National Association for Urban Debate Leagues

The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) is a nonprofit organization that works to close the achievement gap in urban public schools by building competitive debate programs. Independent peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that urban debate programs significantly improve high school graduation rates and college-readiness. Ninety percent of urban debaters graduate from high school on time. Eighty-five percent attend college and urban debaters are 80 percent more likely to graduate from college than their non-debating peers. Urban debaters are more likely to test as college-ready in English, Reading, Science and Math. While they debate, students' grades improve. NAUDL is the backbone organization for urban debate. It supports leagues in 19 cities nationwide that serve 7,300 urban high school and middle school students. Eighty-six percent of urban debaters are students of color and 76 percent are from low income families. NAUDL's goal is to triple the number of urban debaters in the next five years.