For many families, preparing for life after high school can feel like choosing between pathways: college or career, academic rigor or real-world experience.

At YES Prep, students don’t have to choose just one.

Every YES Prep secondary student experiences a college-ready academic program built on real choice, real opportunity, and real pathways to the future. Through the expansion of high school programming, including Advanced Placement (AP), Career & Technical Education (CTE), Dual Credit, and OnRamps, students are building multiple pathways at once.

This approach that we call stacking credentials ensures students graduate not only prepared, but positioned with options.

 

 

A More Intentional Approach to Preparation

YES Prep is not simply adding more programs — it is redesigning how those opportunities work together.

As Seeta Estrada, Managing Director of Secondary Academics, explains, the focus is on increasing access to rigorous, college-aligned coursework and career-connected pathways, while being more intentional about how those experiences fit together for each student.

“We are shifting from offering strong individual programs to designing an intentional and personlized pathway that prepares students for what comes after high school.” This expansion includes greater access to Advanced Placement and OnRamps courses, stronger CTE pathways that lead to industry-based certifications, and more opportunities for students to earn college credit before graduation. Just as important, it reflects a shift toward building systems where students are not simply taking advanced courses but are taking the right combination based on their goals.

 

What It Means to “Stack Credentials”

At YES Prep, stacking credentials means students graduate with multiple, meaningful indicators of readiness, not just a diploma.

A student may leave high school having passed Advanced Placement exams, earned college credit through Dual Credit or OnRamps, completed a career pathway, or secured an industry-based certification. Instead of relying on a single measure of success, students build a portfolio of achievements that strengthens their college applications, reduces the cost of college, and opens doors to career opportunities.

This approach creates flexibility. Whether students pursue a four-year degree, enter the workforce, or combine both pathways, they graduate with a head start.

These outcomes are already reflected in the results of YES Prep’s College Initiatives work. The Class of 2026 submitted more than 20,000 college applications, received over 12,250 acceptances, and earned more than $120 million in financial aid and scholarships, with every graduate accepted to at least one four-year college.

 

Different Pathways, One Purpose

Each program plays a distinct role in preparing students for the future, but they are intentionally designed to work together.

Advanced Placement courses provide college-level rigor that strengthens academic readiness and prepares students for the expectations of higher education. At YES Prep, every student completes multiple AP courses, ensuring that rigorous academic preparation is a shared experience, not a selective one.

Dual Credit and OnRamps allow students to earn college credit while still in high school, helping them reduce both the time and cost required to complete a degree. OnRamps, delivered in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin, offers students the opportunity to engage in authentic college coursework while still benefiting from the structure and support of their high school environment.

Career and Technical Education pathways add another dimension by connecting students to hands-on, career-aligned learning. Through these experiences, students develop practical skills, explore professional interests, and earn certifications that can translate directly into workforce opportunities.

Together, these pathways ensure students graduate with both academic strength and real-world experience.

 

From Exposure to Experience: The Role of Ignite

A key part of this model is how students experience careers before they graduate.

YES Prep’s Ignite Career Exposure & Exploration Program is designed to embed career-connected learning throughout a student’s secondary school experience. Through strategic partnerships with colleges, industries, and community organizations, Ignite provides students with hands-on learning, access to professionals, and real-world insight into a wide range of fields.

Students participate in experiences such as the Houston Methodist PCA Externship Program, the Tomorrow’s Attorney Pipeline Program, Technolochicas, and the University of Texas at Austin Longhorn Engineering Summer Camp. Programs like BridgeYear Career Test Drive and Explore Club introduce students to career pathways early, helping them connect their interests to real opportunities.

These experiences are intentionally integrated into seminar courses and school-wide programming, ensuring that career exploration is not a one-time event, but a continuous process.

As Delaney Hinnant, Director of College and Career Access, explains, “these opportunities allow students to move beyond simply knowing careers exist. They begin to see themselves in those fields. They build confidence in their abilities, clarify their goals, and become more intentional in how they plan their next steps.”

Guided Toward the Right Path

Access alone is not enough. What distinguishes YES Prep is how students are supported in navigating these opportunities.

Through a structured advising model that begins in middle school and continues through graduation, students receive guidance on how to align their academic experiences with their long-term goals. They learn how to balance rigor with sustainability, evaluate opportunities, and make informed decisions about their future.

This ensures that students are not simply participating in programs, but are building a pathway that reflects their interests, strengths, and aspirations.

Outcomes and Goals: More Options, Stronger Starts

The impact of this approach is both immediate and lasting.

Students graduate with strong academic preparation and greater confidence in their ability to succeed in college-level work. Many will have already earned college credit, reducing the cost and time required to earn a degree. Others will graduate with certifications that provide access to immediate career opportunities.

Over time, this approach strengthens college readiness, supports persistence, and expands the range of opportunities available to students after graduation.

A Model That Extends Beyond Graduation

This work does not stand alone. It is part of a broader, connected system that defines YES Prep’s approach to supporting students.

Through the College Initiatives series, we have shown how this model comes together. Students are introduced to the college journey early through the YES Prep College Advantage. They are guided every step of the way through a personalized advising model that includes both students and families. They learn to navigate financial aid and understand that college affordability is not a barrier, but a strategy. They experience college and career pathways firsthand through events like the College Fair, Junior Spring Trips, AP Summit, Ignite programming, amongst many other YES Prep initiatives. And after graduation, they continue to receive support through alumni programming that ensures they persist and succeed.

The expansion of high school programming strengthens what students do during high school so they are better prepared for everything that comes after.

Preparation That Moves Students Forward

At YES Prep, preparation is designed, supported, and sustained.

Students are given access to rigorous academics, meaningful experiences, and the guidance to connect it all together. They graduate ready for college or career with the tools, confidence, and direction to navigate both.

They do not just leave high school prepared. They leave with momentum.