Girlstart After School provides 4th & 5th-grade girls with a fun, free weekly STEM enrichment program in the fall and spring semesters that builds confidence and encourages them to pursue paths to higher education and discover greater career opportunities. Additionally, Girlstart After School seeks to enhance and supplement girls’ classroom science learning through engaging activities that introduce important STEM concepts in a hands-on and informal environment. As a standards aligned STEM program, Girlstart After School supports the science and math learning recovery for our participants. Girlstart’s STEM CREW program leaders serve as role models and empower their program members to be “brave, creative, and curious.”

Girlstart After School Purpose

• To increase participants’ understanding in conducting scientific inquiry, investigations, problem solving, and competency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. 

• To increase participants’ interest and confidence in doing science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) activities.

• To increase the number of girls who will indicate an interest in pursuing STEM study in high school/college, including interest in STEM electives, STEM higher education, and STEM majors.

• To increase participants’ awareness of STEM careers.

In 2023, Girlstart After School reached more than 3,000 girls within 86 schools across 21 districts and 3 states.

Research shows that Girlstart After School participants consistently and dramatically out-perform their peers on standardized math and science tests. Girlstart girls also, post-program participation, enroll in advanced math and science courses at a significantly higher rate than their non-participant peers, and the number of advanced courses increases over time, in contrast to non-participants, whose engagement in advanced math and science courses decreases over time. 

Girlstart After School is only possible because of support from our corporate and grant partners, and generous individuals like yourself. To make a donation click here.