Newark Needs Us Now
1
Newark students are experiencing an Aspiration-Attainment Gap.
Only 20% of Newark Residents have a Bachelors degree or higher.
What this means:
Newark’s young people want to achieve more but they’re facing barriers that block them from turning dreams into degrees. This gap between what they hope for and what they actually attain holds back not just individual students, but entire families and communities.
Why we must act:
If we don’t step in now to close the aspiration-attainment gap, we risk losing a generation of potential leaders, changemakers, and innovators. We must provide the resources, mentorship, and pathways that help students move from aspiring to achieving.
2
Newark has low college attainment.
Compared to the rest of New Jersey and the country, Newark has significantly fewer young people completing college.
Why it matters:
This isn’t just a local issue; it’s a structural gap that feeds cycles of poverty, limits career options, and keeps Newark students from competing on equal footing in the workforce.
Call to action:
We must change this narrative by building pipelines that help students not just enroll in college, but complete their degrees. The Butterfly Affect is here to ensure that Newark’s young people rise to meet and exceed statewide and national benchmarks.
3
Newark students are experiencing an Opportunity Gap.
1 and 4 Newark students are able to attend college after high school.
What this means:
For every four students walking across the graduation stage, only one continues to higher education. This opportunity gap leaves too many young people without the training and credentials they need to access meaningful careers and financial stability.
Call to action:
We can’t afford to let three out of four students slip through the cracks. It’s time to create accessible, community-driven programs that lift students up, open doors, and ensure every Newark graduate has a clear, supported path forward.