A Milestone in Our Journey to A-District 

I am thrilled to share remarkable news about our YES Prep secondary schools' performance in the latest Children At Risk rankings. These annual statewide evaluations provide a comprehensive assessment of school quality based on student achievement, campus performance, student growth, and college readiness. 

What These Rankings Mean 

Children At Risk is a non-partisan research and advocacy organization that ranks and grades Texas public schools each year to promote transparency and drive improvement. Founded in Houston, Children At Risk uses data to help families and educators understand school performance and spark meaningful conversations about educational equity and opportunity. 

Children At Risk evaluates schools based on: 

• Student performance on state standardized tests (STAAR) 
• Campus performance compared to schools with similar poverty levels 
• Student academic growth during the school year 
• College readiness indicators (for high schools) 

This comprehensive methodology provides a holistic view of school quality, making these improvements especially meaningful. 

Celebrating Our Progress 

YES Prep’s data tells a powerful story of progress and excellence: 

• Nearly all of our secondary schools improved in this year's rankings – This growth is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students, families, leaders, and teachers.  
• Three YES Prep high schools rank in the top 10% statewide - North Central Secondary (#40), Southwest Secondary (#90), and Fifth Ward Secondary (#98) have established themselves as exemplary institutions among thousands of Texas high schools. 
• Five of our campuses are now in the top 20% of high schools in Texas -Southeast Secondary (#123) and East End Secondary (#155) have also established themselves as excellent performers and landed in the top 20%. 
• North Central Secondary’s remarkable achievement – Their “A- ranking”, #40 in Texas, represents a significant improvement from #104 last year and were featured in the Houston Chronicle. Click here to read the article. 

Notable Improvements 

In addition to the rankings above, we also celebrate growth and improvement: 

• YES Prep Southwest Secondary jumped from #559 to #90 statewide, improving from a C to a B+ grade. 
• YES Prep Fifth Ward Secondary rose from #313 to #98, advancing from a C+ to a B grade. 

Our middle school-only campuses also demonstrated significant growth, with YES Prep Northline Secondary climbing from #923 to #383 and earning a solid B grade. 

Looking Ahead 

While we celebrate these achievements, we recognize that this work is ongoing. These rankings affirm that YES Prep is moving in the right direction and gaining incredible momentum. We remain committed to ensuring that every student in the city of Houston has access to a public school that delivers a college-ready education.  

The progress reflected in these rankings is the result of countless hours of dedication from our students, the unwavering support of our families, and the exceptional skill and commitment of our educators. Together, we are building a legacy of educational excellence that ultimately seeks to empower all students to succeed in college and pursue the life of opportunity they desire.  

Thank you for all you do to provide opportunities for students and families!