Students reading below grade level at the end of 3rd grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school on time – a sobering statistic for the 73% of DC's 4th graders whose reading levels put them on track for failure in school. The Literacy Lab is devoted to increasing children’s basic literacy skills, providing intensive reading intervention to over 5,000 students in grades pre-K to five who have fallen an average of two years behind. Children receive one-on-one, evidence-based interventions five days a week from full-time tutors placed at their schools. They build deep and meaningful relationships with their tutors and the intense focus pays off. Schools value the partnership because it works: over 97% of schools continue from one year to the next. The Literacy Lab helps young children become the strong readers and successful students they want to be.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 1

Where They Operate: DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 5; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; VA-Fairfax County; VA-City of Alexandria

Age Groups Served: Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11)

Ethnic Groups Served: African American; Latino/Hispanic; Other

Population(s) Served: Students; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members

Schools They Work In: DC Public Schools; Alexandria City Public Schools; KIPP DC; EL Haynes Public Charter School ; Democracy Prep Public Charter School ; Bridges Public Charter School


  • Number of people (clients, patrons, students, etc) your organization serves annually:   1,000
  • Academic success level of your students (% performing at or above grade level, etc):  
    Students in our after-school programs average 1.5 grade levels of growth in 42 hours with The Literacy Lab.
  • Hours of tutoring, mentoring, or class-time you provide annually:   60,000

Awards & Recognition

10/2011 Lehrman Impact Award
2009-2012 5-star "Excellent" quality rating from DCPS Title I office

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for The Literacy Lab is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Each year 150+ community advocates review applicants on the basis of governance, equity, and impact. Each featured nonprofit has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. Spur Local charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $57 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

If you like The Literacy Lab you might also like



This organization collaborates with