As the Alliance for Children & Youth celebrates its 10th anniversary, we reflect on everything we have learned about children in Gaston County. There have been calm seas and there have been storms. And because of these lessons, we are able to confidently chart a new course for the future of our organization.

Did you Know?

• Only 57% of the 9th grade students enrolled today will receive a diploma in four years.
• 43% of the 5 year olds entering school are not prepared to learn.
• Over 60% of the eighth graders in Gaston County surveyed have no opportunities to participate in clubs or other structured after school activities.
• In 2000, 442 teens between the ages of 15and 19 had babies.
• No Child Left Behind places new requirements on the school system but have no funding attached to assist in meeting the new standards.
• The new federal Faith Based Initiative will offer churches opportunities at funding for programming, but most churches have little experience in grant or program administration.
• 14.9% of the children in Gaston County live in poverty.
• 50% of the inmates in the Gaston County jail are high school dropouts.
• Every child should have three caring adults in their life besides their parents.
• 41% of the eighth graders surveyed in Gaston County don’t do their homework.

For a copy of our annual report, go to Contact Us to email us a request.

Please visit all of our different pages on the website to learn more about helping children in your community.