The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation recently brought all of their Take Stock in Children Mentors together and thanked them for their efforts at a Luncheon earlier this week.
Take Stock is a unique and innovative program that provides two-year scholarships to deserving low-income youth who may not go on to college because of their families' financial situation. Eighth grade students with good grades, good attendance, and good discipline records who meet the income eligibility requirement are invited to apply for these scholarships. Each student who is selected signs a contract, along with his or her parent, promising to maintain a good school record, to remain drug and crime free, and to meet weekly with a mentor. Students who maintain the terms of their contracts are awarded tuition scholarships to the post-secondary institutions of their choice.
Our mentoring programs provide assistance to hundreds of students annually by matching them with trained mentors. The Okaloosa Foundation’s Take Stock in Children Program has shown great results with a high school graduation rate of 94%, and with 98% of those students entering college with the guidance of mentors from the local community. From inception of the Okaloosa program in 1997 to 2022, the number of high school graduates is 327, with 320 of those enrolling in post-secondary education. Of that number, 153 have graduated from college, and 125 are currently attending post-secondary institutions
Is Take Stock Successful?
- Take Stock in Children scholars' high school graduation rate is 17% higher than other deserving low-income youth/students.
- Take Stock in Children scholars' college enrollment rate is 67% higher than other deserving low-income youth/students.
- Take Stock in Children scholars' college graduation rate is 43% higher than other deserving low-income youth/students.
- Take Stock students are statistically more likely to have less chronic absences, discipline incidents, and higher academic performance than their comparable peer group
For more information on Mentoring opportunities or the Take Stock in Children program, please visit our Okaloosa Public Schools website!