Tennis & Learning Center

TLC logo

SF Rec & Park's Tennis & Learning Center Program

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Tennis & Learning Center (TLC) is an out-of-school-time program that promotes academic achievement, health and wellness, and social-emotional development through the sport of tennis.

Since 2014, TLC has served elementary school children in four of San Francisco’s most high-need communities: Western Addition, Chinatown, the Portola, and Bayview Hunters Point.

In March 2021, the TLC program welcomed its first middle school students at the Lisa + Douglas Goldman Tennis Center in Golden Gate Park. Students receive advanced academic support in the Koret Teaching & Learning Center classroom, work on their tennis skills on the brand new courts, and engage in mindfulness activities in the Koret Garden.

TLC combats increasing disparities for San Francisco’s underserved communities by providing resources and opportunities not otherwise readily available. At the heart of TLC is the belief that providing youth with access to educational support systems and positive relationships will promote healthy youth development and improve their long-term outcomes.

Why Sloane Stephens loves TLC

Vision & Goals

The goals of TLC are to give students the skills and support they need to graduate from high school and plan for a positive future; develop the whole child by teaching non-cognitive skills and values that help children lead positive, productive and fulfilling lives; and support the parent-child relationship by providing parents with the tools they need to become effective advocates and resources for their children. At the heart of TLC is the belief that providing youth with access to positive relationships and consistent educational support systems will promote healthy youth development and improve their long-term outcomes.

Partnership

TLC currently operates in four low-income San Francisco communities, each partnering with an underperforming SFUSD elementary school:

Site Partner School Population Served Ages Served # Participants
Palega Recreation Center Hillcrest Excelsior 5-11 25
Hamilton Recreation Center Rosa Parks Western Addition 5-11 25
Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center Gordan Lau Chinatown 5-11 25
Youngblood Coleman Carver Bayview/Hunters Point 5-11 25
Golden Gate Park Tennis Center (2020) All Above All Above 11-14+ 60+
Total Served 160+
TLC photo

Participant Demographics 2018-19 (3 sites)

Primary Language

67% speak languages other than English

  • 44 – English
  • 32 – Cantonese
  • 5 – Spanish
 Race & Ethnicity

92% come from multi-ethnic communities

  • 41 – Asian
  • 18 – African American
  • 10 – Hispanic/Latino
  • 7 – Caucasian
  • 5 – More than one
Grade

K-  13

1-  10

2-  16

3-  17

4-  18

5-  7

81  - Total

 Participants

48 – Male

33 – Female

81 – Total

Outcomes

Each participant receives 10 hours of personalized homework help per week, with additional tutoring support available 3 days per week
Each participant receives 5 hours of tennis instruction per week
82% have improved by at least one reading level

VIDEO: TLC and the Campaign for Golden Gate Park Tennis Center