YES Prep Public Schools, Library Project

Robin Charlesworth, wife of our District Governor Elect Ed Charlesworth, was our guest speaker this week. She talked about Houston's YES Prep Public Schools and their need for support in building school libraries.

YES Prep Public Schools exists to increase the number of low-income Houstonians who graduate from a four-year college prepared to compete in the global marketplace and committed to improving disadvantaged communities.

YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS

YES Prep Public Schools is a free, open-enrollment public school system serving 2,600 students across five campuses in the Houston area. YES has been ranked as the best public school in Houston by Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and the Houston Chronicle. For the eighth consecutive year, 100 percent of YES Prep’s graduating seniors have been accepted into four-year colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Rice and Stanford. YES Prep combines a highly successful 6th-12th grade model along with high standards for student achievement and parental involvement.

YES PREP STUDENTS

• 88% of YES students are first generation college-bound
• 80% of YES students are economically disadvantaged
• 95% of YES students are Hispanic or African American
• Most students enter YES at least one grade level behind in math and English

STANDARDS FOR SUCCESS

• Parents, students and teachers sign a contract that states they will do Whatever It Takes to succeed at YES Prep
• "YES” stands for Youth Engaged in Service and students dedicate one Saturday each month to community service projects
• Teachers have school-sponsored cell phones for students to contact them during the evenings and weekends with questions
• YES mandates that students participate in longer school days, college research trips, summer school and summer opportunities

YES PREP 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY

The 2008 school year marks YES Prep’s 10th anniversary of impacting Houston. During this time, YES has received recognition as the best public school in Houston by Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and the Houston Chronicle.

• For the eighth consecutive year, 100 percent of YES Prep’s graduating seniors have been accepted into four-year colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Rice and Stanford
• 91% of YES alumni have graduated from or are still enrolled in a four-year college
• 80% of YES alumni who have graduated from college have returned to work and live in Houston
• YES students have earned nearly $23 million in scholarships and financial aid
• YES is the only charter school system that has earned the top Texas Education Agency ratings of Exemplary and Recognized at each campus, every year of operation

YES PREP CLASS OF 2008

• 100% of the Class of 2008 graduating seniors were accepted to four-year colleges
• Over 90% of the Class of 2008 graduates are first generation college-bound
• The Class of 2008 will attend 35 four-year colleges across the nation
• Students of the Class of 2008 received over $5.5 million in financial aid, scholarships and grants

To learn how you might be able to assist in the library project envisioned by Robin Charlesworth visit with our club's Literacy Committee Chair, Delores Delsing

Guests, Visitors and Other Good News

Visiting with us this week was Sheldon Neider from the Galleria Area Rotary Club and Keith Lovelace from the Bellaire/Southwest Houston Rotary CLub. Y'all come back...hear?

Sheldon Neider and Jerry Hobby	Wayne Staton and Keith Lovelace

Coming Up At Rotary

The Rotary Foundation Future Vision Pilot

In this Web video, Past RI Director and Future Vision Committee Member Mark Maloney explores what Rotarians need to know about the Future Vision Pilot, including the philosophy, grant structure, and need for pilot clubs and districts.

View Video: A Foundation for the Future