Upward Scholars students are English learners who live at or below the poverty line. But our students are much more than the challenges and hardships they encounter. They strive to better their lives—for themselves and their families. They break down barriers to help right the wrongs of economic and racial disparities in the Bay Area.
1,300+ students served since 2010
485 students served in 2023
77% identify as Latinx
15% identify as Asian
73% are women | 27% are men
52% are parents
60% continued enrolled from ‘22 to ‘23
Student Impact in 2023
With your support, we provided
over 10,000 hours
of financial, academic, career development, and holistic support to a record number of students
99% of students
improved their English proficiency leading to a
52% increase
in their graduation rates, and
nearly 40%
increased their earnings
418 students
received freetextbooks and course materials
114 students
received laptops and other technology support, such as mice, keyboards, webcams, printers, and calculators
We promoted food security for
162 students and their families,
with a total value of
over $65,000
71 pairs
of volunteer tutors and mentors fostered success with students
$120,000+
in Emergency Funds assisted
105 students and their families
facing financial emergencies
We provided
200+ hours
of emotional and spiritual counseling to students and their families
29 students
received community college certificates of achievement in fields including accounting, business administration, and early childhood education
13 students
earned AA/AS degrees
*5 students earned both an associate degree and a certificate of achievement
Organizational Impact in 2023
Upward Scholars’ budget grew to over
$1,500,000
enabling us to continue offering in-depth and individual-focused services to support our students in breaking the cycle of poverty
In 2023, we launched our Advisory Council and welcomed three new Board members and our first-ever AmeriCorps VISTA fellow.
