“The art of grant-making relies on understanding intangibles like what makes for good leadership, what we should expect from a teacher and what it means to have a student-centered classroom.”
— Emary Aronson, Managing Director Education & Relief Fund Robin Hood
THE CHALLENGE
New York City has the largest public school system in the United States serving more than 1.1 million students in over 1,800 schools. But despite the fact that the NYC Department of Education’s budget is more than $25 billion, approximately 50 percent of public school students will fail to graduate within four years. And for those who manage to earn their degree, more than 80 percent of them are academically unprepared for college-level courses.
OUR APPROACH
Robin Hood believes that providing students with an excellent education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. In 2014, Robin Hood-funded education programs reached more than 55,000 students in the poorest communities throughout the five boroughs.
In 2014, 57 percent of students at Robin Hood-funded charter schools met the higher Common Core standards in math, as compared to 23 percent of students at schools within the same district. Additionally, education programs supported by Robin Hood increase a student’s chance of passing the GED by 75 percent
THE IMPACT
Studies have shown that individuals who earn a high school diploma increase their future earnings by approximately $6,500 annually, and also lead longer, healthier lives. Robin Hood develops and invests in high performing public, parochial and charter schools to ensure that students from low-income families successfully complete high school and college, which will boost their future earning potential even more.