YES Prep Public Schools is proud to announce a transformative partnership with the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), demonstrating a mutual commitment to ensuring the success of our students and, ultimately, the betterment of our city. 

Formalizing the partnership 

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, YES Prep and UHD leaders gathered to celebrate a formal commitment to continue creating opportunities and breaking down barriers. It is about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has the chance to reach their full potential and pursue lives of opportunity. 

The ceremony was kicked off by Dr. Elizabeth Villegas, the Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Services within the division of Enrollment Management at UHD. 

“Today, we gather to formalize a significant collaboration between UHD and YES Prep schools,” said Villegas. “This Memorandum of Understanding signifies our joint dedication to providing exceptional educational opportunities and unwavering support for our students, ensuring that we continue to create meaningful pathways to academic success and brighter futures for our students.” 

Shared vision and values 

Chief of Schools Officer Phil Wright shared how both YES Prep and UHD have similar missions, values and beliefs for the betterment of all Houston students. 

“When you review the mission statements of both schools, we are both unapologetic in stating that a strong education is our North Star,” said Wright. “We both believe in the potential of all students, and we are committed to nurturing these talents so students have endless opportunities.” 

YES Prep Deputy Chief Program Officer Amanda Rawlings spoke about the significance of this occasion. 

"A key factor in creating the opportunity for this partnership is the fact that we are both Houston-based and Houston-focused,” said Rawlings. “We want our students to engage with Houston and make an impact in their communities.” 

Measurable impact 

While the partnership was formalized during the ceremony at UHD’s College of Sciences and Technology, this collaboration has already made many waves, as the university is YES Prep’s largest matriculation pipeline. 

Over the last five years, 23% of our students who attended a four-year college chose UHD. This is the highest number of matriculants to a four-year college overall. Nearly 1,000 of our students have matriculated to UHD in the last five years, making it the second-largest enrolled YES Prep population at a four-year college. Furthermore, UHD has the second-highest number of YES Prep graduates within six years of matriculating, with 204 alumni having earned their degrees. 

These numbers are more than just statistics—they represent lives transformed and dreams realized. This partnership is about creating opportunities and breaking down barriers. It is about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has the chance to succeed and contribute to our community. 

Strengthening the partnership 

"When you have mission alignment and a strong history of results, you have a foundation that allows us to accomplish more, which is why we are gathered today to strengthen the YES Prep and UHD partnership on behalf of our students,” said Rawlings. 

The transformative partnership commits to: 

• Increasing college awareness for YES Prep students through pre-college opportunities and professional development for YES Prep staff. 

• Making the University of Houston-Downtown more accessible to our students by reducing barriers in the admission process. 

• Supporting our students once their college journey begins. They will be supported with this transition through mentorships and student-specific programming, which will lead to increased persistence and graduation rates. 

Streamlined success 

Dr. Deborah Bordelon, the UHD Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, closed out remarks by speaking to how the partnership will accomplish these ambitious goals through streamlined communication between our institutions and by sharing data effectively so we can identify and address challenges more efficiently. 

“I am confident that this partnership will lead to higher numbers of prepared students entering the University of Houston-Downtown and graduating in fewer than six years,” said Dr. Bordelon. “By sharing data in both directions, both YES Prep and the University of Houston-Downtown will be equipped to make data-informed decisions that support students before, during and after their transition to college, ensuring continuous improvements in student preparedness and success.” 

Following the remarks, Dr. Bordelon and Wright sat at UHD and YES Prep branded tables to formally sign the Memorandum of Understanding and celebrated with fellow administrators, UHD students and YES Prep alumni. 

As we move forward, let us remember that this partnership is not just an agreement on paper. It is a commitment to our students, our institutions and our families. Together, we are building a bridge to a brighter future, one student at a time. 

YES Prep Public Schools thanks the University of Houston-Downtown for its continued dedication to the success of our students, especially Dr. Bordelon, Dr. Villanueva, Dr. Villegas, Ovi Galvan, Kristina Raymond and everyone who contributed to the beginnings of this collaboration.