YES

Overview

MISSION
YES Prep exists to increase the number of low-income Houstonians who graduate from a four-year college prepared to compete in the global marketplace and committed to improving disadvantaged communities.

YES SCHOOLS
Founded in 1998, YES is a free, open-enrollment public school system that serves low-income minority students in 6th-12th grade. Our charter mandates that students must be accepted to a four-year college in order to receive their high school diploma. YES is the only school in greater Houston to make Newsweek’s list of the top 100 public schools in America for two years in a row. There are currently five YES campuses in Houston that serve 2,100 students:

  • 80% of YES students are economically-disadvantaged
  • 95% are Hispanic or African-American
  • 86% are first-generation college-bound
  • Most students enter YES at least one grade level behind in math and English

The YES model provides an intimate environment for learning that is also big enough to offer the activities and resources that will prepare students for collegiate success. At YES, students:

  • Benefit from an extended school day that includes clubs and athletics
  • Devote one Saturday each month to community service
  • Attend a three-week summer school session
  • Experience yearly college research trips to schools across the country
  • Participate in a comprehensive college counseling program

YES Prep’s ultimate goal is to create a critical mass of college educated students who can then return to Houston and bring real change to our city’s disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities.

What Makes YES Different

Commitment to Excellence: Every year parents, teachers, and students sign a contract that says they will do “Whatever It Takes” to pursue the YES mission of collegiate success

Building Positive Relationships: YES has developed a unique student support model that includes small faculty advising groups, social services, tutoring sessions, and a college counseling department that begins working with students in ninth grade. In addition, all staff are given school-sponsored cell phones to be accessible to their students after school hours.

Creating Opportunities: Students participate in week-long spring college research trips, monthly field lessons and exciting summer programs.

Achieving Social Justice: YES means “Youth Engaged in Service”. Students complete monthly service projects in the local community and log hundreds of volunteer hours over their seven years at YES.

Click here for a printable copy of our profile sheet: YES Profile.