PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Give Local 757 brings people together to make a difference for local nonprofits that deliver vital services to everyone in our Hampton Roads community.
A Portsmouth-based, but regionwide, nonprofit is fighting to keep kids in the classroom.
The average high school graduation rate across the U.S. is 79%, according to the most recent data from the Department of Education.
However, the state leading the way — with a 92% rate in 2022 — is Virginia.
Locally, Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads is working to keep that number high.
“The main areas where we support our students are in attendance, behavior, and course performance, but we don’t just stop there,” said Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads Program Director Joseph Jones.
Jones said the nonprofit works to surround students, especially those considered at-risk, with support and provide them with necessary resources in the classroom and beyond.
The group is part of a national dropout prevention program for K-12 students.
More than 30 schools in Hampton Roads partner with the nonprofit organization, and they pair local kids with mentors who not only help them get involved more in their school work but their communities, too.
“If we expose kids to everything and anything, especially here in Hampton Roads, it will open the doors for them to have something more solidified in the future,” said Executive Director Dr. Hope Sinclair.
About 96% of local high school seniors enrolled in the program last year graduated.
With more help from the community, in the form of donations and volunteering, we can help them reach even more students with bright futures ahead.