Giving others ambition together

 In Arkansas, only 38% of 3rd graders tested in 2019 were considered proficient or advanced in reading:

• White students are nearly twice as likely (43%) than African American students (22%) to meet reading proficiency. 

• Disparities in educational outcomes have many contributing factors with historical roots, including lower incomes among families and unequal access to wide variety of educational and social resources connected to student achievement in school.

In 2019, 48% of 8th graders were proficient or advanced on the state math exam, with similar racial disparities we saw in 3rd grade reading:

• White students being almost 30% more likely of proficiency than African American students (23%). 

Arkansas' graduation rate was 89%, meaning all but 11% of 9th graders who began high school in 2014 graduated four years later. This includes 91% of white students, being 5% more than both Hispanic and African American students (86%).

Data from Aspirearkansas.org

In 2020, 40% of students were overweight or obese, similar to 2019. The rate was similar for males and females, but varied across racial and ethnic groups: highest for Hispanic students at 51%, 43% for African American students, 37% for white students and 28% for Asian students.  

In 2018, 56% of adults had received dental care in the past year, up 1 percentage points from 2012 but below the national rate of 68%. This makes Arkansas 49th in the nation for this indicator. Rates were higher for women (58%) than men (54%), and for non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaskan Natives (59%) and White, non-Hispanics (58%). 

Data from AspireArkansas.org

Children from low income households are less likely to have access and/ or participate in sports/exercise. 

25% participation for kids in homes earning under $25,000 vs. 39% among those earning $100,000 or more. 

Data from ProjectPlay.org

Youth with mentors are 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking than their peers without mentors. Decreased Depressive Symptoms: According to The Role of Risk, youth with mentors reported fewer depressive symptoms than their peers. 

Data from StarfishInitiative.org

Through the mentoring relationships, young people can seek guidance and support on a range of topics.

• Self-worth and self-esteem

• Decision-making skills

• Positive mindset shifts

• Impulse control and anger management

• School, including educational barriers and academic achievement

• Life skills

• Police interaction

• Communication

• Health and hygiene

• Conflicts mediation

• Family dysfunction

• Positive coping mechanisms

• Trauma