There are many challenges that confront the children we serve in the Fordham, Morris Heights, East Tremont and Belmont sections of the Bronx. According to the New York City Department of City Planning, the Bronx has the highest concentration of City residents living under the federal poverty level, and it is the lowest income county in New York State.

CitySquash's partner middle school, M.S. 45, has over 1,100 students, only two sports teams, and offers students gym class only once a week. According to the New York City Public Schools data for 2007-2008, 83% of the student body is eligible for the Free Lunch Program and less than 60% of students at M.S. 45 meet the minimum state standards in English and Mathematics. At CitySquash's partner elementary school, P.S. 205, 94% of the students qualify for free lunch.

Data from self-reported surveys of our students' families suggests that approximately three-quarters of our students' parents are Latino and one-fifth of our students' parents are black. Less than one-fifth of our students' parents have graduated from college, one-third of our students live in single-parent households and more than three-quarters of our students' families earn less than $30,000 annually.