One of Only 26 Texas Schools Recognized, YWCPA Is Part of Dallas’ Young Women’s Preparatory Network
(HOUSTON, TX.) September 25, 2020 – Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA) has been recognized as a 2020 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education for its high level of student achievement. YWCPA, an all-girls, 6th-12th grade public school that is part of Dallas-based Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN), is one of only 26 schools across the state to be named as a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School.
“We are proud to have been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education,” said April Williams, principal of the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. “It means so much to our school community and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of not only our educators and staff but to our students and their families. I am humbled and grateful to work with so many who are making real change within our communities through the power of education.”
In Texas, public schools are considered for nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the previous year’s STAAR assessments. Each campus receiving Blue Ribbon honors this year has an economically disadvantaged population of 39 percent or more. All 26 campuses nominated by the Texas Education Agency in February received the designation.
“We are grateful and proud to have our Houston campus honored on a national level as a Blue Ribbon School,” said Lynn McBee, CEO of Young Women’s Preparatory Network, the largest network of all-girls, public, college preparatory schools in the nation. “This recognition is especially meaningful now following the changes to the education system that have occurred since the COVID-19 crisis first began in the spring. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to creating a new generation of college graduates and our YWPN schools are proving it can and will be done.”
The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony will be held online Nov. 12-13.
About Young Women’s Preparatory Network
Founded in 2002 in Dallas, the Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) is a nonprofit agency that partners with public school districts across Texas to operate the largest network of all-girls, public, college preparatory schools in the nation. Our schools are located in struggling urban neighborhoods and have a proven track record of success, winning multiple academic achievement awards, most recently earning recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School. YWPN has schools in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio and Ysleta (El Paso) and serves nearly 5,000 young women annually. Because of the success of the first school in Dallas, the model is being replicated throughout the state as a catalyst for positive educational change.
