Eastwood Students Tutor Younger Kids

The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program is a tutoring dropout prevention program that identifies middle and high school students and signs them up as tutors for elementary school children who are struggling in school. Results show that tutors stay in school, have increased academic performance, improve school attendance and advance to higher education.The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program is currently operating at HISD’s Eastwood Academy and Lantrip Elementary.

“The Coca Cola Valued Youth Program helps students realize their potential. Many of them are experiencing success for the first time—whether that would be academic success or success at being a leader and positive role model,” said Coca-Cola Value Youth Program Coordinator. The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program was created by the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), an internationally-recognized, cross-age tutoring program that helps students learn about self-discipline and develop self-esteem. “The program is based on the creed that all students are valuable, none is expendable,” said IDRA President Dr. Maria Robledo. “It has maintained a less than two-percent dropout rate, which is an incredible legacy.” Since its inception in 1984 through the 2008–2009 school year, the program has kept more than 29,000 students in schools, young people who were previously considered at risk of dropping out. More than 154,000 children, families and educators have been positively impacted by the program.

Eastwood Academy High School’s tradition with the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program has created a positive learning and leadership environment for many of our college-bound students. Some of our students attending Eastwood were mentored by our Alumni and they are now intrinsically motivated to serve their communities. Adam De Leon is now a Ninth Grade student at Eastwood Academy High School and his former mentor, Edgar Cruz, who would tutor him while he was at Travis Elementary, is now an inspiration to others as he attends Texas A&M.

According to HISD records, Eastwood Academy High School, an Exemplary Internal Charter High School, was one of the first schools to implement the program and it is also one of the schools with the longest lasting traditions. Eastwood Academy High School continues to collaborate with Lantrip Elementary (a Blue Ribbon Elementary School in the East End) and they now share more than mentors and mentees in common, they are both Exemplary Schools. The collaboration continues to grow by having well attended parent meetings to help students with their transition from being at-risk to being college-bound.