The Escambia Children’s Trust meets today to interview 29 providers about their proposals for out-of-school-time programs. While the Trust staff produced a Needs Assessment, it failed to list the neighborhoods it should target. I believe the Trust should be investing in pilot programs in the area with the most need – 32505.
In the fall of 2015, the Studer Community Institute with the help of the University of West Florida built a map using U.S. Census Bureau data that showed Escambia County’s pockets of poverty.
The largest pocket was in zip code 32505, which is served by Montclair Elementary, Oakcrest Elementary, C.A. Weis Elementary, Brentwood Elementary and Global Learning Academy. (We need to identify the middle and high schools serving the students from these elementary schools.)
Community Health Northwest Florida chose to put its headquarters in 32505 because many of its patients live there. The Children’s Home Society selected to have Escambia County’s first Community Partnership School at C.A. Weis Elementary because it recognized the need in that neighborhood.
School Grades:
Montclair 2014: D 2022: D – Total points in 2022: 265
Oakcrest 2014: D 2022: D – Total points in 2022: 222
Weis 2014: D 2022: C – Total points in 2022: 325
Brentwood 2014: D 2022: C – Total points in 2022: 330
Global 2014: C 2022: D – Total points in 2022: 257
In 2020, Florida Chamber Foundation’s Prosperity Initiative listed Escambia County’s percentage of children living in poverty by zip code. 32505 had 37.6% of its children, ages 18 and under, living in poverty – 1,586 kids. Countywide percentage is 22.3%.
The grants review committee should give priority to those programs serving children in the 32505 area code. The results should be tracked closely and successful programs should be cascaded to other neighborhoods.