Grasping the Impact of After School Programs on High School Graduation Rates in Los Angeles County

Failing to complete all graduation requirements and dropping out of high school leaves adolescents at a higher risk of succumbing to a life of crime, encountering immense obstacles in securing steady employment, and surrendering their pursuit of an adult life of financial independence. After school programs like A Place Called Home in South Los Angeles strive to place juveniles that accept the challenge of committing to the program in a better position to endure the hardships that they will inevitably encounter. Organizations like A Place Called Home provide them with educational-oriented training, mentorship, and other support systems. Non-graduates of high school rarely succeed in adulthood, struggling to gain financial stability. Employment opportunities are becoming increasingly competitive, with employers seeking post- secondary degrees more often. In a society relying more heavily on obtaining materialistic acquisitions, high school dropouts are more dependent on settling to earn their fortune through illegal methods. This proposed assessment will evaluate the graduation rates of a project and comparison group of students from the graduating classes of two South Los Angeles area high schools near a dropout prevention program. This project will propose a Posttest-Only Comparison Group Design approach using graduation data collected from the high schools following commencement ceremonies. A determination of an afterschool dropout prevention program effectiveness will be the result of the study.