The Need in Atlanta
Children in East and Southwest Atlanta face barriers that limit their ability to learn, grow, and feel confident. In the neighborhoods where we work, kids are falling behind in reading and getting priced out of the sports and activities that build confidence outside the classroom. These aren’t abstract numbers — they describe the families who walk into our programs every week.
Worlds Between Pages
35% of Georgia third graders read at grade level
54% of APS Black third graders read at the lowest proficiency level
60–70% of children in 30316, 30317, and 30331 are not meeting grade level expectations
Kids not reading proficiently by third grade are 4× more likely to drop out of high school
Kids Need Support
Victory for Kids sees this every week: children who are bright, curious, and capable — but who need more time, more structure, and more individualized support than a typical classroom can offer. Many have never been formally diagnosed with learning differences, yet the need is clear: they require a reading experience built for them.
Basketball:
Access to Confidence, Movement, and Belonging
Youth sports costs have risen 46% since 2019
Low income kids are 6× more likely to quit sports because of cost
Families spend an average of $1,016 per child, per season
In the neighborhoods we serve, this means kids are shut out of the very activities that build confidence, teamwork, and resilience. Victory Through Sports removes that barrier by offering structured, accessible basketball experiences that help kids feel strong, capable, and connected.
Sources: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS) and Georgia Department of Education. (2025). Georgia Milestones Assessment System, 2023–24 results. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation. Aspen Institute, Project Play. (2024). State of Play: Atlanta / National trends report. Aspen Institute, Project Play, and Utah State University. (2024). Youth sports participation and cost-barrier research. Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and Project Play. (2024). Youth sports cost data.