In an effort to help Kingston’s less fortunate youth succeed and make it through high school and college, a new program in the community is working double time for kids who are most at risk.

Since its founding in 2001, the Pathways to Education Canada program has been partly responsible for keeping kids in school and reducing the dropout rate in some of Toronto’s neighborhoods. The Regent Park community for one, had a reduced dropout rate of 12% from the old high of 56%. Today, the program is working wonders in Montreal and Halifax.

With strong results to back it up, Pathways to Education’s CEO and President David Hughes thinks the program has a high chance of having the same positive effects in the City of Kingston. Although Kingston’s dropout rate isn’t disturbingly high, Hughes says that it could definitely be lower.

Once the program commences, the neighborhoods of Inner Harbor and Rideau Heights will be closely monitored. Families living the areas have some of the lowest average family income, and a dropout rate of 52%, which is by far the highest in Kingston.

Pathways to Education will be working in these communities by having volunteers strike partnerships with students, teaching them lessons in 5 major subjects 4 times a week. Students will also be made to participate in group mentoring sessions.