The Academy Project (TAP) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides educational support and well-being programs for foster youth in South Los Angeles. TAP was born from the principle that keeping school as a point of stability can significantly help foster youths succeed educationally while providing them with the opportunity to form strong relationships with peers and caring adults. TAP has developed a three-phased approach to providing services to foster youth and growing capacity, Camp Xavier (a two-week summer camp experience) The Co-Op (a daily after-school program, and The Academy (a full-time in school solution) TAP was created as a direct response to the dismal outcomes facing foster youth in Los Angeles. Only 58% of foster youth achieve a High School Diploma (compared to 84% of the general population Only 1.8% of foster youth complete a bachelor's degree (compared to 34% of the general population) 75% of foster youth perform below grade level and 83% are held back Within the first 2 to 4 years of aging out of the foster care system, 61% of foster youth are unemployed, 40% are on public assistance, 25% are homeless, and 20% are incarcerated 70% of California prison inmates have spent time in foster care TAP believes it doesn't have to be this way. Through community, empowerment, and education, foster youth can thrive.