WHEDco Statistics

WHEDco, Women’s Housing and Education Development Corporation, serves the Melrose community. In a 2016 report, the organisation conducted a community needs assessment to better understand and help meet the needs of Melrose. The study highlighted some statistics by the US Census Bureau, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the NYS Department of Education, and the NYC Department of Education. They found that the population of Melrose is 223,311. The yearly median household income is $22,000. The population below poverty is 50%. The population under age 18 is 30%. The 4-year high school graduation rate is 63%. The high school dropout rate is 14%.

The WHEDco survey found major concerns regarding the quality of youth-serving education programs. It found that there is a need for quality childcare and youth education, 23% of their survey respondents were interested in assistance with youth education. However, one-third of parents who have their students in after-school programs are not satisfied with the quality of those programs. In one-fourth of New York City’s schools, 90% of students fail to read or do math at grade level. The report states that “these failing schools are concentrated in neighborhoods such as the South Bronx”.

WHEDco Statistics