Our History

STAR House Foundation is enriching our community by promoting academic success and empowering lifelong achievement in at-risk children.  For the past 16 years, STAR House has remained true to the same ideal:  mold children into thoughtful leaders who reflect upstanding values and they will make their mark on those around them.  In 1993, community concerns for the safety of children in a low income apartment complex led a group of volunteers to create an after school educational and enrichment program.  From that small, one unit apartment "center" serving 15-20 children, has grown a model for after school education and care for at-risk students.  STAR House now operates in 3 schools in Roswell, Georgia and serves nearly 200 students in elementary, middle and high school.  STAR House provides homework help, tutoring, mentoring and school supplies in a safe and caring atmosphere.

The students served by STAR House are at-risk for failure for several reasons: their families are low income, they have performed poorly on the CRCT and they lack adequate adult supervision after school.  Regular and systematic evaluations of the elementary program have been conducted.  The results show that 100% of students participate in structured literacy skills programs; homework completion rates are 90%, school attendance rates are 90% and during the Fulton County Schools retention years - 3rd and 5th grade - no STAR House student was retained, having met or exceded CRCT requirements.  In only its 2nd year, the high school program is showing great strides.  Sophomores are learning about post-secondary choices and many are putting together education plans for continuing their education after graduation.

As the needs of our community have grown, STAR House has grown.  By expanding into the schools, we are able to reach more students in need of our services.  It is important for STAR House to follow our students from elementary to middle to high school to help them navigate the changing and challenging curriculum and to ensure they are on the right track for high school graduation.   Our students come from loving and caring families, but many do not insist on their children continuing their education to graduation.  Many are not completely literate in their own language.  These children are the ones who are at higher risk of making poor life choices without the enrichment and the extra help and support they receive through STAR House.  Poverty is growing in suburban Atlanta at a faster rate than almost anywhere else in the country.  The need for a safe, structured, nurturing and educational after-school and mentoring program has never been greater.