The South Bronx United Academy Evaluation Report (2024)

Meredith Whitley, a professor of Sports Based Youth Development at Adelphi University, recently completed a two-year evaluation of the SBU Academy, South Bronx United's highest commitment program. The evaluation reports on the SBU Academy's qualitative and quantitative impact on youth participants, ages 11-19. Research was conducted between 2022 and 2024 through rigorous data analysis, surveys and assessments, youth and staff interviews, and focus groups. The comprehensive evaluation was made possible thanks to funding from the William E. Simon Foundation.

Learn more about the SBU Academy’s uniquely impactful approach to youth development and how the evidence validates the transformative impact that South Bronx United and the SBU Academy have with middle and high school participants and graduates.

The evaluation process also documented practices, outputs, and outcomes and will support learning, decision-making, and planning at a staff and organizational level. We hope you will read the report to learn more about the

KEY FINDINGS

• SBU is a united and diverse community - The SBU Academy is an intentionally diverse community. The data clearly found that youth felt safe, welcome, and united.

• Engagement in the SBU Academy has a cumulative impact - For each extra year of youth engagement in the SBU Academy, there is a 4.8% increase in the probability they will be college ready and a 7.3% increase in the probability they will enroll in college.

• Participants show high academic achievement - During the 2-year evaluation, 99.4% of youth were promoted to the next grade, 100% of seniors graduated high school, and over 91% of graduates enrolled in college. Ratings of academic self-efficacy were at/over 4.0 over 2 years (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 the highest rating).

• Growth Mindset is embedded in the SBU Academy DNA.

• Coach-Mentors make a difference - The length of coach-mentor engagement results in increases in youth social-emotional learning scores.

• Participants are ready for college and careers - SBU prepares youth for what happens after high school, with mean responses on a career and college readiness survey around 4 (Agree) out of 5. For example:

3.94
What I learn in SBU will help me prepare for college.

Whitley, M. A. (2024). The South Bronx United Academy Evaluation Report. Report submitted to South Bronx United.