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Our Impact
Every day we are proving that transformation and innovation can happen within a public school system — and that all students, regardless of background or circumstance, are capable of achieving at high levels.
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We served a record-breaking 111 schools last year — the most in our history.
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Our Students
Throughout our 38-year history, we have served 300,000 students who reflect the rich multi-cultural demographics of the NYC school system.
Within our network of school partners...
72%
of students are Black or Latinx
77%
of students qualify for free or reduced lunch
23%
receive special education services
We love working with NYC Outward Bound students. Because of the experiential learning that is built into the curriculum, students come primed for a bigger experience. They are ready to work together, problem solve, and push themselves to try new things.
Megan Sisson
Partnership Manager, Voyageur Outward Bound School
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Graduation Rates
Our Compass Rose Schools have adopted our approach deeply and with fidelity, participating in all components of our work stream. Because they are long-standing partners, we see the true impact of our collective work in these communities over time. The graduation rate at these schools annually outpaces the citywide average by 10+ points.
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Adventurous Learning in the Classroom
We make learning joyful, personal and engaging. Our students take ownership of their learning journeys by presenting work that matters to them and their communities and reflecting on how they’ve grown.
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Argenis Apolinario
74% of our teachers
report that they employ experiential learning practices 2x or more per week.
80% of teachers
report that they designed units that include at least one performance-based task, project or product that matters to students or the community beyond the classroom.
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Stronger School Communities Through Crew
Crew is both our signature advisory structure and a mindset that reshapes school culture to be more inclusive, human-centered and empowering.
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Lisa Berg
Our 4-year Crew partners
outperformed the City in 7 social-emotional categories in the 2025 school climate survey.
93% of students
felt they could trust their Crew Advisor.
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Transformation in the Outdoors
Whether on-site at schools, in the city, or in a wilderness-based setting, our Outdoor Adventure programs help students realize they can do hard things — more than they ever thought possible.
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Colleen Meas
93% of students
felt that the absence of their phone made them feel more connected with their classmates during an overnight program with NYC Outward Bound.
100% of Crew Advisors
felt that their Crew improved on the ability to collaborate after a half-day community-building program with NYC Outward Bound.
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Download Impact Reports
2025
Adventurous Learning in All Spaces
Download the 2025 Impact Report
