BRYC's 2023–2024 EBRPSS Report

20 23 — 20 24

BRYC x EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM

PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT

END-OF-YEAR REPORT JUNE 2024

INTRODUCTION In fall 2023, the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition (BRYC) entered into a partnership with East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) wherein BRYC received $1.5 million to: 1) sustain 2023–2024 operations at BRYC Downtown and prepare to serve at least 50% more EBRPSS students by launching BRYC Airline in 2024–2025.

In exceeding these milestones, BRYC also strengthened relationships with school partners, leading to the development that BRYC will pilot college counseling services in five EBRPSS high schools starting fall 2024, serving even more EBRPSS students.

In this report, we present data from the 2023–2024 school year to illustrate BRYC’s impact on individual students and the district at large. We hope you enjoy reading about how EBRPSS’ bold investment in BRYC has in turn emboldened us to scale up our service model – significantly yet sustainably – reflecting our shared, deeply held commitment to supporting East Baton Rouge Parish youth.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Why BRYC? Challenge Summary

3

Brief Organizational History

4

2023–2024 Model: The BRYC Way

5

2023–2024 Service Overview

6

2023–2024 Results: The Big Five

2023–2024 Financial Aid

9

Class of 2024 Snapshot

10

2024–2025 Expansion & Service Projections

11-12

Persistence & Historical Return on Investment

13

EBRPSS Alumni Spotlights

Data References & Contact Information

A'Ljyne B., Tara High School Class of 2024, with his BRYC program manager Jakia Steele at Tara’s graduation.

2023–2024 Report

2

7-8

14-15

16

WHY BRYC?

The promise of higher education is that it will level an extremely uneven playing field, helping individuals and families secure better opportunities for future generations. This promise is made tangible in the Louisiana Board of Regents’ Master Plan, which states that 65% of jobs nationally and 56% of jobs statewide require a college degree or high value credential, requiring a 12% increase in degree attainment among working-age citizens by 2030. 1

Challenge Summary

Median Earnings (U.S.) 2

$70K $60K

$61.6K

7%

7%

6%

$50K

5% $39.7K

$40K

4%

$30K

3%

$20K

2%

$10K

1%

$0

Unemployment Rate (U.S.) 3

Bachelor’s Degree

High School Diploma

0%

2%

Bachelor’s Degree

High School Diploma

Despite constant questioning of its value, a bachelor’s degree remains a reliable path to economic mobility.4 Yet, low-socioeconomic-status students and those from underrepresented demographics have the most difficulty entering and completing college affordably, both nationally and locally.

Degree Attainment (U.S.) 5

60%

60%

Degree Attainment (EBR Parish) 6

59%

59.22%

50%

50%

40%

40%

30%

30%

20%

20%

15%

10% 0%

$52K

2023–2024 Report

17.82%

10%

Lowest Income Quartile

On average, Black college students hold $52K in loan debt 7

3

Highest Income Quartile

$25K

0%

Black Residents

On average, Black college students hold $25K more loan debt than white students 7

White Residents

188%

Four years post graduation, Black students owe on average 188% more than white students 7

BRIEF ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

Class of 2024 Senior Retreat

The Baton Rouge Youth Coalition BRYC is a college and career preparatory nonprofit whose 667 alumni have earned over 200 degrees and $85 million in scholarships and boast an 82% college retention rate — five times the national average for lower-income youth.

BRYC was founded in 2009 when two Belaire High School teachers recognized that tremendous barriers were preventing their lower-income students from achieving postsecondary success — barriers that even the students’ notable academic performance could not offset. Today, hundreds of EBRPSS students participate in up to five years of our free after-school and in-school programs, which emphasize self-regulated and socioemotional learning; affordable college entry; college persistence; and career readiness. Annually, BRYC’s relatively small full-time staff achieves outsized impact by coordinating 250 longterm volunteers and leveraging campus, community, and industry partnerships. In fall 2024, BRYC is launching an inschool college counseling pilot and opening a second EBR Parish campus, more than doubling participant capacity.

Team members take a prerenovation tour of BRYC Airline, located at 14141 Airline Hwy. BRYC is renting and refurbishing the space in time for a fall 2024 opening. The new campus was made possible through EBRPSS’ investment in BRYC and will serve ~210 EBR students in 2024-2025 and at least 250 each year thereafter.

2023–2024 Report

4

82%

BRYC alumni two- and four-year persistence rate

4

U.S. average: 15%

MISSION Help underserved youth excel in high school; enter, persist through, and graduate from college; and secure career-track jobs.

VISION Provide our Fellows with the best college-preparatory, college persistence, and career placement services money can buy — for free — so they can maximize the economic value of their degrees, build the lives they want, and help future generations do the same.

CORE VALUES Hustle: Go Hard Integrity: Be Just Community: Maximize BRYC

2023-2024 PROGRAM MODEL 1 day/wk • 3 hrs/day • Aug – May

In 2023-2024, BRYC acquired a van and full-sized school bus to maximize accessibility to our three locations and ease the burden on EBRPSS and BRYC families.

BRYC’s core programs take place Monday-toThursday during the school year. Fellows arrive between 2:30–4:30pm, a free period to study, socialize, eat, play video games, and meet with counselors or tutors. Program A begins at 4:30pm, followed by Program B at 6:00pm. Functionally, Program A is for learning new concepts from BRYC’s program managers (PMs), and Program B is for practicing and applying new skills with support from long-term volunteer mentors (“VIPs”).

The BRYC Way

8th-10th Academics

11th ACT

12th Admissions

Post-HS Persistence

Career Job/Internship

High School Transition Study Skills Habit-Building

TOPS-Eligible Scores Test-Taking Skills College Process Readiness

Applications/Essays Financial Aid/Scholarships College Transition

College Retention Support Campus Connections Direct Financial Aid

Professional Development Professional Introductions Career Communities

Tutoring

Transportation

Counseling

Direct Aid

Nutrition

Networking

Case Mgmt

BRYC’s 9+-year continuum of services helps Fellows develop, practice, and execute self-regulation, socioemotional, and self-advocacy skills in pursuit of stronger academic performance; more diverse college and financial aid opportunities; persistence-to-degree conferral; and college-level employment. Robust wrap-around services and a trio of dedicated adults (program manager, mentor, community advocate) ensure Fellows have sufficient support both in and outside of BRYC.

2023-2024 Programming

Total Program Weeks

30

Program Hours per Fellow

90

120

40:1

3:1

84

Fellow-to-PM Ratio

2023–2024 Report

Fellow-toMentor Ratio

5

Total Program Days

1:1 Tutoring Hours Utilized

360 Total Program Hours

74

1:1 Counseling Hours Utilized

165

Summer/Opt-In Program Hours

16

Full-Time BRYC Staff

2023–2024 SERVICE OVERVIEW BRYC Fellows Served by School (EBRPSS only) School

365

9th

10th

11th

12th Total School

Baton Rouge Mag. High School

7th

8

9

21

16

54 Liberty Mag. High School

Belaire Mag. High School

1

2

2

5

Mayfair Laboratory School

2

McKinley Mag. Middle School

8

McKinley Senior High School

3

Northeast High School

Belfair Montessori Mag.

8th

2

Broadmoor Sr. High School

Total BRYC Fellows (8th–12th)

CSAL Charter Middle School

2

4

2

3

Capitol High School

1

Glasgow Middle School

4

Glen Oaks Mag. High School

1

Park Forest Middle School Scotlandville Mag. High School

11th

12th Total

27

11

32

84 1 6

2

5

2

1

1

3

5

9

2

3

6

1

1 1

Sherwood Middle Mag.

3

1

Southeast Middle School

3

Helix Legal Academy

1

1

Tara High School

Helix Mentorship Academy

1

8

10th

14 5

4

5

9th

1

1 8

2

1 4

1

8th

Helix Aviation Academy

1

1

7th

3 3 4

4

8

23

Westdale Middle School

70%

IDEA Bridge

1

1

Woodlawn High School

2

2

IDEA Innovation

1

1

Woodlawn Middle School

Istrouma High School

1

1

Grand Total

EBRPSS Students (258)

BRYC Fellows Served by District (EBRPSS only)

3

7

4

2

16

37

60

54

74

258

5 1

32

5

Dist. 1 (Mark Bellue): 14

Dist. 2 (Dadrius Lanus): 10

Dist. 3 (Carla Powell): 13

Dist. 4 (Shashonnie Steward): 7

Dist. 5 (Cliff Lewis): 86

Dist. 6 (Nathan Rust): 21

Dist. 7 (Michael Gaudet): 98

Dist. 8 (Emily Chatelain): 1

Dist. 9 (Patrick Martin): 9

Grand Total: 258

BRYC recruits equally aggressively at all EBRPSS middle and high schools. The number of applicants we receive from a given school depends heavily on whether the administration supports our recruitment process by hosting BRYC presentations and encouraging students to apply. It’s also fair to reason that BRYC’s college focus causes self-selection by students who are more likely to attend BRMHS or Liberty. Our response has been to relentlessly recruit students from underrepresented schools and in Baton Rouge’s most marginalized areas; launch a site closer to historically underrepresented schools; launch in-school programs in historically underrepresented schools; have an open admissions policy; and support all postsecondary pathways.

2023–2024 Bi-Annual Surveys (1,028 Total Responses)

93%

96%

100%

Fellows agree: “I’m glad I’m in BRYC.”

Guardians agree: “I’m pleased with BRYC’s level of support.”

Volunteers agree: “I recommend volunteering at BRYC.”

In 2023–2024, BRYC also served 667 alumni, 75% of whom are EBRPSS graduates. BRYC’s alumni population is projected to double by 2028.

Total BRYC Alumni

EBRPSS Alumni

667 500 0

100

200

2023–2024 Report

300

400

6

500

600

700

“BRYC is doing a phenomenal job with youth. I am continuously amazed at how my son has transformed in his time there and continues to grow academically and socially. BRYC has become my extended family and village — I have partners in the work to help my son in his journey to be a more well-rounded individual and student.”

Lakesha R., EBRPSS Parent

“BRYC has taught me actual life lessons.

We had a lesson on locus of control and that has been very effective for me, even to today. I've learned not to waste time or get upset over situations that are out of my control, and that failure can help you rise.”

Keyana A., EBRPSS Sophomore

RESULTS: THE BIG FIVE BRYC measures Fellows’ progress through our model in terms of “The Big Five” — the five building blocks of not only a competitive college applicant but a prepared college student. The Big Five are:

A+ Grades/Course Rigor

36 Writing

Scotlandville Senior Kalaja J. is pictured with her $5,000 Health Fellows Scholarship, an award just for BRYC Fellows. Kalaja increased her ACT score seven points while in BRYC.

ACT/SAT Scores

Fall 2023 Avg GPA

228

UWorld ACT Licenses C/O 2024 avg ACT score (U.S.: 19.5; LA: 18.1; EBR: 18.4)

Official ACT Tests

8,9

4.06

C/O 2024 avg point gain

Junior Fellows agree: “Since joining BRYC, I have become more aware of things I can do to achieve my ACT score goal.”

4% 6% 8% 10% 15%

3.25 3.60

ACT Summer Camp

130

98%

Spring 2024 Avg GPA

18 hrs

ACT Instruction

22

Rec. Letters

Grades (2023–2024)

ACT Scores (2023–2024)

90 hrs

Involvement

0

1

2

3

Average semesterly GPA growth: 0.35 pts Based on data available BRYC, EBRPSS' high school average GPA is 3.27.

100%

8th–11th Fellows promoted to the next grade level

85%

8th-10th Fellows agree: “Since joining BRYC, my study and time management skills have improved.”

3% 35%

Skim & scan Other/multi Plug & chug

10% 11%

26%

Process of elimination

22%

Time management skills

23%

26%

Dedicated homework time Positive affirmation

Answer every question

What is the most effective ACT strategy you learned at BRYC this year?

2023–2024 Report

Subject matter mastery Other/multi

Road signs & key details Pacing

More effective study habits

7

How has BRYC helped improve your academic performance this year?

4

THE BIG FIVE (CONT’D) Writing (2023–2024) Writing is arguably the most powerful lever in the college process, especially given test-optionality and the end of race-conscious admissions. Essays let Fellows showcase their writing ability while differentiating themselves by communicating their stories and strengths. Further, Fellows use writing to self-advocate, giving admissions officers context about adverse circumstances and special considerations.

BRYC invests heavily in writing to produce high-quality applications and college-ready students.

Essay Work in Grades 8-10

Résumé Crafting

Accelerated Writing Program

Designated Writing Coaches

Involvement (2023–2024) BRYC helps Fellows find “their things” — the activities that make them come alive.

Outside-of-class involvement is essential to strong college applications, but it’s more important for building world-ready people. Involved students have higher self-efficacy because they have built the teamwork, leadership, and problemsolving skills key for long-term success.

These are just a few examples of BRYCorganized activities and that helped Fellows boost their involvement.

Summer 2023: BRYC guided Fellows with no summer plans through a a self-directed project.

BRYC continually sources local and non local activities and supports Fellows in pursuing them.

BRYC’s “Future You Fair ”introduced Fellows to local organizations, companies, and colleges.

BRYC and Fran U are partnering to offer “Wolfpack Academy,” a healthcare summer camp.

BRYC and tech company Vigilus are partnering to offer Fellows a summer camp focused on coding.

BRYC often puts Fellows in positions to share their views on panels and in other public forums.

“With the help of the College Team, I was able to elevate my writing when it came to college and scholarship essays.”

Sophia B., EBRPSS Senior

Recommendation Letters (2023–2024) Like essays, letters of recommendation can pull critical weight in admissions decisions, and are often required for institutional aid, scholarship, internship, study abroad, and other applications with potential to yield significant financial or experiential benefit. A strong recommendation letter is personalized, detailed, and illuminating, which necessitates a close relationship between a student and recommender. BRYC encourages such relationships between Fellows and their mentor, program manager, teachers, coaches, etc., and helps Fellows practice self-assured, fluent interactions with adults in their orbit.

9% 20%

2% 6% Agree

71%

Neutral

97% 84%

Fellows say: “BRYC has helped me identify extra-curricular activities that match my interests/goals.”

Fellows say: ”I’m involved with at least one other extra-curricular outside BRYC.” Fellows say: “Since joining BRYC, the time I spend participating in extra-curricular activities has ...”

92%

45% 53%

Disagree

“Since joining BRYC, I feel more confident interacting with adults and peers.”

2023–2024 Report

8

Increased Remained the same Decreased

“I care about my relationship with my BRYC mentor.”

2023–2024 Fellows reported joining the following with BRYC’s support: 100 Black Men AHEC Scholars Disney Dreamers Jump Start Adobe Louisiana Lemonade LYAC

Mayor’s Youth Workforce Nursing Home Volunteers Oschner Internships STEM NOLA Vigilus Coding Camp Young Entrepreneur’s Academy

FINANCIAL AID

BRYC–Administered Scholarships (2023–2024) $2K $7.5K $10K $50K $25K

FAFSA Fallout BRYC’s mission is not simply to ensure Fellows get accepted to the two- or four-year schools of their choice, but for them to matriculate with responsible payment plans, incurring minimal student loan debt (≤$5,500 subsidized aid/year). This outcome hinges on timely, error-free FAFSA submission. In 2023– 2024, students nationwide faced unprecedented challenges thanks to a worst-case-scenario “new FAFSA” rollout. BRYC’s seniors were no exception.

But, knowing how crucial FAFSA completion is for Fellows, BRYC deployed multiple proactive and responsive interventions to minimize damage.

Total BRYCRaised Scholarships

BRYC notifies seniors and families about the delayed FAFSA timeline (Dec vs. Oct) BRYC communicates weekly with guardians about which documents and information to prepare ahead of the December launch

Fall 2023

January 2024

The new FAFSA becomes available on Jan 8 BRYC hosts a series of in-person and virtual “FAFSA Nights” in collaboration with LOFSA to provide 1:1 support to seniors and guardians BRYC tracks each senior’s FAFSA for confirmation of acceptance and error notices

Feb–Mar 2024

BRYC screens reported errors and helps families communicate directly with FAFSA’s support line to resolve issues Recognizing that the delay will likely harm financial aid prospects, BRYC encourages seniors to focus on scholarship applications

100%

BRYC C/O 2024 FAFSA completion

55%

FAFSA completion among U.S. Class of 2024 seniors 11

24% fewer than the Class of 2023 ~500,000 fewer FAFSA submitters 2023–2024 Report

9

Albert Fraenkel Enterprise Award Jones Walker Pre-Law Scholarship Levy Family Scholarship Tammie Phillips Business Scholarship

BRYC Direct Aid (2023–2024)

$25K

$37.5K

$25K

$87.5K Total BRYCRaised Aid

BRYC hosts 1:1 financial aid counseling with seniors/guardians to discuss offers, though many have yet to receive their offer letters Seniors face external pressure to enroll without knowing the full financial impact; BRYC advises waiting to commit until they can make a financially-informed decision BRYC raises money to offset seniors’ costs As of May 31, 2024, several BRYC seniors still have not received their offer letters

Apr–May 2024

36%

$94.5K

Health Fellows Scholarship

Basic Needs Fund Senior Fees Fund Transition Fees Fund

A Note About Basic Needs

EBRPSS C/O 2024 FAFSA completion 10

For the past three years, BRYC has applied for and received a Capital Area United Way Basic Needs grant, which we remit through an internal granting process to BRYC guardians. While this could be considered outside BRYC’s purview as a college and career readiness program, the fact remains that these funds are crucial to many EBRPSS families’ well-being, providing shortterm relief for food, housing, medical care, and other areas of urgent financial insecurity.

“I’m a dedicated, hardworking single parent, usually able to provide for my family. However, this year has proven itself a challenge. I would greatly appreciate any help. I’m currently working on getting a promotion and increasing my salary to better provide for my family.”

BRYC Guardian, Basic Needs grant recipient

CLASS OF 2024 SNAPSHOT Selection of In-State Acceptances

84 Seniors

616

Selection of Out-of-State Acceptances

Acceptances

101 Schools

Finances The delayed FAFSA rollout has made tracking seniors’ institutional aid offers near-impossible, but the real harm is to Fellows and families forced to make decisions that impact long-term financial stability without complete information. BRYC will continue to advise Fellows on financial matters and track and report on financial aid data as it becomes available.

97%

Seniors agree: “BRYC taught me new things about applying for college and scholarships.”

Senior Achievements Glen Oaks Senior Kaiya-Rai G. (pictured accepting a $500 scholarship from 100 Black Women, Inc.) had her heart set on Rhodes College, but the initial financial aid offer wasn’t nearly enough. In late April, BRYC took Kaiya-Rai on a visit to Rhodes, during which she was offered an impromptu interview for the Bonner Scholarship. With only a few days to prepare, BRYC’s College Team coached Kaiya-Rai in a hurry. She crushed the interview, and an hour afterward, the committee called Kaiya-Rai to say she would be awarded over $70,000 in aid.

11% 13%

33%

15% 27%

TOPS Tech (17-19)

TOPS Performance (23-26)

TOPS Honors (27+)

Ineligible

The majority of BRYC Fellows attend in-state schools, making it essential that Fellows secure funding unlocked through TOPS-eligible ACT scores

BRYC’s TOPSeligible seniors 2023–2024 Report

TOPS Opportunity (20-22)

79% 10

Class of 2024 seniors matriculating to in-state schools

Rachel A. 2024 WE GLOW Global Cohort

Jasmine B. Northeast High Valedictorian

Makayla B. Gates Scholar; Phillips Scholar

Amaya C. QuestBridge Finalist

Ma’at F. 100 Black Women Scholar

GiGi G. Louisiana Young Hero

Erin Claire H. QuestBridge Finalist

Kalaja J. Health Fellows Scholar

Anyla J. Health Fellows Scholar

Ja’Leah R. Disney Dreamers Academy

Madison R. Health Fellows Scholar

Ahrianna V. HBCU Puissance Scholar

INTRODUCING BRYC AIRLINE!

14141 Airline Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70817

EBRPSS’ investment in BRYC was largely to launch a new site. In February 2024, BRYC signed a four-year lease at 14141 Airline Highway, a well-priced location meeting our thoroughly researched new site criteria, which focused on: avoiding geographic redundancy; increasing accessibility for Fellows and Guardians; increasing proximity to historically underrepresented schools; ensuring capacity for future growth; ensuring suitability of facilities; and being prepared for natural disasters.

4.2K

8–12

110

300

Total square feet

Exp. 24-25 enrollment

Grades served

Student capacity

Key Milestones Fall 2023

Spring 2024

Summer 2024

August 2024

EBRPSS grants BRYC $1.5M BRYC engages SSA Consultants to aid planning

BRYC secures 14141 Airline Hwy BRYC hires and onboards new teaching staff

Airline renovations conclude Airline Fellows complete matriculation

Grand opening for all stakeholders BRYC programs begin at Airline!

BRYC’S IN-SCHOOL

COLLEGE COUNSELING PILOT In BRYC’s 2023–2024 contract with EBRPSS, we wrote the following: “BRYC’s expanded presence in EBRPSS and newly-formalized relationship with the district will position us to deepen our partnerships with schools in key ways.” We are pleased that this expectation has materialized into a plan in 2024–2025 for BRYC to provide best-in-class college counseling services within five EBR high schools, eliminating barriers to BRYC’s offerings while strengthening existing recruitment pipelines to BRYC’s outside-of-school programs.

“I want to major in elementary education and become a third-grade teacher. I've always had the dream to pour my knowledge out on those younger than me. Lots of people say the ‘wanting to be a teacher phase’ goes away, but mine has grown stronger.”

For the first time in BRYC’s history, we will utilize school hours and spaces to deliver bestin-class college counseling to a pilot cohort of five EBRPSS schools, ensuring hard-working students don’t have to choose between an existing after-school responsibility and structured, expert guidance for meeting their postsecondary goals and potential. If the pilot is successful and school partners are pleased with their students’ outcomes, we look forward to expanding the program to several more EBRPSS schools and even starting with younger grades.

“Students at Tara desperately need additional college and career counseling.

The mentors at BRYC address this need in an upbeat, proactive, and positive manner.”

Mr. John Haymon, Tara High Principal

Pilot Partner Schools

Bre’ah J., Rising Northeast In-School Fellow Liberty Magnet High School

2023–2024 Report

11

McKinley High School

Northeast Scotlandville High School Magnet HS

Tara High School

EBRPSS COLLEGE COUNSELOR FEEDBACK BRYC’s in-school college counseling program is in part an effort to supplement the work of EBRPSS’s guidance counselors, who are tasked with supporting students in myriad ways beyond postsecondary planning. In November 2023, Executive Director Lucas Spielfogel met with ~100 EBRPSS middle and high school counselors to present on BRYC’s model and solicit feedback about their experience with advising students on how to best pursue their college and career goals. Fortysix counselors completed an anonymous survey, rating 13 statements on a 1–5 Likert scale. We feel this data set, a relatively small sample size, supports the case for BRYC‘s in-school efforts.

[REDACTED] This section of the report includes feedback BRYC collected anonymously from EBRPSS counselors in November 2023. The feedback concerns their experiences providing college counseling services to students in their respective schools. We have provided survey results to the school board but are not making counselor responses publicly available at this time.

2024–2025 SERVICE PROJECTIONS DOWNTOWN • AIRLINE • IBERVILLE • IN-SCHOOL

356

110

25

140

81%

Downtown Fellows

Airline Fellows

Iberville Fellows

In-School Fellows

EBRPSS Students

2024–2025 Team

26 F/T 2023–2024 Report

15 P/T 12

2024–2025 VIPS (Volunteers)

210 VIPS

6,825 Hrs

$228K Value

12

PERSISTENCE:

HISTORICAL

For 15 years, 100% of BRYC seniors have graduated high school with postsecondary plans and minimal debt, becoming alumni who have maintained 82% college completion at 2and 4-year schools — five times the national average for lower-income youth. BRYC’s commitment to ensuring Fellows transition to and persist through college may fall outside the scope of EBRPSS’ K-12 purview, but it is an insurance policy on the district’s investment in BRYC and, much more so, its billions of dollars invested in these students’ K-12 careers.

BRYC’s return on investment can be measured by calculating workforce participation as a function of degree attainment and comparing annual wages, lifetime tax value, and state unemployment savings for BRYC Fellows vs. lower-income youth who graduate college at the national average rate of 15%.

THE LONG GAME

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Workforce Participation 13 Bachelor's

72.5% U.S. bachelor’s degree-holders in the workforce

HS Diploma

56.4% U.S. diploma-holders in the workforce

Persistence BRYC

86% 4-yr degree completion (bachelor’s seeking)

BRYC

82% 2- and 4-yr degree completion (all Fellowship)

BRYC

76% 4-yr degree completion (all Fellowship)

U.S.

15% 4-yr degree completion (lowest income quartile) 5 20 %

0

40%

60%

20%

0

80%

100%

216

112

Workforce

81

HS Diploma

638

Workforce

360

Tot. Workforce

441

26 (degrees conferred)

Military

20 (active service) 0

If BRYC’s 750 alumni earn a bachelor’s degree at the BRYC average rate of 76%, they yield:

(degrees conferred)

Graduate

50

100

150

80%

Bachelor’s

347 (undergraduate and graduate)

Undergrad

60%

If BRYC’s 750 alumni earn a bachelor’s degree at the national average rate of 15%, they yield:

BRYC Alumni Degree Attainment* Enrolled

40%

200

250

300

Bachelor’s

570

Workforce

413

HS Diploma

180

Workforce

102

Tot. Workforce

515

350

BRYC Alumni Total Scholarship Aid Earned*

$85.11M Avg Fellow award = $127,601

* These figures exclude graduation data for high school and college seniors in the Class of 2024 as final data is not yet available.

2023–2024 Report

13

By 2028, BRYC’s first 15 years will yield:

458

More Bachelor’s Degrees

74

More Workforce Participants

$529,100

State Unemployment Savings

$10,030,200

Increased Annual Wages

$87,911,726

Additional Lifetime Tax Value

14

2

15

EBRPSS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS Five hundred BRYC alumni are graduates of EBRPSS high schools. We’re proud to share (just a few) updates on their progress through college and career.

Kimani Alexander (Scotlandville)

Tyari Heard (Liberty)

Kimani is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College. He applied his management degree to launching a professional photography business, K. Alexander Images, based in Zachary, La.

Tyari is a graduate of the University of Chicago and a 2020 WAVE Scholar (Women's Association of Venture & Equity).

She is the education coordinator for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Shaniah Bethley (BRMHS)

Shandricka Jackson, M.S. (Glen Oaks)

Shaniah is a graduate of Louisiana State University and serves as a military occupational specialist focused on animal care. She recently received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Shandricka is a battalion operations officer and graduate of LSU and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She is pursuing an M.B.A at William & Mary, where she is a Major James Wright Fellow.

Anston Broadway (Scotlandville)

Malik Johnson, M.Arch. (Liberty)

Anston is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College. He helps children reach their full academic potential as a paraprofessional for Capitol Middle School.

Malik is a graduate of Howard University’s master of architecture program, where he served as a teaching assistant. He is an architectural intern for Didier Architecture in Baton Rouge, La.

Taylior Burton (Liberty)

Alyssia Jones-White, M.A. (Scotlandville)

Taylior is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College. She lives in Columbus, Ind. and works as a soil conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service – United States Department of Agriculture.

Alyssia is a graduate of Northwestern State University and the founder and owner of WorkSpace: Career & Branding Services. She is also academic counselor 2 for the LSU College of Engineering.

Autumn Edwards (BRMHS)

Khaliah Knighten (BRMHS)

Autumn is a graduate of Howard University and a 2024 Brooke Owens Fellow. She will intern at BryceTech this summer before joining Georgia Tech’s aerospace engineering doctoral program in the fall.

Khaliah is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University and currently pursuing a doctorate in optometry at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. She was recently awarded the Dr. M.R. Poston Leadership Scholarship.

Jayde Encalade, J.D. (BRMHS)

Levi Lewis (Scotlandville)

Jayde is a graduate of the University of Houston and Tulane Law, where she was a Tulane 34 awardee. She clerked for the Hon. Karen Wells Roby before joining Burns Charest, New Orleans as an associate.

Levi is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he played for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He is now a professional football player, having signed with the Barcelona Dragons in February 2024.

Mandy Gabriel, M.A. (McKinley)

Andrea Loyd, M.Acc. (Liberty)

Mandy is a graduate of Louisiana State University and SNHU. She is the founder and CEO of Chipper Media and works as the senior communication catalyst for MetroMorphosis in Baton Rouge, La.

Andrea is a graduate of North Carolina A&T University, where served as president of the council of presidents. After interning with Dow, they offered her a full-time associate accounting specialist role in Midland, Mich.

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EBRPSS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS More updates on EBRPSS graduates who are making an impact in their chosen career fields and communities.

LaKiya Nash (Glen Oaks)

Kari Stephens, M.S.W. (BRMHS)

LaKiya is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College’s nursing program. For nearly four years, she has worked with Our Lady of the Lake as a part-time nurse technician and now full-time nurse.

Kari is a graduate of Louisiana State University and the first in her biological family to earn a degree. A BRYC Health Fellow, Kari now works with TIKES (Tulane Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation).

Dominique Ricks, M.A. (Belaire)

Dailynn Thomas (Liberty)

Dominique “Dom” is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was named 2015 Teacher of the Year at East Iberville Middle and now serves as the first Black principal of Kromney Middle School in Middleton, Wisc.

Dailynn is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College and Rose State College’s aircraft pilot program. She works for Boeing as an electrical wire design engineer in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Christian Riley (Woodlawn)

Henry Thomas III (Scotlandville)

Christian is a graduate of Loyola University of New Orleans. She worked as a video engineer and videographer before founding her own NOLA-based portrait studio, Christian Riley Photography.

Henry is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College and is a maintenance and reliability engineer with LyondellBasell. He is married to BRYC Alumna Javian Pierson (Scotlandville), also an engineer.

Jerlisa Robinson, M.Ed. (Tara)

Brandon Vincent (BRMHS)

Jerlisa is a graduate of Southern University and holds two master’s degrees from the University of Houston and LSU. A former STEM Teaching Fellow, she’s now a full-time math teacher at Woodlawn High School.

Brandon is a graduate of Loyola University of New Orleans. A BRYC Health Fellow, he served in the mayor’s office (Safe, Hopeful, Healthy BR) before beginning a master’s of public health administration at Morehouse.

Jonathan M. Scott (Belaire)

Jon “Alex” Watford (Belaire)

Jonathan is a graduate of Morehouse College. After working as an associate with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Atlanta, Ga., he accepted a new position as a renewable energy analyst with ENGIE Impact.

Alex is a graduate of Morehouse College and currently pursuing a Ph.D. and serving as a graduate research assistant at NYU. He is an analytics consultant with Focus Strategies, which advocates for unhoused people.

Taylor C. Scott, Ph.D. (Belaire)

Kenneth White (Liberty)

Taylor is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison and LSU. She was named Baton Rouge’s 2023 poet laureate and is an assistant professor of English at Southern University.

Kenneth is a graduate of Louisiana State University and an access to action workforce programmer with Warner Bros. Discovery. He received the John-Carlo Monti Award at the 34th Annual New Orleans Film Festival.

Gary Slack, Ph.D. (Belaire)

Dale (Tung-Dai) Wu (Broadmoor)

Gary is a graduate of Dillard University, Loyola University of Maryland, and Cornell University. He is an assistant professor of African American literature at Loyola University of Maryland.

Dale is a graduate of Full Sail University where she studied game art. For five years, she has worked as a 3D environment artist with HypGames, based in Orlando, Fla.

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REFERENCES 1. Board of Regents, 2019. Master Plan: Driving Our Talent Imperative, p. 11.

2. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2023. Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes: Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment.

3. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2023. Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes: Employment and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment.

4. Strada Education Foundation, 2024. Talent Disrupted: Exploring Underemployment in a Changing World of Work.

5. The Pell Institute, 2022. Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the U.S.: 2022 Historical Trend Report.

6. World Population Review, 2024. Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

7. Education Data Initiative, 2023. Student Loan Debt by Race.

8. ACT, 2023. U.S. High School Class of 2023 Graduating Class Data.

9. Louisiana Department of Education, 2023. Louisiana Believes: High School Performance.

10. Federal Student Aid, 2024. FAFSA® Completion by High School and Public School District.

11. The Brookings Institution, 2024. FAFSA® Rollout Means Fewer Students Will Enroll in College Next Year.

12. Independent Sector, 2024. Value of Volunteer Time.

13. U.S. Department of Labor, 2022. Labor Force Participation Rate by Educational Attainment and Sex. 14. Lisa Guerin, JD, 2024. Collecting Unemployment Benefits in Louisiana. Nolo.

15. Wesley Whistle, 2019. Ripple Effect: The Cost of the College Dropout Rate, p. 7. The Lumina Foundation.

Surveys BRYC’s Fall 2023 End-of-Semester Survey: December 2023 BRYC’s EBRPSS Counselor Survey: November 2023 BRYC’s Spring 2024 End-of-Year Survey: May 2024

Contact This report was prepared by Elin Hawkinson for the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, Inc., in May 2024.

With questions about this report, please contact: Lucas Spielfogel, Executive Director lucas@thebryc.org or 561.289.3493

Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, Inc. 448 N 11th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.456.5752

Web: thebryc.org Email: bryc@thebryc.org Facebook: brycfam Instagram: the_bryc