For every child in an afterschool program in Virginia, four are waiting to get in.
There’s a rising demand for greater access to afterschool and summer programs helping youth:
NextUp is an intermediary organization that equips and mobilizes a network of 140+ youth development organizations to embed afterschool and summer programs in Richmond Middle Schools and across Richmond through the city’s Positive Youth Development initiative.
80% of young people’s time is spent outside of school.
Richmond youth need greater access to safe, enriching activities during critical hours, especially after school and during school breaks. Out-of-school time programs create opportunities for youth engage in positive activities and focus on their interest and potential future career paths.
In 2024, Richmond saw a 65% drop in youth gun violence since 2017, a decline the city attributed to out-of-school time programs.
share that attending programs helps them feel more confident about themselves.
feel more confident about their ability to try new things, even if they look hard.
say their afterschool activities help them do better in school.
say afterschool gives them peace of mind while they are at work.
believe afterschool programs help excite their child(ren) about learning.
Despite the abundance of data and proof of effectiveness, quality out of school time (OST) and expanded-learning programs remain out of reach for many families at a time when access to these programs is more important than ever. Richmond youth aged 11 – 19 need more support and opportunities to address learning loss and mental health stressors, connect with peers, explore interests, and discover their talents outside of school hours.
Every young person in Richmond will have access to robust expanded-learning programs.
Richmond families will be informed about OST offerings.
Youth will have meaningful expanded learning experiences, whether in school buildings or in community settings.
Richmond OST partners will have reliable data to inform decision-making, evaluate impact and understand the supply and demand of services.
Quality OST and expanded learning will be a citywide and regional priority, recognized as a necessary part of each student’s education.
BY GRADE (PERCENTAGE)
BY GENDER (PERCENTAGE)
BY RACE (PERCENTAGE)
of youth improved or maintained positive attendance
of youth had positive school attendance (attended school 95% of the time or more).
of youth improved or maintained positive behavior (decrease or zero behavior infractions).
of youth had fewer than 2 behavior infractions.
*Excludes students who transferred out of RPS after middle school. NextUp youth that did not drop out or graduate on-time in 2022 are still in school and set to graduate in 2023 or 2024.
View NextUp’s Annual and Impact Reports in addition to the latest studies and findings on Richmond’s out-of-school time landscape.
NextUp RVA is a nonprofit organization helping youth discover their talents and build positive relationships. It does this by managing a strong system of accessible out-of-school time programs delivered in schools and across the city. When youth participate in quality out-of-school time programs, they learn new skills, find out what they are good at, gain confidence and are engaged learners.
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