CHILDREN ATTENDING WHYTECLIFF ACHIEVE SCHOOL AND LIFE SUCCESS
“I have changed my life in many positive ways because of this program. Please never discontinue this program. It has been the best school I have ever been to. Even though I’m going to graduate next year, I want other people to experience the same education that I have. So many people can be saved because of Focus Foundation.”
Whytecliff conducted an analysis of graduating student files and records from 2011 to 2017; we also reached out to this group and their parents and former caregivers through a broad range of contacts including emails, facebook, and phone calls. We asked questions about Whytecliff’s impact on their life, whether or not they were working or going to school, as well as the broader current circumstances of their life. A number of former students volunteered deeper personal narratives.
The results show dramatic differences (vs. prior schools) in attendance, course completion, improvement in day-to day functioning and positive impact years later after graduation.
Attendance Data – People Vote with Their Feet
At Whytecliff children feel welcomed and validated – so they attend. Because there is real community, they are afraid of being missed and missing out. Overall attendance, particularly as compared to prior school attendance, is a valid indicator of community and growth.
Average Annual Days Absent
2011-2017 Graduates
Prior School versus Whytecliff
Despite often-adverse living circumstances, attendance – as compared to their prior school – dramatically increases by what amounts to a full calendar month of school.
Course Completion– Getting Things Done
On average, students at Whytecliff complete four times the number of courses they completed at their previous school.
Average Annual Courses Completed
2011-2017 Graduates
Prior Year in Public School versus Last Year at Whytecliff
CAFAS Grad Results 2012-2017 – Feeling Good and Doing Well
CAFAS, or the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale, is the gold standard for assessing a youth’s day-to-day functioning across critical life subscales and determining whether a youth’s functioning improves over time. (Lower numbers indicate improvement)
Median CAFAS Scores
2013-2017 Graduates
Entry Versus Graduation
Median CAFAS results Pre and Post confirm the wide range of challenges that children face on entry to the program (across multiple domains) and the remarkable progress in each domain that occurs. While significant drops occur in virtually every domain, mild impairments continue to exist in moods and addictions, which confirms the obvious link. However, even with both of these, Moods dropped by 66% and Addictions by 50%.
Graduates 2011-2017 – Life After Whytecliff
In August 2017 we were able to contact and follow-up with 42 of the Graduates, who were an average of 3 years out of Whytecliff. The results were remarkable. Only 3 of 42 recent graduating students are looking for work three years after graduation; the remaining 39 were either working, full-time homemakers, or in school. Graduates go on to major universities, colleges, trade school programs, or directly enter the world of work including such professions as real estate.
Using two questions from our proprietary Well-Being Scale, we asked them to rate themselves 1-10 on their life path and continuing growth:
“I’m on a good path – I’m moving forward and making positive progress.”
“I’m growing as a person – I see myself developing and evolving as a person – I’m open to stepping outside my usual comfort zone, receiving constructive criticism, and expanding my horizons.”
