YES Prep is an open-enrollment public charter school system serving grade-school students in Houston’s most underserved communities.
Since we opened our doors in 1998, YES Prep has continuously redefined possible for students, families and the public education system at large.Today, with 24schools and one Alternative Education Program (Thrive) in operation, serving over 18,000 students throughout Houston, YES Prep is living proof that different outcomes are possible when students from low-income communities are given access to high-quality educational opportunities.
Small and PersonalizedSchools
YES Prep operates small and personalizedelementary and secondary schools that enable our teachers and school leaders to build transformative relationships with students. By creating a family-oriented culture on every school, our students feel valued and supported throughout their elementary schooland secondaryschool careers.
Rigorous Academic Curriculum and Assessment
From day one, our students are held to higher academic standards than students in traditional public schools across the country. YES Prep uses the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards (TEKS) as a floor, not a ceiling, when setting the bar for student achievement. Students are assessed multiple times during the school year to identify gaps in learning, and interventions are implemented based on the results. Additionally, all of our students are required to take the SAT multiple times and take at least oneAdvanced Placement (AP) course before graduating.
Student Interventions
To ensure college readiness, YES Prep offers accelerated instruction to specific groups of students during the school day, after school and in the summer to support them academically. At our elementary schools, students benefit from both daily whole and small group instruction to meet individual student reading and math needs.
Enrichment Opportunities
YES Prep elementary students have physical education (PE), art, music, STEM lab and library core enrichment programming as well as 1:1 laptops to support personalized reading instruction at school and home.
YES Prep secondary students have access to a wide range of life-changing extracurricular activities that enhance their middle and high school experiences. These opportunities include:
Spring trips where students explore colleges in and out of Houston as well as out of state to experience what it’s like to be on a college campus.
Summer programming options such as YES Prep’s summer intervention and enrichment programming for elementary and secondary students, Wonderworks, School for Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) and a variety of study abroad options.
Personalized College Counseling & Support Through College
Over the past 25years, YES Prep has developed one of the most innovative college counseling programs in the country with one focus – college graduation. Our unwavering commitment to this goal originally beganin sixth grade but now begins at pre-Kindergarten and continues on well after students leave YES Prep.
Juniors and seniors receive one-on-one advisingand continue to receive ongoing support once they graduate to ensure they matriculate, persist and graduate college. This comprehensive support ensures that students not only gain academic excellence but also develop into well-rounded individuals ready for success in college and beyond.
Visit our College Initiatives page to learn more.
FAQs
Is Yes Prep Public Schools a state or local government? ›
YES Prep is a public entity and holds a charter with the state of Texas.
Who is the founder of yes prep? ›
1995 - Founder Chris Barbic recognizes the incredible need for better educational options for his fifth-grade students and began Project YES with a group of dedicated families and teachers.
Why do charter schools perform better? ›
First, charters have more flexibility. Rather than being part of a public school district, which dictates curriculum and standards in all schools, charters operate autonomously through individual agreements, or charters, with state or local governments that set rules and student performance standards.
What is yes prep southwest ranked? ›
YES Prep - Southwest 2024 Rankings
YES Prep - Southwest is ranked #1,085 in the National Rankings.
Are charter schools in Texas public schools? ›
A charter school is a type of public school. The Texas Legislature authorized the establishment of charter schools in 1995. Some of the first charters have been in operation since Fall 1996. There are five types of charters in Texas.
Is running public schools federal or state? ›
Federal Role in Education. Education is primarily a State and local responsibility in the United States. It is States and communities, as well as public and private organizations of all kinds, that establish schools and colleges, develop curricula, and determine requirements for enrollment and graduation.
Is a public school a local Education agency? ›
An LEA is a local entity involved in education including but not limited to school districts, county offices of education, direct-funded charter schools, and special education local plan area (SELPA).
Are public schools local government? ›
A public school district is a geographical unit for the local administration of elementary or secondary schools. It is a special-purpose government entity that can be administered independently or be dependent on the local government, such as a city or county.
How does prep for prep work? ›
The Preparatory Component prepares students to excel academically and socially at the nation's leading independent schools. This rigorous 14-month course of study spans two intensive summer sessions, as well as classes during the intervening school year on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Prep for Prep accepts about 200 students into the program every year (or about . 0002% of the city's public school student population).
What is the history of prep for prep? ›
Our History. Founded by South Bronx school teacher Gary Simons with the support of Columbia University's Teachers College, Prep for Prep opened its doors in 1978 with 25 students and three teachers. Eleven independent schools committed places in their seventh-grade classes.
What are the criticism of charter schools? ›
The most common arguments about charter schools are that: Charters steal kids and money from traditional public ISDs. Charters are selective and operate like private schools. Public charter schools don't enroll students from historically underserved families.
Why do parents choose charter schools? ›
Parents want their children to be motivated and to have solid relationships with their teachers and classmates. Educational options, such as charter schools, are not anti-traditional school, they are pro-children and have as its core a fundamental principle: One size does not fit all.
Which group is least likely to attend a high poverty school? ›
White students are least likely to attend high-poverty schools out of all racial and ethnic groups, and Asian American students are most likely to attend low-poverty schools.
What are the demographics of Yes Prep Southside? ›
The student population is made up of 52% female students and 48% male students. The school enrolls 91% economically disadvantaged students.
What is yes prep gulfton ranked? ›
YES Prep - Gulfton 2024 Rankings
YES Prep - Gulfton is ranked #2,067 in the National Rankings.
What is yes prep 5th ward ranked? ›
YES Prep - 5th Ward 2024 Rankings
YES Prep - 5th Ward is ranked #1,011 in the National Rankings. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college. Read more about how we rank the Best High Schools.
What is the best high school in Houston? ›
Houston
- Carnegie Vanguard High School.
- DeBakey High School for Health Professions.
- Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts.
- Challenge Early College High School.
- Young Women's College Prep Academy.
