The Fishing School provides a safe haven and academic support to 310 under-served youth and their families in Washington, DC. Through Out-of-School Time (OST) programming, we aim to:

• Increase youth academic performance, conduct, and attendance
• Improve young learners’ motivation to learn, and
• Expose young people to new opportunities and career paths through enrichment activities focused on reading and math.

Our OST programming emphasizes: academics, wellness, parental and school engagement, enrichment, and life-skills by integrating the following components:

• STEAM-ulating Minds: TFS’s commitment to a holistic education is delivered through our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) approach. Youth explore robotics, gaming, and hands-on science experiments—we even have a club that’s devoted to these activities called Tech Squad! STEAM builds the 21st Century and critical thinking skills that are essential for their future.

• State-of-the-Art Technology: TFS integrates an online software, iReady, that provides individually tailored math and reading lessons on TFS-provided laptop computers.

• Math and Reading: Math and reading are the building blocks to future success. Our program priority is to ensure that (at minimum) youth perform at grade-level in reading and math.

• My Path: This pilot program aims to spark Rising Scholars’ college and career aspirations. TFS prepares youth for success by promoting a college-going culture and offering career exploration opportunities.

TFS's impact, in their words:

"My father is incarcerated. He was arrested when I was in 5th grade and he won’t get out until I’m in 11th grade. I don’t want that for myself and I’m striving to do better than that. I want to be successful. In fact, I want to be a computer engineer and an Eagle Scout. I’m doing things now that I never thought I would be doing in The Fishing School’s Tech Squad...things that I only dreamed about accomplishing!

We’re doing architecture, building designs and learning about computers. Tech Squad is more than building structures though. It’s building my confidence, my math skills and my motivation to avoid the path my father went down." TFS Rising Scholar, Future Eagle Scout and Computer Engineer

“I don’t want to leave! I’m trying to be here even more next semester. When you’re with the kids you get hooked. It’s nice when you feel like you’re making an impact.” TFS Intern Lauren Salmiery

“From the beginning this organization has been a life saver for me. When I had worked all day long I faced the problem of not wanting to leave my boys alone at home; as I had to return to work. The Fishing School was there for me. We have mattered to them and have survived, and will thrive because of The Fishing School.” TFS parent of former TFS youth, William Allen, Jr.

Be a special, and integral, part of the hope that The Fishing School provides our families by donating today.