Citizen Schools is a non-profit organization that partners with middle schools in low-income communities to expand the learning day. Since 1995, middle school students have discovered new paths through our hands-on projects and targeted academic support. In the 2011-12 school year, Citizen Schools North Carolina served nearly 500 students across four middle schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Durham Public Schools. Evidence demonstrates that students who participate in Citizen Schools are more engaged and successful than their peers during middle school and even years after the program. With its partner schools, Citizen Schools is changing the equation by significantly increasing the likelihood that students graduate high school college- and career-ready.