Boasting 17,000+ graduates and a 90 percent cumulative graduation rate over 19 years, the national nonprofit aims to more than double the number of Simon Youth Academies by 2023.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a national nonprofit committed to helping students on the verge of dropping out of high school graduate, is pleased to announce that a total of 1,632 students graduated from its 30 nationwide Academies during the 2017-18 academic year.
Since its founding in 1998, SYF has broken down barriers that prevent students from succeeding in high school and beyond. The nonprofit organization sees overlooked, misunderstood students for who they really are – teens facing difficult circumstances such as supporting a family, serious illness or homelessness. SYF recognizes the potential in these students and through partnerships with local school districts, provides resources and builds an educational environment tailored to their needs. This includes a flexible class schedule and one-on-one instruction and support.
SYF’s partnerships in the non-traditional classroom and unique environments have proven to be successful. Simon Youth Academies maintain a cumulative 90 percent graduation rate, nearly 10 percent above the national average of 82 percent. Since its inception, SYF has helped more than 17,000 students graduate high school – 35 percent of whom are the first in their family to graduate.
Every day, SYF sees proof that an investment in education and in youth pays back many times the cost, which is why the nonprofit plans to more than double the number of Simon Youth Academies across the country by 2023. This period of ambitious growth began at the start of the 2018-19 school year, when SYF welcomed five new academies. These additions bring SYF’s grand total to 35 nationwide Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, representing partnerships with 24 public school districts.
“We have seen firsthand the impact that a high school diploma can have on the lives of young people,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, President and CEO, SYF. “Students often arrive at Simon Youth Academies discouraged and uncertain about their futures. Due to the unique learning environment and support of our teachers and public school partners, students realize they can achieve their dreams through education and go on to lead successful lives that include college and prosperous careers.”
In addition to the important work SYF does to help students graduate high school, the organization also supports them in their pursuit of post-secondary opportunities through college counseling and scholarships. In the 2017-18 school year alone, SYF awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to students of Simon Youth Academies, as well as high school seniors who reside in communities wherever Simon malls are located.
As a new school year begins, SYF looks forward to building upon the successes detailed in its 2017-18 Impact Report: http://bit.ly/SYFImpact. In October, the organization will celebrate the dedication of Simon Youth Academy at Sugarloaf Mills, located outside of Atlanta, and a partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools.
For more information on Simon Youth Foundation and a full list of the communities it serves, please visit syf.org.
About Simon Youth Foundation
Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is a national nonprofit committed to helping students who are on the verge of dropping out of high school graduate and pursue post-secondary educational opportunities. SYF works toward this mission by partnering with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings located primarily in Simon Malls, and by providing Simon Youth Scholarships to Academy graduates and students who live near Simon Malls. Since its inception, SYF has maintained a 90 percent graduation rate at its 35 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, helping more than 17,000 students earn their high school diplomas, and has awarded over $17 million in scholarships. Visit syf.org to learn more.
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