YES Prep Brochure (2022-2023)

2022-2023 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS YES Prep at a Glance

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Our Mission Creates Opportunities Our Vision for a Better Future What is a Charter School?

Nationally Recognized School System

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Pathways to Opportunity

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion College Initiatives Special Populations 1:1 Technology Initiative Partners in Education

Pre-Kindergarten A Better Future Starts With a Strong Foundation Why is Pre-Kindergarten Important?

Whole Child Development

Elementary Schools (K-5) Preparing for a Lifetime of Success Literacy Bilingual Program Foundation for Opportunities

Middle School (6-8)

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Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Math and Reading Support Rigorous Classes Extracurricular Activities

High School (9-12)

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To College and Beyond Prepared to Lead SAT Prep at YES Prep Personalized College Counseling

Partners in Student Success

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Success After YES Prep

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Our Support Continues After Graduation

Great People Make The Difference

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Success Begins With our Teachers

Say YES To Opportunity Admission Eligibility How to Apply

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YES PREP AT A GLANCE Since 1998, YES Prep Public Schools has led Houston in providing students from underresourced communities access to a public, high-quality, college-preparatory education.

OUR MISSION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES YES Prep empowers all Houston students to succeed in college and to pursue lives of opportunity.

OUR VISION FOR A BETTER FUTURE Every child in Houston will have equitable access to a public school that delivers an excellent, college-ready education.

Tuition-FREE charter school system

24 Schools in the greater Houston area

17,000 Students

Grade Levels Pre-K – 12

97% Black/African American and Hispanic

In-zone transportation provided

WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL? Charter schools currently educate 6% of Texas public school students, but they make up more than 60% of A-rated districts in the state. Charter schools are public, tuition-free, and open to all students. Unlike a traditional one-size-fits-all approach to education, public charter schools put the needs of students first by giving them the time and personalized attention they need to really learn.

Charter schools are given greater flexibility to serve students’ individual needs, and with that flexibility comes greater oversight than traditional public schools. They are held accountable to high financial, academic and managerial standards by oversight boards made up of community volunteers.

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NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCHOOL SYSTEM U.S. News & World Report publishes rankings of the best high schools in the country annually.

Rankings are based on how students perform in different categories compared to other high schools in the city, state and nation, how historically students from underserved communities achieve academically, how many students graduate, and how well-prepared students are for college.

HOUSTON RANKINGS OUT OF 279 SCHOOLS All eligible YES Prep schools ranked in the top 10% in Texas and nationally.

10th

13th

southeast secondary

southwest secondary

west secondary

14 t h

18 t h

23 rd

north central secondary

east end secondary

fifth ward secondary

24 t h

29 t h

34 t h

brays oaks secondary

59 t h

gulfton secondary

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11th

north forest secondary

northside secondary

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PATHWAYS TO OPPORTUNITY We strive to ensure that in every classroom, every day, all students engage in aligned, rigorous and active learning that will lead them through a successful and memorable academic journey. Our small school setting focuses on providing each student with support and individualized attention to help them succeed through graduation, college and in their career.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION At YES Prep, diversity, equity and inclusion are central to achieving our mission. We believe that all students deserve to see themselves in the adults who shape their lives and that diverse teams are strong teams.

COLLEGE INITIATIVES Our college initiatives programming is designed to ensure all students have viable post-secondary options and successfully support them in navigating the transition from high school to college and campus to career. By designing a fivepillar model (advising, student opportunities, seminar, alumni support, partnerships) we know our students will be prepared for college, military and the workforce.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS At YES Prep, we are committed to working with families to make sure all of our students get the support they need to be successful. To ensure that all students have access to a college-ready education, we offer a variety of supports and services to students who have identified needs.

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1:1 TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE 1:1 means every student in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade receives a laptop. YES Prep believes in transforming teaching and learning into a collaborative learning environment for all learners and increasing technology in the classrooms allows for differentiated, adaptive and personalized learning.

Each student receiving a laptop allows:

• Learning at one’s own pace • Accessing up-to-date information when needed (i.e. updated digital textbooks) • Teachers to see how students are learning in real time and where they are in understanding of the content

• Easier ways to reach diversity in learning styles • Increased collaboration while honoring self-improvement • Strengthening their digital literacy skills • Teachers to develop an environment where students stay engaged • Access to career and college readiness

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION Families, schools, and our communities play a crucial role as partners in the education of every child. The Family Engagement Framework articulates our responsibility to create a sustained, strategic path forward to ensure we are serving and supporting every family who chooses our schools for the education of their child.

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PRE-KINDERGARTEN

A BETTER FUTURE STARTS WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION YES Prep’s commitment to preparing every student for life after graduation is evident in our long history in secondary education. However, we also recognize that having a strong elementary education is key to our students’ overall success.

WHY IS PRE-KINDERGARTEN IMPORTANT? We believe it’s never too early to start planning for a brighter future.

Our pre-kindergarten (pre-K) program provides a nurturing and academically enriching environment for children ages 4 - 5 with curriculum designed to prepare them for college early on. By introducing students to the fundamentals, they will develop basic literacy skills, better listening comprehension, mathematical thinking and other skills needed to succeed in grade school and beyond.

WHOLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT We focus on the whole child, striving to meet each student’s academic and social-emotional needs. Our goal is to instill from an early age the important academic and character strengths that will help them succeed in school, through college and in their chosen careers.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (K-5)

PREPARING FOR A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS Our elementary school program lays the foundation for student success. Students will experience an engaging curriculum and focus on early literacy, language concepts, mathematics and social skills in a safe and caring learning environment. Each grade level is designed to prepare students for the next.

LITERACY Only 25% of Texas public school students read at or above the grade level, which is why our curriculum is designed to ensure every student is reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade, and continues to progress through their educational career. Giving young readers the best start possible will provide a strong foundation for their entire educational journey and enable them to lead choice-filled lives.

BILINGUAL PROGRAM YES Prep’s bilingual program ensures students develop academic language fully in both English and Spanish. Transitional programming increases English language instruction over time to support transfer of knowledge and full bi-literacy.

FOUNDATION FOR OPPORTUNITIES Pathway to opportunity starts in childhood and YES Prep is committed to unlocking access to high-quality education that incorporates strong supports for the whole child at an early age and continues on to middle and high school.

YES Prep elementary students will experience a college-ready education and receive automatic enrollment into a college-prep secondary feeder campus!

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MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8)

EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S LEADERS At YES Prep, we believe that academic and social-emotional skill building are crucial to developing well-rounded, successful students. Every campus implements a character development curriculum that empowers students through strong values, study habits, and the life skills students need to create life-long success.

MATH AND READING SUPPORT Students in 6th and 7th grade receive additional instructional time in math and reading every day to provide them with the fundamental skills to ensure they are college-ready by the end of 12th grade.

RIGOROUS CLASSES In middle school, students engage in a rigorous curriculum that creates opportunities for them to think critically and apply what they are learning across real-world scenarios.

Their middle school coursework prepares students for Advanced Placement (AP) level coursework in high school.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Extracurricular activities are an important part of campus life.

They help students build community, explore their interests, and share their passions with like-minded peers. YES Prep offers students opportunities to participate in athletic events, arts programs, electives, and clubs. Specific offerings vary by campus.

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HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

TO COLLEGE AND BEYOND Every aspect of YES Prep’s curriculum and culture is tied to our mission of empowering all Houston students to succeed in college and embrace lives of opportunity. From the first time students step onto a YES Prep campus, to the moment they walk across the stage at graduation, every student is prepared for the academic demands of college entrance exams and the admissions process, as well as their continued academic journey.

YES Prep is supporting tomorrow’s leaders through access to a high-quality education today!

PREPARED TO LEAD YES Prep students are held to higher academic standards than their peers in most traditional independent school districts. Our curriculum views the state’s requirements as the floor, not the ceiling, for educational achievement, preparing students for a successful life beyond their high school graduation.

High school students have access to Advanced Placement coursework in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages, among many other exciting classes. The Advanced Placement program allows students the opportunity to earn college credit with qualifying AP exam scores at the end of each course term.

SAT PREP AT YES PREP Given the power SAT scores have to open doors for our students, YES Prep has made SAT Prep a priority. YES Prep is proud to offer our students 25 hours of in-school Kaplan SAT Prep through our Junior Seminar Class.

Our College Prep Seminar classes offer support with career exploration, identity exploration, academic readiness, and college application guidance and support.

Seminar classes are offered in 9th-12th grade.

PERSONALIZED COLLEGE COUNSELING While the Texas student-to-counselor ratio is 350:1, YES Prep boasts a ratio of 1 college counselor per 50 students. This allows every YES Prep student to receive individualized counseling and support throughout the college selection and application process.

We help students find the best fit for them and our college counselors also work with families to create a personalized college affordability plan.

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1:1

Personalized College Counseling

1:50

YES Prep College Counselor to Student Ratio

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PARTNERS IN STUDENT SUCCESS District partnerships are just one of the ways that YES Prep increases its impact and strives to achieve its vision. YES Prep forms these partnerships to better serve the community by sharing and replicating our best practices for student success.

ALDINE ISD & YES PREP YES Prep Eisenhower High School is located within Aldine ISD’s Eisenhower High School.

HOW TO APPLY TO EISENHOWER Families interested in applying can apply using YES Prep’s student lottery application.

SPRING BRANCH ISD, KIPP TEXAS HOUSTON & YES PREP: SKY PARTNERSHIP • YES Prep Northbrook Middle School is located within Spring Branch ISD’s Northbrook Middle School.

• Along with KIPP Courage Middle School graduates, YES Prep

Northbrook Middle School graduates attend YES Prep Northbrook High School, located within Spring Branch ISD’s Northbrook High School.

HOW TO APPLY TO BOTH NORTHBROOK MIDDLE & HIGH To be considered for Spring Branch ISD’s Choice School lottery, an online application must be completed by the required deadline. The lottery application for YES Prep Northbrook Middle School and High School are run separately through Spring Branch ISD and require a separate application.

The Spring Branch lottery opens in November and closes in January.

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SUCCESS AFTER YES PREP Once our students graduate from high school, the real work of earning a college degree begins.

While we are recognized as both a regional and national leader in the education reform movement, our most rewarding achievement is watching our students grow as leaders and achieve their goals. Many of our remarkable alumni have distinguished themselves in major fields ranging from education and journalism to medicine and law.

Our first-generation, college-bound students follow many different paths on their way to earning a college degree, and many often face a variety of challenges—including academic, socio-emotional, cultural, or financial struggles—along the way. YES Prep’s alumni relations department is dedicated to providing the support and access to resources our students need to be successful before, during, and after college.

OUR SUPPORT CONTINUES AFTER GRADUATION YES Prep supports students across the lifespan of their educational journey, and that support doesn’t stop once they’ve received a high school diploma. Our community encourages postgraduation success by:

• Providing access to YES Prep’s

• Hosting alumni events

• Supporting the transition from

• Collaborating with local

alumni scholarship program high school to college

• Maintaining contact and

relationships with alumni

• Partnering with colleges and

throughout the year

colleges and universities to increase student supports

• Providing support to alumni through college graduation

universities through the IMPACT college partnership program

80% Average Matriculation Rate

91% Economically Disadvantaged

3X The rate YES Prep alumni

90% YES Prep students accepted

are earning college degrees compared to peers with similar economic backgrounds

to a 4-year college

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GREAT PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE We know that excellent teachers make an incredible difference in our students’ success, so we hire teachers who are passionate and represent diverse backgrounds.

We also provide teacher training, development, and assign a teacher-coach so that our teachers are well supported in the classroom.

SUCCESS BEGINS WITH OUR TEACHERS Across the nation, only half of all students from low-income communities graduate from high school and only 11% earn a college degree. At YES Prep, teachers and staff work in a collaborative environment that focuses on doing what’s best for kids. Our teachers achieve jaw-dropping results, create pathways to opportunity for our students, build transformative relationships, and eliminate educational inequities to advance social justice.

YES Prep teachers and staff make a difference every day.

Whether they are teaching the next generation of leaders in the classroom, ensuring operations run smoothly, or leading a school, all of our teachers and staff play a critical role in executing YES Prep’s mission.

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SAY YES TO OPPORTUNITY ADMISSION YES Prep has an application process for those interested in attending our schools. We are required by law to admit students using a lottery process which selects applicants at random. The lottery application period opens every year in October and closes early February. Applicants are only asked to provide basic information—YES Prep does not require exams or interviews for admission.

ELIGIBILITY YES Prep schools are public, tuition-free and open to any student residing in the zip codes zoned to each school. We do not consider previous academic achievement, demographics and income level in the selection process. ALL students are welcome to apply!

Potential pre-kindergarten students must be four years of age by September 1 and must meet one of the State of Texas’ program eligibility requirements of the year they will begin school and be 5 years of age for kindergarten.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Go to yesprep.org/sayYES on your phone, tablet or computer.

2. Create an account via SchoolMint Enroll and fill out your family profile.

3. Select the school(s) you are interested in.

4. Submit the application before the deadline.

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North Central North Forest Northline Airline

Northwest White Oak

Northbrook MS Northbrook HS

Northside Fifth Ward

East End

West

Gulfton Southside

Hobby

Brays Oaks

Southeast

Southwest

Secondary Elementary

Elementary Schools AIRLINE ELEMENTARY

EAST END ELEMENTARY

NORTH CENTRAL ELEMENTARY

NORTH FOREST ELEMENTARY

*GRADES PRE-K-2 ND

*GRADES PRE-K-2 ND

*GRADES PRE-K-4TH

*GRADES PRE-K-3 RD

5815 Airline Dr Houston, TX 77076 713.967.9040

8329 Lawndale St. Houston, TX 77012 713.924.0800

1900 Strawn Rd Houston, TX 77039 713.842.5650

6602 Winfield Rd Houston, TX 77050 713.924.5600

SOUTHEAST ELEMENTARY

SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY

*GRADES PRE-K-4TH

*GRADES PRE-K-3 RD

507 Crenshaw Rd Houston, TX 77034 713.842.5555

5515 South Loop E Fwy, Suite B Houston, TX 77033 713.924.5300

Secondary Schools

BRAYS OAKS

EAST END

FIFTH WARD

GULFTON

GRADES 6-12 TH

*GRADES 6-9 TH

9000 West Bellfort Ave Houston, TX 77031 713.967.8400

8329 Lawndale St Houston, TX 77012 713.867.7800

1305 Benson St Houston, TX 77020 281.591.3780

6565 De Moss Dr Houston, TX 77074 713.967.9800

8787 Tallyho Rd Houston, TX 77061 713.842.5600

NORTH CENTRAL

NORTH FOREST

NORTHBROOK HS

NORTHBROOK MS GRADES 6-8 TH

*GRADES 6-11 TH

13703 Aldine-Westfield Rd 6602 Winfield Rd Houston, TX 77039 Houston, TX 77050 713.967.8800 713.967.8699

1 Raider Circle N Houston, TX 77080 713.251.2800

3030 Rosefield Dr Houston, TX 77080 713.251.4200

441 Little York Road Houston, TX 77076 713.842.5400

NORTHSIDE

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 9-12 TH

HOBBY

NORTHLINE

GRADES 6-12 TH

*GRADES 6-10 TH

NORTHWEST

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHSIDE

SOUTHWEST

5215 Jensen Dr Houston, TX 77026 713.924.0400

14741 Yorktown Plaza Dr Houston, TX 77040 713.842.551

353 Crenshaw Rd Houston, TX 77034 713.967.9400

5515 South Loop E Fwy, Suite A Houston, TX 77033 713.924.5500

4411 Anderson Rd Houston, TX 77053 713.967.9200

WEST

WHITE OAK

10535 Harwin Dr Houston, TX 77036 713.967.8200

5620 West Tidwell Rd Houston, TX 77091 713.924.5200

GRADES 6-12 TH

*2022-2023 school year

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

GRADES 6-12 TH

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Stay Connected

YESPREP.ORG | 713-967-9000

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