Youth and Families in the Rochester Area

• 90% of the unmet needs in our community are directly related to the wellbeing of our children
• 1 in 4 of Rochester’s children come from low-income households and the number is rising
• 60% of the children in Olmsted County are not fully prepared for Kindergarten
• The number of children receiving free and reduced lunch in Rochester has jumped 33% in the past 6 years•
• According to the US Census data, roughly 1 in 10 youth under the age of 18 in Rochester is living in poverty. This means there are 1600 youth attending our public schools right now that are growing up in poverty.
• Struggling children experience achievement gaps as they progress through school. These gaps generate public costs that cause increases in remedial education costs, increases in justice system expenses and lowered future earnings and tax revenues