Youth Right Now
Explore the research behind how Boys & Girls Clubs empower today’s youth.
Introduction
Youth Right Now features survey findings from nearly 145,000 young people ages 9 to 18 — to our knowledge, the nation’s largest data set on youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America has annually surveyed our youth members nationwide since 2012. Survey respondents are youth from all different backgrounds, ethnicities and communities who share one thing in common — they participate in a Boys & Girls Club. This data supports nearly 5,500 Boys & Girls Club locations in improving services for young people.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America conducts this annual survey to better support the youth we serve through high-quality after-school programming. We share our insights with educators, policymakers and other youth-focused organizations to help inform policies and services that champion a brighter future for us all.
– Jim Clark, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
America Needs Club Kids.
Tomorrow’s Leaders are at Boys & Girls Clubs. Help more youth discover their greatness outside of school.
Clubs Help Young People Succeed Academically
Club kids are engaged, successful learners who attend school regularly.
Most Club Kids Earn A’s & B’s and Are Less Likely to Skip School
97% expect to graduate high school.
81% earn mostly A’s and B’s.
84% have not skipped school without permission in the last four weeks.
Club High Schoolers Outperform their Peers in Earning Mostly A’s and B’s
Clubs Help Young People Lead Healthy Lives
Club kids build lifelong healthy habits.
Club Kids Prioritize their Physical & Emotional Health
81% enjoy being physically active.
80% say eating healthy is important to them.
78% take care of their feelings and emotions.
Club High Schoolers Outperform their Peers in Living Healthy Lifestyles
Clubs Help Young People Become Leaders
Club kids consistently show up for their communities.
Club Kids Lead Positive Change Where They Live
91% understand how issues affect their community.
89% spend time on projects with other people to help their community.
80% use their leadership skills to make their communities better.
Clubs Help Young People Graduate & Prepare for the Future
In making post grad plans, Club high school seniors are looking at a variety of options. 70% are interested in pursuing more education. Of those planning to enroll in more school, 78% aim to earn a four-year college degree or higher.
Club Teens Are Ready for Life After High School
Club teens feel equipped for adulthood, including preparing for future education, careers and adult responsibilities.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
97% of Club kids expect to graduate high school, with 9-in-10 students in grades 10 to 12 on track in science and English courses.
Club kids excel in STEM subjects. 70% earn mostly A’s and B’s in math while 78% are curious to learn more about science, computers or technology.
Character & Leadership
76% believe they can make a difference in their community, with 77% saying they can stand up for what is right, even if their friends disagree.
Club kids lead with respect. 92% say being a good leader means treating others fairly even when they don’t get along with them.
Health & Well-being
85% say they understand how their feelings affect their actions, while 75% say they can deal with how they feel when they’re upset.
Over half (59%) say they talk things over with others when a problem arises, while 91% say they have an adult at the Club to talk to about their problems.
Workforce Readiness
87% know about different types of careers, while 86% know which career they want to work toward.
Over half (53%) are interested in having a STEM-related job, while 67% know the steps they need to take to be in a science-related career.
Empowering First-Generation College Students
22% of Club high schoolers aspire to be the first in their families to go to college. Boys & Girls Clubs help all members have access to the resources and opportunities they need for pursuing post-secondary education.
Improving Their Communities
13% of Club middle and high schoolers are unaware of issues facing their community. Boys & Girls Clubs empower youth to learn, advocate and lead service projects, creating real change where they live.
Knowing All Their Options After Graduation
55% of Club teens expect to complete some sort of post-secondary education, while 45% are interested in pursuing alternative paths after high school. Clubs help teens know all their options and graduate with a plan for what’s next.
About Youth Survey Respondents
For media inquiries and reporting resources, download the BGCA Youth Right Now Full Survey Results and the BGCA Youth Right Now: Graduation Special Report for additional data and key findings.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, http://yrbs explorer.services.cdc.gov/.
