Girlstart After School provides 4th & 5th-grade girls with a fun, free weekly STEM enrichment program in the fall and spring semesters that builds confidence and encourages them to pursue paths to higher education and discover greater career opportunities. Additionally, Girlstart After School seeks to enhance and supplement girls’ classroom science learning through engaging activities that introduce important STEM concepts in a hands-on and informal environment. As a standards aligned STEM program, Girlstart After School supports the science and math learning recovery for our participants. Girlstart’s STEM CREW program leaders serve as role models and empower their program members to be “brave, creative, and curious.”

Girlstart After School Purpose

• To increase participants’ understanding in conducting scientific inquiry, investigations, problem solving, and competency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. 

• To increase participants’ interest and confidence in doing science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) activities.

• To increase the number of girls who will indicate an interest in pursuing STEM study in high school/college, including interest in STEM electives, STEM higher education, and STEM majors.

• To increase participants’ awareness of STEM careers.

In 2023, Girlstart After School reached more than 3,000 girls within 86 schools across 21 districts and 3 states.

California

Milpitas USD
Weller Elementary
Zanker Elementary

Redwood City SD
Adelante Selby Elementary

Sunnyvale SD
Bishop Elementary

Massachusetts

Waltham Public Schools
MacArthur Elementary
Plympton Elementary

Everett Public Schools
George Keverian School

Chelsea Public Schools
Hooks Elementary
Kelly Elementary
Sokolowski Elementary
Berkowitz Elementary

Somerville Public Schools
Arthur D. Healey School

Texas

Alief ISD
Chambers Elementary
Collins Elementary
Hearne Elementary
Heflin Elementary
Hicks Elementary
Holmquist Elementary
Horn Elementary
Mahanay Elementary
Outley Elementary
Petrosky Elementary
Smith Elementary
Sneed Elementary 
Youens Elementary

Austin ISD
Cook Elementary
Guerrero-Thompson Elementary
Harris Elementary 
Langford Elementary
McBee Elementary
Padron Elementary
Wooldridge Elementary
Wooten Elementary
Zavala Elementary

Bryan ISD
Kemp-Carver Elementary

Connally ISD
Connally Elementary

Del Valle ISD
Gilbert Elementary

Edinburg CISD
Lincoln Elementary

Georgetown ISD
Carver Elementary
Cooper Elementary
McCoy Elementary
Mitchell Elementary
Wolf Ranch Elementary

Grand Prairie ISD
Eisenhower Elementary
Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy
Florence Hill Elementary
Morton Elementary
Whitt Fine Arts Academy

Hays CISD
Elm Grove Elementary
Fuentes Elementary
Green Elementary
Kyle Elementary
Negley Elementary
Pfluger Elementary
Tobias Elementary

Irving ISD
Davis Elementary
Elliott Elementary
Good Elementary
Johnston Elementary
Schulze Elementary
Stipes Elementary

Leander ISD
Reed Elementary

McAllen ISD
Roosevelt Elementary
Sam Houston Elementary
Victor Fields Elementary

Mission CISD
Pearson Elementary

North East ISD
Camelot Elementary
Windcrest Elementary

Pflugerville ISD
Brookhollow Elementary
Caldwell Elementary
Copperfield Elementary
Delco Elementary
Dessau Elementary
Northwest Leadership Academy
Parmer Lane Elementary
Riojas Elementary
Spring Hill Elementary
Wieland Elementary

Plano ISD
Christie Elementary

Richardson ISD
Forest Lane Academy 
Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet
Northrich Elementary

Round Rock ISD
Caraway Elementary
Joe Lee Johnson STEAM Academy
Union Hill Elementary
Voigt Arts Integration Academy 
Wells Branch Arts Integration Academy

Spring Branch ISD 
Hollibrook Elementary
Spring Branch Elementary
Woodview Elementary

Research shows that Girlstart After School participants consistently and dramatically out-perform their peers on standardized math and science tests. Girlstart girls also, post-program participation, enroll in advanced math and science courses at a significantly higher rate than their non-participant peers, and the number of advanced courses increases over time, in contrast to non-participants, whose engagement in advanced math and science courses decreases over time. 

Girlstart After School is only possible because of support from our corporate and grant partners, and generous individuals like yourself. To make a donation click here.