# City Year > Founded in 1988, City Year is a trailblazing, youth-powered organization committed to advancing academic outcomes for all students and developing the next generation of leaders through national service. ## At City Year, We Believe in the Power of Young People Source: https://www.cityyear.org/about/ Founded in 1988, City Year is a trailblazing, youth-powered organization committed to advancing academic outcomes for all students and developing the next generation of leaders through national service. We work to create the conditions that enable young people to learn, develop, and reach their full potential. When young people succeed, we all benefit. ### What We Do City Year drives change by helping young people thrive in school and succeed in the workforce—unlocking pathways to economic mobility and a thriving adulthood for millions of young people. Every day, City Year student success coaches serve in hundreds of schools that need additional capacity, supporting students' academic and interpersonal growth. Schools with City Year student success coaches are 2-3x more likely to improve in ELA and math and 2-6x more likely to improve chronic absenteeism. 91% of City Year alumni are employed or enrolled in school within 12 months of service and 74% earn as much or more than their parents, contributing to economic mobility. ### City Year's Reach - Serving 244 schools across 30 U.S. cities. - 40,000 U.S. alumni. - 130,000 students served in systemically under-resourced schools; 95% children of color. - City Year has 98% overlap with the districts that produce 50% of the nation's non-graduates. ### City Year's Vision for Impact Through Phase I of City Year's strategic plan, we aim to scale the number of student success coaches serving the nation's highest-need districts while developing the next generation of leaders. - Serve 25% of the districts generating the majority of the nation's non-graduates. - Recruit, train, and deploy up to 25,000 student success coaches. - Prepare the next generation of leaders. ## A Coach for Every Student: Whole School, Whole Child Source: https://www.cityyear.org/impact/unique-approach/ Every student needs a coach in their corner. City Year AmeriCorps members provide additional support as student success coaches—trusted tutors and mentors—in under-resourced schools. The Whole School, Whole Child model is grounded in research that shows students best learn and develop when they form positive relationships with caring adults, feel a sense of belonging in school, and receive holistic support—both academic and interpersonal. ### The Challenge Chronic absenteeism remains 50% higher than pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 11 million students missing at least 10% of the school year. Achievement rates in reading and math have also declined significantly. ### Results City Year partner schools show reductions in chronic absenteeism at 2x the rate of comparison schools and 6x the rate in middle schools. Schools partnering with City Year are 2-3x more likely to improve in English and math assessments. An analysis by Deloitte showed City Year is 78% more cost effective for schools than contracting with individual providers for the same services. ## Unlocking College Credit Through Service City Year is advancing an ambitious effort to formally recognize the City Year experience as college-level learning. City Year received a conditional credit recommendation from the National College Credit Recommendation Services for two student success coach positions, with the potential to earn 9-12 college credits for prior learning. This milestone affirms that a City Year service year represents rigorous, college-level learning grounded in experiential practice, structured reflection, and competency-based development. ### Why College Credit Through Service Matters Credit can accelerate postsecondary progress, lower the cost of college, and increase confidence and persistence. When paired with the Segal Education Award, potential college credit further strengthens City Year service as a launchpad for educational attainment, economic mobility, and long-term career success. ### What's Needed City Year is finalizing academic requirements, building sustainable infrastructure, and preparing a limited FY27 pilot with select sites and higher education partners. ### Call to Action Philanthropic partners can support NCCRS requirements and academic documentation, pilot staffing and systems, and evaluation and learning to inform expansion and national adoption. ## City Year and AI ### Overview Artificial intelligence is redefining what's possible in education, workforce development, and community impact. City Year is harnessing AI not to replace human connection, but to strengthen it—driving efficiency, accelerating impact, and deepening relationships. ### Our Vision: Human-Powered Innovation AI should amplify human relationships at the heart of education, economic mobility, and community impact. Used responsibly, AI can free time, improve quality, and expand impact. ### The Innovation Opportunity City Year can reduce administrative burden, strengthen recruiting and fundraising, enhance classroom supports and student insights, and help young people navigate an AI-enabled world. ### Where We're Headed Priorities include an enterprise AI roadmap, governance and guardrails, high-value pilots, modernized systems, and workforce preparation. ## A Path for Every Young Person: Workforce and Career Development Source: https://www.cityyear.org/alumni-life/career-resources/ A year of service with City Year is a career accelerator, providing young people access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in college, career and life. Student success coaches hone purpose, gain real-world experience, and develop the durable skills employers value most. ### Workforce Readiness 4.2 million young people are disconnected—not working, in school or in training—while 75% of employers struggle to fill roles. ### How City Year Responds Service builds analytical thinking, resilience, creative problem solving, empathy, leadership, communication, and flexibility. A network of alumni, corporate partners and mentors offers job opportunities, internships, professional development, and employment support. Over 83% of alumni report developing critical skills during service. Nearly 90% say City Year prepared them for their career and they are happy with their chosen path. ## Bridging Divides, Building Futures At a time of deep social fragmentation, our country needs leaders who can work across differences, build trust and community, and bring people together around shared goals. Since 1988, City Year has supported young adults from disparate backgrounds to serve in communities, develop workforce and leadership skills, and solve complex problems through collaboration and continuous learning. ### Developing Leaders for a More Connected Society During relationship-centered, school-based service, AmeriCorps members develop empathy, perspective, and the ability to partner with people whose experiences and beliefs differ from their own. ### Reengaging Young Adults In a year of immersive service, 2,000 AmeriCorps members gain hands-on, career-focused learning and high-quality professional development. City Year reengages young adults in meaningful, team-based service that builds connection while strengthening communities. ## Help Students Show Up for Themselves Source: https://www.cityyear.org/apply-now/ ### At City Year At City Year we believe that helping young people learn, develop and reach their full potential contributes to strong and vibrant communities for all of us. Trained teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide support to students, classrooms and the whole school, helping to ensure that students receive a high-quality education that prepares them with the skills they need to thrive and contribute to their community. Our City Year AmeriCorps members serve in schools, partnering with teachers and principals to create learning environments where all students can build on their strengths and fully engage in their learning. ### The Challenge We know every child can succeed, and that when students succeed, we all benefit. Yet, in too many places across the country, all students do not have access to the learning environments and resources they need to thrive. ### What We Do City Year AmeriCorps members serve in schools as student success coaches, helping students build on their strengths and cultivate academic and interpersonal skills that are important in school and in life. Nationally, City Year AmeriCorps members serve school districts that experience some of the lowest high school graduation rates. We serve in schools that need additional capacity and resources to meet the needs of their students. ### You Grow. They Grow. We All Rise. Serving as a City Year AmeriCorps member, you'll get to know students who have the strength and desire to offer so much to the world but don't always have access to the resources they need to achieve their goals. You will work as part of a trained and committed team, and together, you'll all get stronger, learn from each other, and build each other up. ### Helping Students Build an Ever-Expanding Sense of Who They Are You'll be responsible for helping students expand upon their sense of self and purpose—helping them learn about themselves, what they're interested in and all they're capable of doing. - Leading enriching afterschool programming - Fostering students' positive belief in themselves and their capabilities - Working with educators to help create a welcoming school environment - Building positive, caring relationships with students ### Enabling Pathways to Academic Achievement Our AmeriCorps members leverage their unique relationships with students to provide academic interventions, focusing on math and literacy. Academic interventions can take place in a variety of ways: - Individual and group tutoring in math and literacy - Collaboration with teachers to identify and support student needs - Use of data and analytics to build individualized success plans for students Throughout their service, City Year AmeriCorps members encourage students to learn and lead. Through these shared experiences, students gain a broader sense of self and develop durable skills like empathy and decision-making. With an expanding sense of who they are and what they're capable of, students develop personal goals and a drive to pursue what they want for themselves in life. As student success coaches, City Year AmeriCorps members are uniquely positioned to help students along this journey. ### Your Professional Development at City Year Build your career and your network while serving in schools. You'll not only make a measurable impact in the lives of the students and communities you serve, but you'll grow as an individual, too. During your service term, you'll develop leadership and professional skills that will help you advance in your career after City Year—whether you go into nonprofit work, law, medicine or business. 84% of alums said City Year helped prepare them for their career path. > "You develop perseverance. Things don't seem as hard after this." > "While in City Year, I had the opportunity to network with politicians, business leaders and develop my professional communication skills." > "This experience has made me a lot more confident in my leadership skills and ability to delegate tasks to a team." > "I have learned skills and applied them in every aspect of my life beyond my year of service. I am proud to say, that as an alum, I live and breathe 'active citizen' in my daily life." ### City Year and Your Career Alums bring their skills and problem-solving abilities to address serious challenges in many professions, such as public service, the economy, the environment, and many more. #### Nonprofit Put innovative theory into practice at a nationally recognized nonprofit. Over 40% of City Year's full-time staff began their career as AmeriCorps members. #### Medicine Gain a clear understanding of what it takes to be compassionate and empathetic by forging personal relationships with students and families. Learn what it takes to be hardworking and persistent amidst obstacles, honing the skills needed to be a competent and caring physician, nurse or public health professional. #### Education Achieve an understanding of the challenges students, teachers and administrators face in schools. Build relationships with faculty and staff and gain insight into how a school operates. Learn how to develop lesson plans, gain classroom management techniques and understand how to motivate students in varied ways. #### Data Science Strengthen key skills and experiences such as understanding business needs of partners, analyzing data for insights that can be applied for practical use and collaborating and problem-solving with a team. #### Business Collaborate with a talented team to develop and implement solutions to complicated issues. Learn to track, understand, and analyze data and draw conclusions based on data. #### Law Utilize analytical and strategic thinking skills to develop solutions for complex challenges in schools. Learn how to interact, empathize and communicate with people from various backgrounds and experiences. Understand how laws are shaping public policy in a community. ### Invest in Growing Your Skills at City Year No matter what your dream career is, City Year offers a short-term commitment with long-term benefits that will help you get there. Serve with us and you will grow to be a stronger leader and more prepared for your career. - Receive a stipend, health insurance, and relocation support. - Access Employee Assistance, Talkspace Therapy, and other mental health supports. - Benefit from 200+ hours of professional development, valued at more than $25,000. - Grow your skills in leadership, conflict resolution, problem solving, decision making and much more. - Access our extensive network of career and university partners eager to hire our skilled alums. - Earn a Segal Education Award, which can be used to pay back federal student loans or for tuition. - Gain eligibility for scholarships that can help further your education. ### Compensation Source: https://www.cityyear.org/experience/benefits-resources/compensation/ AmeriCorps members receive a bi-weekly stipend (pre-tax). The stipend varies by location to account for cost of living differences; ask a recruiter for the specific amount. Local partnerships offer free or discounted transportation passes. AmeriCorps members can be eligible for relocation benefits. Explore all benefits. ### University Partnerships and Educational Funding Source: https://www.cityyear.org/alumni-life/career-resources/university-partnerships/ City Year partners with more than 100 leading colleges and universities to provide graduate and undergraduate scholarships and other benefits to those who have served with City Year. Scholarships: Partners offer full or discounted tuition scholarships, matching funds for the Segal Education Award, and application waivers available exclusively to City Year alums in programs including business, nonprofit management, public policy, education, social work, law, and public health. Segal Education Award: All City Year members receive a Segal Education Award through AmeriCorps at the end of their service. This award can be used to repay qualified student loans at accredited schools or be applied toward future tuition costs. Deferred student loans: City Year AmeriCorps members can defer eligible student loans during their service. ### Join Us Source: https://www.cityyear.org/about/locations/ Explore each location on our website and connect with a City Year recruiter to learn more. You'll be able to designate your location preferences when you apply. - Seattle/King County - Milwaukee - Columbia - Jacksonville - Orlando - Miami - Buffalo - Greater Boston - New Hampshire - Baton Rouge - New Orleans - Chicago - Detroit - Memphis - Kansas City - Tulsa - Dallas - San Antonio - Denver - Sacramento - Los Angeles - Columbus - Little Rock - Cleveland - Rhode Island - New York City - Philadelphia - Washington, D.C. - Bay Area - Phoenix (launching soon) ### Apply Now City Year AmeriCorps members play a critical role in helping students connect with their school community and engage in their learning. Review deadlines, eligibility requirements and apply at CITYYEAR.ORG. ## The City Year Experience Source: https://www.cityyear.org/experience/ When you help a student find their strengths, you discover your own. The skills you gain and what you learn about yourself along the way will prepare you for who you want to be. ### What's in a City Year Experience? When you join City Year, you work alongside a team to create learning environments where all students can succeed. As you earn a stipend, you help support students' interpersonal skills, self-regulation, and academic development while providing schools with additional capacity to enhance learning. Are you ready? ### A Strong Start Each Day Our day begins before the students arrive. City Year AmeriCorps members set the tone for the day and greet students as they enter the school building—a rousing welcome and an invitation to learn, grow and connect. ### In the Classroom We help students build on their strengths and take risks in their learning. Sitting alongside students, rotating through the classroom, and occasionally taking students aside, we help them develop key skills—interpersonal and academic. ### Collaboration In between helping students learn and building their confidence, we work with our team and school leaders to identify strategies and address concerns. Corps members meet with their partner teacher to see how they, collectively, can help each student achieve everything they want. ### After School When the school day ends, we get creative about activities and clubs that will spark new interests with our students. Whether running a club for robotics, performing arts or coding, it is here that our AmeriCorps members' entrepreneurial spirit is given a chance to shine. ### Mentors Needed Applications are now open for the upcoming school year. City Year AmeriCorps members play a critical role in helping students connect with their school community and engage in their learning. ### Your Training and Local Benefits Explore resources for teaching, housing, budgeting and more. See how City Year supports you. ### 30 Cities. 22 States. Launch the next stage of your life in one of these communities and create meaningful change. See all of our locations.