lanes
St. Patrick Center
Sweet Celebrations
Tower Grove Manor
The Improv Shop
Urban Breath Yoga
UMSL College of Education
Venture Lab
WashU Sigma Alpha Epsilon
World Chess Museum
Youth Opportunities Program
zSpace