Type State Charter Established 1998 Students 10,600 Grades 6-12 Founded 1998 | Motto Whatever it takes Superintendent Mark DiBella Founder/Ex-President Chris Barbic (SVP) Phone +1 713-967-9000 CFO Millicent Chancellor | |
 | ||
Address 5515 S Loop E Fwy b, Houston, TX 77033, USA Similar Briarmea Charter School, KIPP Houston Public Sc, Southwest Middle School, Harmony Science Academy, Ser‑Ninos Charter Elementary Profiles | ||
YES Prep Public Schools, Inc. is a network of public, open-enrollment charter schools located all throughout Greater Houston. The YES network has its headquarters in the Southwest Management District (formerly Greater Sharpstown), Houston. The YES program is a university-preparatory program for grades 6-12.
Contents
History
YES (which stands for Youth Engaged in Service) began in 1995 as Project YES. The program was founded at Rusk Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District. Since 1998, YES Prep has been operating under a state charter.
As of 2017, Yes Prep has opened sixteen schools located around Houston: Bray Oaks founded in 2009, East End (2006), Eisenhower (2016), Fifth Ward (2011), Gulfton (2007), Hoffman (2013), North Central (2003), North Forest (2010), Northbrook (2012), Northbrook High (2015), Northside (2011), Southeast (1998), Southside (2015), Southwest (2004), West (2009), and White Oak (2013).
Recognition
The YES system was rated as Exemplary and Recognized by the Texas Education Agency for 8 consecutive years, ranking as Houston's best open-enrollment high school by the Houston Chronicle, and a place on Newsweek's Best High Schools in America list for both 2006 (ranked #88) and 2007 (#38). In 2012, YES Prep's Southeast Campus was ranked number four, and its North Central Campus was ranked the number six high school in the Greater Houston Area by Children At Risk.
In 2010, Oprah Winfrey donated 1 million dollars each to six charter school systems, including YES Prep.
Senator Ted Cruz (R)Texas, fulfilled his promise to give up his salary during the government shutdown of 2013 by donating $7,627.40, "equal to 16 days of gross pay," to the Houston-based organization, YES Prep, "that he and Heidi support."
Athletics
Yes Prep Brays Oaks 2015 Varsity Flag Football East Texas District Champions; East Texas Regional Champions and East Texas State Champion Finalist. YES Prep West 2014-15 Junior Varsity State and District champions. YES Prep Southeast's Basketball program in men's was successful in becoming District 25-AA Co-Champions (2010-2011) along with Hitchcock high school. YES Prep Southeast's Middle School Team placed 2nd place during the Championships. (2012-2013) In 2014, YES Prep Southeast participated in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League and won the state championship for boys' cross country team competition while the girls' team also placed second. Yes Prep Southeast 2015-2016 Varsity Volleyball girls also placed first in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League state championship.