If any of y'all are interested, I'd recommend the book Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves. White dude but he puts an emphasis in the book on the struggles that Black male youths encounter in the school system (plus similar to a suggestion made by
@Wiseborn , he advises boys starting a year later and in a separate track than the girls.) I'm currently reading the Boy's Crisis and the Marva Collins Way. I love seeing the gains that the girls have made but our guys need support in the worst way.
@Wiseborn I think the data with male students checking out in 4th grade coincides with reading and literacy milestones not being met. If a kid isn't reading at a proficient level by the 4th grade, they will fall further and further behind. And if a kid can't even understand what's in front of them, how can you expect them to be engaged? Lot's of kids fall off of a cliff in 4th grade and the next major literacy milestone is 8th grade. If a kid isn't reading at a basic level of proficiency by then, the cake as they say is already baked.