The SRLA 2020 - 2021 Impact Report
In less than one week from the writing of this blog, LAUSD students will be back in the classroom after nearly 18 months of learning from home, and we will be well on our way to kicking off the 2021 - 2022 SRLA season.
As we move forward to our next season, we are taking some time to reflect back on the 2020-2021 season and all that our Leaders and students have accomplished!
This past season, the COVID-19 pandemic kept SRLA runners from meeting up and practicing together regularly; however, encouraged by their SRLA Leaders, our students remained motivated and continued to train by running on their own and logging miles virtually. Throughout the pandemic, they connected with their teammates, teachers, and SRLA Leaders online.
Their hard work paid off. This past Spring, SRLA runners celebrated the end of the training season with the Culminating Challenge. 1,046 students took on a marathon challenge and completed 26.2 miles while another 512 students opted for shorter distances. For many groups the Culminating Challenge was the first time they ran together after 6 months of training apart. Students celebrated their accomplishments with each other by sharing their pictures and achievements on social media.
Despite the strangeness of this season, SRLA students still discovered a love of running. Though they will no longer be student runners in SRLA, the Class of 2021 will continue their running journey. 90.5% of SRLA seniors reported that they planned to continue running recreationally after their final SRLA season concluded; including nearly 100 Class of 2021 SRLA Grads, who will be participating in the 2021 November Los Angeles marathon, thanks to a generous donation of entries from the McCourt Foundation.
And that’s just the beginning. Our students’ accomplishments in the classroom were just as impressive. 98.5% of SRLA seniors graduated high school this year, and the remaining seniors who did not reach graduation in June plan to earn their high school diploma later this year. 92.3% of graduating seniors have plans to attend college this fall, and 74.9% of these students will be among the first-generation of their families to go to college.
SRLA has had another successful season. The program continues to positively impact thousands of students each year by pushing them to set goals, discover life lessons, and become part of a supportive community.
With students going back to the classroom next week, we are excited to start a new SRLA training season with 3,200 students expected to train alongside their 550 teachers to complete the Los Angeles Marathon. Returning to school won’t be easy, but SRLA will be there to help students to readjust to life on campus. Running with SRLA will be the glue that bonds teammates, together. SRLA students will encourage and support one another to break through that training wall and get through the tough times both on and off the race course.
We can’t wait to see our Leaders, students, volunteers, and public runners all back in action in person! And look forward to sharing their stories with you throughout the season.
Hope you’ll join us in supporting our students this season. There are so many ways to get involved – ways to give, pass the baton club, sponsorships, volunteer, run a SRLA race!