MISSION

To provide youth with high-quality, life-enhancing tutoring and mentoring services that ensure personal, partner, and provider success.

VISION

A world where all children receive holistic, individualized academic support regardless of their zip code.

SERVICE

We currently have 114 Success Coaches providing tutoring and mentoring support in 57 classrooms across Memphis, TN.

+

10,000

students served daily across 8 schools

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Better with Numbers

PEER POWER QUICK FACTS

hours of tutoring and mentoring since 2004

College Students Employed by Peer Power

%

5-Year College Graduation Rate

Act Prep Score Average Increase

About Our Organization

Peer Power is a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains high-performing college students, called Success Coaches, to tutor in public school classrooms and mentor high school students to encourage active learning, valuing education, and being personally accountable for their futures.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Our History

A successful entrepreneur and dedicated philanthropist, Charles McVean had grown increasingly troubled by the poor performance of Memphis’ public schools and believed that the American free enterprise system held the remedy. Combining a performance-based compensation model with the powerful effects of peer groups, he launched his unique student-to-student tutoring concept at East High School. The program was successful and soon evolved into Peer Power.

Our History

A successful entrepreneur and dedicated philanthropist, Charles McVean had grown increasingly troubled by the poor performance of Memphis’ public schools and believed that the American free enterprise system held the remedy. Combining a performance-based compensation model with the powerful effects of peer groups, he launched his unique student-to-student tutoring concept at East High School. The program was successful and soon evolved into Peer Power.

LEARN MORE

INSPIRE

Peer Power has made remarkable progress in helping thousands of high school students improve their grades, graduate, and prepare for college. Peer Power is giving 15,000 students and 99 teachers in 76 schools much more than good grades and college counseling. It’s giving them hope.

Most importantly, Peer Power is scalable and replicable. With the commitment of the administration, faculty, and students, the program can be adapted to fit practically any existing public school in communities of any size – as long as funds are available to support it.

Your gift matters.

DONATE TODAY

Empower

The average annual cost of successfully running Peer Power in a single school for a full year is $750 per student based on a school of 1000 students. The current annual budget for the program is approaching $3,200,000, which includes payments to tutors and regular third-party evaluations to ensure our program’s effectiveness. The program’s administrative and overhead costs are entirely covered by our existing contributions. Your support will go where it can make the most difference – directly to our scholars and tutors. New contributions will accelerate the progress we have been making over the past 16 years while improving the academic performance of many more young people in more schools.

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Testimonials

Our Impact

SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS

Ways to give.

Your gift helps students build skills, confidence, and a path forward with a Success Coach by their side.

Donate online

Give once or monthly.

Donor-advised fund (DAF)

Recommend a grant through your donor-advised fund. Start with Every.org, or find us through your DAF provider using the details below.

The Peer Power Foundation Inc.
EIN: 20-2069907

Give from your DAF through Every.org →

Give by mail

Make your check payable to Peer Power Foundation and mail it with your name and return address to:

Peer Power Foundation
850 Ridge Lake Blvd, Suite 1
Memphis, TN 38120

You’re welcome to include a note with your gift.

Donate stock

Give shares through Every.org. Enter your stock gift details to receive transfer instructions for your broker.

Donate stock through Every.org →

Questions about giving? Call (901) 734-4311.

peerpower901

Creating a world where all children receive holistic, individualized academic support regardless of their zip code.

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KIPP: MEMPHIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Active Success Coaches: 21
Classrooms Served: 259
Subjects Supported: Biology, English I & II, Algebra I & II, U.S. History

Impact & Outcomes:
• Achieved Level 5 TVAAS Composite Score, the highest level of academic growth
• Earned Level 5 in TVAAS Literacy
• Significant benchmark testing gains in Peer Power–supported classrooms:
– English I: +46%
– English II: +47%
– Algebra I: +30%
– Algebra II: +43%
• 5–8% increase in attendance in supported classrooms

SOULSVILLE: MEMPHIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

12 Success Coaches supporting students across 5 classrooms in 2 schools.

MASE HIGH SCHOOL

High School Program

Active Success Coaches: 24
Classrooms Served: 229
Subjects Supported: Algebra I & II, Geometry, English, U.S. History, Biology, Physical Science, ACT Prep

Impact & Outcomes:
• Launch site for Peer Power Workforce Development Program
• TVAAS Level 5 in English I (EOC)
• TVAAS Level 4 in English II and Algebra I (EOC)

MASE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School Program

Active Success Coaches: 17
Classrooms Served: 196
Subjects Supported: Algebra I & II, Geometry, English, U.S. History, Biology, Physical Science, ACT Prep

Impact & Outcomes:
• TVAAS Level 5 in 7th Grade ELA and 8th Grade Math
• TVAAS Level 4 in 6th Grade Math

POWER CENTER ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL

Active Success Coaches: 25

Classrooms served: 213

Algebra I and Algebra II met the double annual measurable objectives (AMO).

English I met the AMO target.
Biology doubled academic performance gains after implementing Peer Power Success Coaches.

Algebra 1, Algebra 1 Lab, English 1, Algebra 2, Algebra 2 Lab, Geometry, Geometry Lab, English 2, ACT Reading/ English -Writing Focus, Biology

St. Benedict

Active Success Coaches: 8

Classrooms served: 2

Subjects supported: English I, Algebra I

UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

Middle + High school

Active Success Coaches: 32
Classrooms served: 220

English I, English II, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, US History, AA History, Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science

TVAAS Level 5: Highest growth rating
Estimated 5–8% increase in attendance in Peer Power-supported classes
JUNIOR class high school students averaged over a 24 on their ACT

OUR HISTORY

Peer Power introduced the Memphis Model in partnership with Shelby County Schools, the largest school district in Tennessee and the University of Memphis, the 25,000+ student urban institution in Memphis, TN. The program employs over 125 University of Memphis “Success Coaches” who are trained to tutor and mentor students in classrooms during the school day. This unique model strives to place two Success Coaches in every high school level Math, Science, English and U.S. History course tested by the State of Tennessee. Peer Power currently serves in 8 public schools in Shelby County.

Peer Power is making progress now by placing students in leadership roles that prepare them for lifetimes of success. Now that we know the model works, we see a terrific opportunity for bringing it to more students in more schools, which will require additional funding from a greater range of sources. Peer Power seeks partners who are passionate about changing the lives of children today.