For more than 25 years, the Youth Development Center (YDC) has worked to close academic gaps and give students a stronger path toward graduating high school and building brighter futures. YDC provides high quality academic support at no cost to 120 underserved and academically struggling students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Northeast Houston. Their comprehensive approach includes transportation from school, nutritious meals, structured academic labs, and a safe ride home at the end of each day. During the academic year, students achieve remarkable gains with an average of 2.6 years of growth in literacy and 1.1 years of progress in math.
Early in the school year, Spindletop hosted its annual STEM Carnival for students receiving academic support through the YDC. Volunteers set up different stations for students to explore STEM learning, including sand art, engineering bingo, acceleration, and more! The day concluded with a drawing prize for each grade level to recognize students completing each STEM station and embracing new knowledge.