The John and Mary Franklin Foundation recently awarded Norcross High School Foundation for Excellence a grant for $5000.  The John and Mary Franklin Foundation was established in 1956 and funds initiatives in education, scientific research, health, youth services and the arts. This is the third consecutive year we have received funding from the John and Mary Franklin Foundation.

This grant award will target After School Matters (ASM), an NHS teacher-led after-school tutoring and mentoring program that is fully funded by the NHS Foundation for Excellence. ASM promotes consistent relationships and improves study skills.  The short term goal of ASM is to improve grades and raise the graduation rate. The long term goal is to prepare a student for a career, military service or post-secondary education, to ultimately, be a contributing member of society.

Since its inception in 2012, the actual results for students in this program are dramatic, measurable and consistent.  In the beginning of the 2017 school year, only 10% of students enrolled in ASM were passing their core academic classes.  At the end of the school year, 89% of those students were passing ALL classes.  For 2012 – 2018, graduation rates for the After School Matters students range from 80% to 95%.  Some graduates are working, enlisted in the military or attending local technical or community schools or college.  

During the 2018-19 school year, ASM enrollment was 169 students.