America's Promise Alliance

Paducah, Kentucky

 

• Community name: Paducah
• Community or city website
• Population: 25,571
• Graduation rate: 87.0%
• Youth poverty rate: 34.8% 

Overview

As a first-time 100 Best Communities for Young People winner, Paducah has demonstrated its outstanding commitment to youth development through scholarship programs, teen service initiatives and resources to promote a healthy lifestyle.  The Rotary Club of Paducah’s Community Scholarship Program covers the cost of an associate’s degree at West Kentucky Community & Technical College for Paducah students who maintain a 2.5 GPA in high school, have 95 percent attendance record and no discipline problems.  Paducah’s Challenger Learning Center uses the latest technology to broaden the educational horizons and promotes the advancement of scientific knowledge for 5th through 7th grade students.  McNabb Elementary Healthy Lifestyle Program encourages students to incorporate exercise and smart dietary choices into their daily lives.

Community Programs

• The Rotary Club of Paducah’s Community Scholarship Program offers a scholarship to high school students who meet a designated standard through their four years of high school and has generated commitments from 66% of the class of 2014.
• The Business Education Partnership offers apprentice programs, student employment, internships, job shadowing, leadership classes, interview mentoring and scholarships through McCraken County Career Endowment.
  The Paducah Parks Service Department Teen Board develops and implements events for local youth and provides an opportunity for young people to interact with local government officials.
• The Challenger Learning Center at Paducah uses the latest technology to bring simulated missions into classrooms and remote locations to enhance scientific education.
• The McNabb Elementary Healthy Lifestyle Youth Program is a 10-week program that emphasizes positive diet choices and active daily routines.

Youth Voices

Growing up in a small, diverse community like Paducah has helped make me the person I am today. I have grown as a person and built my confidence and self-esteem because of my involvement in the Girl Scouts.

—Alyssia 

Being able to talk with a staff member of a youth organization about growing up in a single-family home and my experiences with other kids helped me to see who my real friend are.

—Kennedy