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 to help their students make exponential gains to get back on track.

 
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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 3-8
1900 Lafayette Ave. • St. Louis, MO 63104 

Kairos Academies

MONDAY-THURSDAY, 4:00-6:30 PM, GRADES 5-8
2315 Miami St. • St. Louis, MO 63118

Questions? Contact Rebekah at rebekah@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