About Us
Our Mission
LYTE believes educational success is foundational to lifelong success. LYTE changes the trajectory of economically disadvantaged youth by preparing middle school students to attend and succeed at competitive high school programs and then colleges, by providing personal mentoring, rigorous academic instruction, and leadership opportunities.
Our Story
In 2013, Ankur Arya was teaching middle school math at Thomas Edison Charter School, located in one of Wilmington’s most poverty-stricken, crime-besieged neighborhoods. Arya, a Teach for America alumnus, recognized that his most promising and committed students were tracked for high schools presenting limited academic opportunities. Thus, even if these students overcame socio-economic obstacles to graduate from high school, they were unlikely to attend college or circumvent the cycle of poverty.
The immediate positive impact of LYTE’s programming on its initial Scholars rapidly increased student demand. And LYTE rose to the challenge. As the LYTE Scholars progressed in their academic achievements and goals, LYTE expanded its programming to ensure their success through high school, while adding new students every year. Thanks to the support of our community partners and hard work, LYTE now actively serves hundreds of Scholars.
In 2018, LYTE’s graduating class was admitted to college. Since then, 100% of graduates are attending college and most with substantial tuition support. LYTE Scholars are now attending Cornell University, Swarthmore College, University of Virginia, University of Delaware, University of Miami, Bryn Mawr College, Delaware State University, Rosemont College, University of Akron and many others.
Our Values
LYTE is committed to creating and sustaining positive change in Delaware by altering the life trajectory of middle school students from low-to-moderate income households through robust academic programming. LYTE empowers its Scholars to be leaders in their community and beyond, through mentoring and modeling leadership skills, and by instilling a sense of social responsibility and the desire to give back to the community.
LYTE’s middle school Scholars complete a collaborative, community-focused research project, providing an opportunity to examine a particular challenge in the community, to propose solutions to that challenge, and to present their findings to members of the community. LYTE’s high school Scholars and alumni give back to LYTE through volunteer tutoring and mentoring younger LYTE Scholars, and by doing so, help the younger Scholars see themselves in the exciting high school and college experiences that lie ahead.
Our Scholars
LYTE began as a solution for ten committed students and now LYTE serves hundreds of economically disadvantaged students from many middle schools and over 35 high schools. Every year, LYTE Scholars have received more than 3 million dollars in grants, scholarships and financial aid.
LYTE focuses our services on students from low-to-moderate income households, first generation college students, and students who started at or are currently attending Title I schools..
LYTE collects in household income information from the families we serve at several points of programming. More than 50% of the students LYTE serves are from low-income households. More than 70% are from low-to-moderate income households.
*Low-income households and communities are those with (i) income at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of the household based on the most recently published poverty guidelines by HHS. This standard is equivalent to qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunches based on federal poverty guidelines.
LYTE Board
LYTE Staff Members
Financials & Annual Reports
Model
LYTE also collaborates with over 35 high school programs to ensure that students are prepared for college and have support in the college admission and financing process.