Outcomes

Connecting impact to results

Over the last two decades, our community of change-makers—a dynamic partnership of educators, civil servants, small business people and corporate leaders, foundations, and generous individuals—have joined together to meet justice-impacted young people where they are and focus on three interrelated paths to helping to get young people out of the system:

Educational advancement
Employability
Juvenile justice avoidance

We inspire these young people to dream, and begin to imagine potential positive futures, and we do this within a four-and-a-half month time span, at a low annual cost per student of $14,445 (compared to the $900,000 per year it costs New York State to incarcerate one young person).

98%

of our graduates do not recidivate 2-years post program*

93%

of these graduates are enrolled and progressing in school 2-years post program*

* Source: exalt Institute, 2026 analysis of five years of exalt metrics from 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025

  
        Impact Area
        Specific Target
        Defined Goal
      
        EMPLOYABILITY
        Ensuring all exalt graduates have paid work experience
        100% matching of participants who complete training with paid internships
      
        CRIMINAL JUSTICE
        Sentence reduction and lowered recidivism
        2% two-year reconviction rate; 53% of open cases reduced*
      
        EDUCATION
        Continued enrollment and progression in school
        20% average gain in attendance rates*

* Source: exalt Institute, 2026 analysis of five years of exalt metrics from 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025

“My family loves the new me. They think I’m more responsible, mature, and just a better leader. So that’s why after graduating high school, I’ve decide to go to college and major in business management. Thanks for helping create a better me. If only the Board of Education had programs like this.”
— Day-von, Cycle 44
“I saw young people who were court-involved, disconnected from school, not ready for the world of work… I saw those young people in exalt classes, excited about learning, having a desire to grow and succeed. I saw them transform and get some of the best internships in New York City. I saw what was possible for young people who everyone in New York City has questions about.”
— Alex Griffith, Senior Director of Programs, exalt
“As I keep attending exalt I see myself get better as a person. exalt helps keep kids off the street and puts them on the road to success. exalt also brings out the confidence in you, it gets you to try to better yourself so that you can grow to be who you want to be in life.”
— Imanii, Cycle 60
“exalt taught me to not be afraid to put my opinions and suggestions out there, as long as they’re positive. exalt helped me with not just doing what’s asked, but doing more.”
— Rakayyah, Cycle 27
“I think the world of exalt, and there should be a million more like exalt out in the world.”
— Jessica Kay, Clinical Director and Social Worker, Red Hook Community Center
“I have found exalt to be a wonderful organization, and being in exalt has opened my eyes to new things in life. Now I look at things differently, and now I see the importance of my school work and regular activities.”
— T'keya, Cycle 24
“exalt helped to get my personal and social life on track. During my time at exalt, I realized that most of my friends were not truly my friends and were actually a burden to my success. I have also learned how to control my emotions. I am now more aware of the consequences of my actions and the decisions I make and how it can affect me and the people around me.”
— Ayanna, Cycle 40