Powerful Schools Information

Powerful Schools reduces the academic achievement gap by creating strong partnerships with public schools to help children thrive. Through literacy, arts, after-school and leadership programs, we ensure all children succeed both in and out of school. Since 1991, Powerful Schools has delivered stimulating, multi-year, school-wide academic programs integrated into public elementary schools in Seattle and South King County. Our target audience is children who are the least empowered and whom are enrolled in schools that lack resources. During the 2013-14 school year, Powerful Schools plans to work with more than 4,300 children and their families inside of 12 Seattle and South King County elementary schools and six CDSA preschools. The challenges to the children served by Powerful Schools are elevated by circumstances outside of their control; specifically poverty, limited English and single parent households. Our theory of change is that when children are prepared for kindergarten, motivated and engaged in school, receive strong in-class instruction, and their parents are engaged in their education success, their likelihood of future success in school greatly increases.