The Fishing School

TFS cultivates 310 youth to reach academic excellence and positive, healthy decision-making. TFS aims to:

*Increase young learners' school performance, conduct, and attendance.
*Improve their motivation to learn.
*Boost learning through enrichment activities focused on reading and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

Youth are challenged to grow through an age-appropriate balance of intellectual, social, and artistic opportunities. TFS has over 22 years of expertise in improving our young learners academically, socially, and emotionally through after-school programs such as our Rising Stars Program (110 elementary youth) and Rising Scholars Program (40 middle school youth) and our summer Rising Champions Program (160 elementary youth). TFS’s after-school programs operate Aug.-June, 3:30 -6:00pm and the summer program runs June-Aug., 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Our youth deserve a well-rounded education that focuses on reading and math proficiency; cutting-edge STEAM skills that incorporate 21st Century learning skills; empowering youth to set college and career aspirations through My Path; and activities that incorporate art, dance, cultural awareness, and soccer. Through your support, TFS brings these critical educational elements to our youth, enabling them to shape their aspirations.

TFS’s technology-based literacy and math curricula (iReady) ensure that our youth receive the individual attention they need to thrive in reading and math. iReady leads youth through a series of lessons to build the following competency levels in: Reading: Phonological Awareness, Phonics, High-Frequency Words, Vocabulary, and Comprehension (both literature and informational text); and Math: Number and Operations, Algebra, Algebraic Thinking, Measurement and Data, and Geometry. iReady enhances youth’s competencies as well as our ability to share data with schools and our stakeholders.

Growing up in D.C. isn’t easy for the youth we serve. According to a recent study by IFF, a regional community development institution, “75% of D.C. students will reach grade level in reading if trends hold” in 63 years (nearly three generations). Studies also continue to link participation in out-of-school programs to heightened levels of academic success. According to a 21st Century Community Learning Center study, Youth who are not engaged in after-school programs are nearly 40% more likely to become teen parents and are 49% more likely to use drugs. Furthermore, TFS’s summer program is a critical time of exposure that is designed to combat summer learning loss. An astounding two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years.

By focusing on academics as a gateway to escape poverty and to realize their dreams, TFS is providing youth with the resources they need to succeed in school and beyond.

TFS's impact, in their words:

"My father is incarcerated. He was arrested when I was in 5th grade and he won’t get out until I’m in 11th grade. I don’t want that for myself and I’m striving to do better than that. I want to be successful. In fact, I want to be a computer engineer and an Eagle Scout. I’m doing things now that I never thought I would be doing in The Fishing School’s Tech Squad...things that I only dreamed about accomplishing!

We’re doing architecture, building designs and learning about computers. Tech Squad is more than building structures though. It’s building my confidence, my math skills and my motivation to avoid the path my father went down." TFS Rising Scholar, Future Eagle Scout and Computer Engineer

“I don’t want to leave! I’m trying to be here three days a week next semester. When you’re with the kids you get hooked. It’s nice when you feel like you’re making an impact.” TFS Intern Lauren Salmiery

“From the beginning this organization has been a life saver for me. When I had worked all day long I faced the problem of not wanting to leave my boys alone at home; as I had to return to work. The Fishing School was there for me. When I had no food and clothing problems for the boys tobe appropriately dressed, The Fishing School staff was compassionate and understanding--they helped me. We have mattered to them and have survived, and will thrive because of The Fishing School.” TFS parent of former TFS youth, William Allen, Jr.

Be a special, and integral, part of the hope that The Fishing School provides our families by donating today.