Changing student lives in New York City
Since 2013, we have served 137 total students from New York City in our flagship summer program.
Quick Facts: NYC Students
76% will be first generation college-goers
49% come from single parent households
30% were born outside of the United States
38% speak a language other than English as their primary language
Have an average annual family income of $29,224
37% identify as African, Black or African-American, or Afro-Caribbean
94% students of color
College Persistence
93% of reporting YLA New York City students matriculated to a 4-year college
Of those, 84% are on track to graduate or have graduated
Of the students who have already graduated, 80% graduated in 4 years or fewer
Average annual financial aid assistance and scholarships package for New York City students: $33,682
Our NYC students improved an average of 158 points overall in their time at the Yleana Leadership Academy (2016-2020).
College Board Benchmarks
The College Board’s College and Career Readiness benchmarks are 480 Verbal and 530 Math. Students who score at or above these benchmarks are considered to be college- and career-ready.
At the beginning of the program, only 54% of New York City students historically met the College Board benchmark for verbal scores. Only 32% met the math benchmark. By the end of the program, 93% of New York City students met the verbal benchmark and 65% met the math benchmark.
1000 Threshold
The redesigned SAT exam is scored on a scale of 1600. Getting a score of 1000 or higher often makes all the difference for students from under-represented communities. From more scholarship money to more college acceptances to more merit aid to being considered for more prestigious colleges, reaching the 1000 threshold unlocks enormous benefits for our students.
Partner Organizations
Over the years, Yleana has partnered with the following New York City-based schools and organizations:
Academy of Mount St. Ursula
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)
Bronx High School for Law and Community Service
Central Park East High School
CitySquash
College STEPS
Community School for Social Justice
Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
Jefferson High School
Lane SSC
Liberty High School Academy for Newcomers
Lower East Side Preparatory High School
Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School
The Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice
Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS)
“There is no program that I know of that equips students for the SAT in such a short period of time like Yleana...and does it in a manner that makes kids want more.”