Building a Foundation for Lifelong Success
Five years ago, YES Prep Public Schools made a bold move by launching its first elementary campuses to expand its mission and create a true pre-K through 12th-grade pathway for Houston students.
It was a leap into the unknown, taken in the middle of a global pandemic, guided by one powerful belief that every child deserves access to an excellent education from the very beginning.
Today, that belief is a reality. What started in 2020 with just two campuses and 665 students has grown into 11 elementary schools serving nearly 6,500 students. That growth, made possible by families, educators, and community trust, is fueled by The Power of YES, our multi-year campaign to expand access, strengthen outcomes, and invest in the future of Houston’s students.
At the heart of this journey are two leaders who helped lay the foundation and continue to lead with purpose: Michelle LaFlure, now Head of Schools for Elementary, and Diana Rios, now leading the Program Success Team. Together, they reflect on the early days, the growth, and the future of YES Prep’s elementary program.
We Were Building the Plane as We Flew It
In 2020, YES Prep opened its first two elementary campuses, North Central Elementary (NCE) and Southeast Elementary (SEE), during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The first years were exciting, but also really challenging,” said Michelle. “We didn’t have systems in place or schools to look to for guidance. It was challenging to be a trailblazer, especially during the pandemic.”
What made the difference, she said, was the sense of shared purpose. “There was an influx of support from our Academics team. It made it feel like we were all in it together.”
For Diana, who served as founding principal at Southeast Elementary, the excitement went beyond the school walls.
“There was so much energy at the Home Office about launching elementary,” she said. “We visited churches, flea markets, Baker Ripley centers, anywhere we could, to share the good news. Everyone was cheering us on.”
Despite the unknowns, both leaders were deeply driven by the opportunity to build something students truly deserved.
“It was an opportunity to create the school I always thought my students needed,” Diana said.
“I always knew I wanted to return to elementary education,” Michelle added. “Even when I transitioned out of the principal seat, I knew I was leaving my dream job.”
Founding Through Partnership and Persistence
Founding a new school from scratch meant creating everything: systems, culture, curriculum, staffing, and trust. It also meant finding strength in each other. “We conducted 135 interviews just to hire our first cohort of teachers,” Diana said. “Every single system had to be created from scratch. And many of our initial plans didn’t work—we had to try again and again.”
Michelle echoed the intensity of those early years. “By our third year, I wasn’t sure I could continue in the principal seat,” she shared. “But once I got through that year, it became a dream job. Our team became like family, we relied on each other to meet the needs of all our Sparks.”
Today, that same spirit is reflected in a system that now includes more than 700 elementary educators and staff across 11 schools. “I couldn’t have done this without Diana,” Michelle said. “She had the elementary depth, and I had the YES Prep and principal experience. We were the perfect pair.”
“We’d have 6:15 a.m. calls before heading to campus, just trying to get through the day,” Diana recalled. “That partnership helped sustain me.”
Five Years In: The Impact Is Clear
Today, the data and the stories prove the model is working. “Our students are arriving in secondary school better prepared, with stronger academic and social-emotional skills,” said Michelle. “The hours we poured into Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), restorative conversations, and class connection are paying off.”
In Spring 2025, 52% of YES Prep elementary students met or exceeded their Language Arts MAP growth goals, and 50% met or exceeded goals in Math, a strong sign of academic momentum.
“Our bilingual students are outperforming similar students across the state,” said Diana. “And students who’ve been with YES Prep since elementary are outperforming their peers in middle school. The longer students stay with us, the stronger they perform.”
For both leaders, individual student stories are reminders of why this work matters.
“I think of a student who joined us in second grade,” said Diana. “After being identified for special education and being provided the right supports, the student flourished. By the end of elementary, she was on grade level. That’s the Power of YES, a system that partners with families and believes in each student’s potential.”
A Model That Serves Every Student
From the very beginning, YES Prep’s elementary program focused on educating the whole child and that hasn’t changed. One of the biggest successes of the elementary program Diana shared, is its commitment to serving all students. With dedicated counselors, interventionists, special education inclusion teachers, and specialized units in place, the model is designed to meet diverse needs. “Once families choose us,” she said, “we choose them and build the services their students need to thrive.”
YES Prep has also made continuous improvements to support campus success by updating curriculum, improving data systems, building better campus facilities, and creating Year 0 structures that prepare leaders before a campus even opens.
And the support for educators is stronger than ever.
“When I walk onto campuses like White Oak, Airline, and Southwest Oaks,” said Michelle, “I see leaders who give 110% and I want to clear the path for them to succeed. That’s my job now, to help them see their greatness and stay in the work.”
Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years
The growth isn’t slowing down. Through The Power of YES campaign, YES Prep is on track to open five additional elementary schools and two secondary campuses by 2029—reaching 25,000 students across Houston. In 2024, three elementary campuses opened. Two more opened in 2025. West Elementary is set to open in 2026, followed by even more through 2029.
“My first cohort of second graders will be seniors in five years,” said Michelle. “To think that I’ll have known them that long is incredible. They’re already entering secondary better prepared than ever.”
Diana agrees. “Soon, secondary schools will need to adapt because our students will be ready for more rigorous learning. Their success will reflect the full power of our elementary program.
That growth is being supported through new system-level teams, like the Program Success Team Diana now leads. “It’s a new adventure that will increase our impact across all campuses,” she said.
Final Reflections: A Legacy of Love and Leadership
As they reflect on the journey, both leaders are filled with pride and purpose. “This experience has changed me personally and professionally,” Diana said. “At the beginning, I doubted whether I was the right person to lead SEE. But now I know I was. I wouldn’t change anything. The families, staff, and students made me who I am today.”
Michelle shares the same sense of gratitude. “We’ve built something special, and now we’re coaching the next generation of leaders,” she said. “The work is still hard. But when I look at what we’ve built and who we’re becoming, I’m filled with hope.”
The Power of YES Starts Early
As we celebrate five years of YES Prep elementary campuses, we know one thing is certain: the Power of YES doesn’t begin in high school or even middle school. It begins in the first classroom, with the first teacher who says, “I believe in you.”
It starts with families who choose us and a system that chooses them back.
And with each new school, each student milestone, and each leader who stays in the work, YES Prep’s elementary journey continues stronger than ever.
Thanks to the Power of YES campaign, what began as a leap of faith is now a citywide movement creating opportunities that will shape the future of Houston for generations to come.
If you want your child to be part of a school community that starts saying “YES” from day one—YES to opportunity, YES to belonging, YES to a future filled with possibility—we invite you to apply today.
The journey begins with a single step. Apply to YES Prep and discover the Power of YES.