Mapping the Future of Afterschool: How Mapt Helped AYS Turn Insight into Impact
Case Study
Client: At Your School (AYS)
Sector: Youth Development / Education
Services: Market Research • Data Visualization • Strategic Positioning
The Challenge
Since 1980, AYS before- and afterschool programs have empowered Central Indiana families to achieve their goals while children receive the care and enrichment they need outside of school hours.
In the years following the pandemic, AYS saw shifting family needs and a plateau in program growth. The organization needed to know where its services were most critical—and how to grow sustainably.
“Operationally, we were at a critical juncture. And at those points, you really want to make sure your next step is the right one,” said Justin Armstrong, AYS CEO. “We engaged with Mapt Solutions on a research study to set the foundation before we moved into the next phase of strategic planning.”
Our Approach
Mapt began by listening. Through a focused planning session and early data review, the team immersed itself in AYS’s mission, markets, and goals—ensuring every deliverable aligned with what mattered most.
“From the very beginning, Mapt came in with good questions … They seemed to understand what we wanted better than we even understood what we wanted from the project.”
— Armstrong
From there, Mapt combined rigorous data analysis with a highly collaborative approach:
Comprehensive Landscape Review – A statewide look at afterschool programs and peer providers.
Power BI Data Visualization Dashboard – A custom, interactive tool linking afterschool access with education outcomes.
Parent and Educator Surveys – Quantitative and qualitative research capturing authentic community voices.
These insights illuminated where AYS was most needed—and where opportunities for strategic expansion existed.
The Impact
The result was more than a report. It was a transformation in how AYS saw its work.
Mapt’s data visualization tools became a new organizational language for decision-making, sparking enthusiasm across the team.
“Nobody on our team had worked with Power BI before, so instead of just handing us a guide, Mapt created a scavenger hunt game so that we could learn how to use this really great, powerful tool with our own data.” — Armstrong
Armed with clear insights, AYS advanced into its strategic planning phase with renewed confidence, using Mapt’s findings to shape growth priorities, advocacy, and program design.
“They weren’t just delivering the product. They were delivering the skills we needed to use the product.”
— Armstrong
Lasting Results
Through Mapt’s partnership, AYS gained lasting capacity and clarity.
“Thanks to Mapt, I know exactly what our position was one year ago, and I’ll know what it looks like a year from now … Their approach is now allowing me to advocate for AYS, and for our industry as a whole, with real-time facts and figures in a way we’ve never done before.” — Armstrong
AYS’s rocket-pencil logo symbolizes growth and potential. With Mapt’s data-driven guidance and collaborative partnership, that symbol now reflects not just student progress—but an organization equipped to launch higher, with confidence, insight, and measurable impact.
Other Work
