San Francisco Impact Report

San Francisco sites served Report 2024–2025

This report highlights the impact of poetry classes on students’ confidence, self-expression, and communication skills during the 2024–2025 school year. Findings are based on a survey of 912 students at Alvarado, Bret Harte, El Dorado and Paul Revere Elementary Schools 1st - 5th grade. Results were disaggregated by student population in general, Latino students, and girls.

 

1. Emotional Connection and Empathy

• 88% of students overall agreed that poetry classes helped them feel more connected to others’ feelings.
   

• 83% of Latino students and 95% of girls expressed this benefit, showing poetry’s strong role in cultivating empathy across groups.
   

2. Self-Understanding Through Poetry

• 79% of students overall reported that writing poetry helped them better understand their own feelings.
   

• This impact was slightly stronger for Latino students (83%) and girls (80%).
   

3. Confidence in Writing Skills

• 79% of students overall felt confident brainstorming for writing assignments.
   

• Among Latino students, 80% reported this confidence, while 90% of girls did so, highlighting a notable benefit for female students.
   

• Additionally, 81% of students overall said poetry classes made them better writers.
   

• 80% of Latino students and 100% of girls agreed, showing universal gains, with girls demonstrating complete affirmation.

 

4. Classroom Participation and Voice

• 79% of students overall felt comfortable answering questions out loud in class.
   

• This was especially impactful for Latino students (100%), though 75% of girls reported comfort in this area.
   

• When it came to presenting in front of a small group, 83% of students overall felt comfortable.
   

• 83% of Latino students matched this rate, while 75% of girls agreed.

 

Conclusion

The findings confirm that SPARC Creativity poetry classes are having a strong positive effect on students at SF Elementary Schools:

• Emotional growth is clear, with high percentages reporting greater empathy and self-understanding.
   

• Academic and creative growth is evident in students’ improved writing skills and brainstorming confidence.
   

• Communication skills are strengthened, with most students feeling more at ease in classroom participation and presentations.
   

Notably, Latino students often reported the highest levels of growth, while girls consistently showed both the strongest gains (100% saying poetry improved their writing) and areas still needing support (only 75% felt comfortable presenting).