P.A.R.K. :: Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids, Keith Jackson


P.A.R.K. is a non-profit organization which was established in 1993 by Keith Jackson. ·Keith Jackson is a native of Arkansas who graduated from the University of Oklahoma and played in the NFL from 1988-1997 for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers. The Mission of P.A.R.K. is to provide "high-risk" students the opportunity to further their education by completing high school so they can attend college. There are three major goals for each student in the program: ·To ensure their academic achievement and allow them to expand their horizons ·To build their confidence, self esteem and spiritual awareness ·To instill in them the importance of helping others These goals are achieved by providing a positive atmosphere built on love, nuturing and discipline.	Nearly one-third of all public high school students fail to graduate. Additionally, tremendous racial gaps are found for graduation rates: · Students from historically disadvantaged minority groups (American Indian, Hispanic, African American) have little more than a fifty-fifty chance of finishing high school with a diploma. · Graduation rates for students who attend school in high poverty, racially segregated, and urban school districts lag from 15 to 18 percent behind their peers. Source: Urban Institute Student Economic Statistics 85% of the students we serve are from low income households with the majority of them being from single parent homes and living in poor or disadvantaged communities. Students who are accepted into the program are not accepted on their economic status, but on their academic status. 85% of the students attending P.A.R.K. are eligible for free/reduced lunch; therefore, we have determined that the majority of our students fall into the low-moderate income level.	P.A.R.K. is an after school and summer program based in Little Rock, Arkansas, which operates Monday through Friday throughout the entire year. Students enter the program in the 8th grade; P.A.R.K.’s role is a 5-year commitment to the students to help ensure graduation from high school, as well as individual growth. P.A.R.K.’s student capacity is 250. Each day, P.A.R.K. provides a safe environment for students to complete academic requirements as well as:: · Support with homework · Tutoring in all courses · Recreation activities · Leadership development · Involvement in community services The P.A.R.K. Story We Identify Students At Risk Most students are “high risk” because they have GPA’s of 2.5 or less before they enter the program. These individuals have high academic potential, despite their current poor performance in school. They are often ineligible for school sports and clubs due to their low academic performance. They typically end up “on the streets” after school and during the summer it they do not enter our program. Most students have no educational vision of attending college but will become first generation college students.

P.A.R.K. is a non-profit organization which was established in 1993 by Keith Jackson.

·Keith Jackson is a native of Arkansas who graduated from the University of Oklahoma and played in the NFL from 1988-1997 for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers.

The Mission of P.A.R.K. is to provide "high-risk" students the opportunity to further their education by completing high school so they can attend college.

There are three major goals for each student in the program:

·To ensure their academic achievement and allow them to expand their horizons
·To build their confidence, self esteem and spiritual awareness
·To instill in them the importance of helping others

These goals are achieved by providing a positive atmosphere built on love, nuturing and discipline.

Nearly one-third of all public high school students fail to graduate.

Additionally, tremendous racial gaps are found for graduation rates:

· Students from historically disadvantaged minority groups (American Indian, Hispanic, African American) have little more than a fifty-fifty chance of finishing high school with a diploma.

· Graduation rates for students who attend school in high poverty, racially segregated, and urban school districts lag from 15 to 18 percent behind their peers.

Source: Urban Institute

Student Economic Statistics

85% of the students we serve are from low income households with the majority of them being from single parent homes and living in poor or disadvantaged communities. Students who are accepted into the program are not accepted on their economic status, but on their academic status.

85% of the students attending P.A.R.K. are eligible for free/reduced lunch; therefore, we have determined that the majority of our students fall into the low-moderate income level.

P.A.R.K. is an after school and summer program based in Little Rock, Arkansas, which operates Monday through Friday throughout the entire year.

Students enter the program in the 8th grade; P.A.R.K.’s role is a 5-year commitment to the students to help ensure graduation from high school, as well as individual growth.

P.A.R.K.’s student capacity is 250.

Each day, P.A.R.K. provides a safe environment for students to complete academic requirements as well as::

· Support with homework
· Tutoring in all courses
· Recreation activities
· Leadership development
· Involvement in community services

The P.A.R.K. Story

We Identify Students At Risk

Most students are “high risk” because they have GPA’s of 2.5 or less before they enter the program.

These individuals have high academic potential, despite their current poor performance in school.

They are often ineligible for school sports and clubs due to their low academic performance.

They typically end up “on the streets” after school and during the summer it they do not enter our program.

Most students have no educational vision of attending college but will become first generation college students.

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