YES Scholars

YES support begins once scholars are identified in the 6th grade (and sometimes as early as elementary school). We utilize a data-driven approach to student support, consisting of three scaffolded phases, each focused on developing core skills and providing essential supplemental resources to ensure that students are competitive with their more privileged counterparts. Our middle school programming is centered around a rigorous math and logic curriculum designed to improve critical thinking, literacy, and self-expression, as well as prepare them for admittance to competitive independent high schools. Middle school scholars also participate in robust summer programming designed to build cultural capital and prevent academic summer backslides. Armed with what they've learned from our (con Sch O) thorough middle school programming, scholars are accepted to and attend the country's most competitive independent, public, boarding, and charter high schools, from Harvard-Westlake to Exeter to Bronx Science. The YES high school program then builds on the skills they acquired in middle school, with an even more individualized approach to student success: connections to summer programs, academic tutoring, internship opportunities, mentoring, topical workshops, social-emotional wellness, and individualized college admissions counseling, including college tours and high-level standardized test prep. This programming is specifically designed to help foster independence and self-advocacy. The third phase is focused on college success, persistence, and graduation, as well as career placement. Our staff maintains frequent contact with YES college scholars, helping to adapt them to all aspects of the more challenging environment of college. We provide our scholars with the means to access both crucial and transformative social immersion opportunities around the country and the world, endowing them with the interpersonal, critical thinking and communication skills necessary to become competitive candidates for the workforce. From neighborhoods where fewer than 10% of adults have a college degree, 100% of YES scholars are accepted to the finest colleges across the country. More importantly, 94% of those students persist and graduate! YES scholars are attending and have graduated from medical, dental, & law school, as well as a variety of graduate programs across the country. Our graduates are excelling in careers spanning every field and are employed at companies including Apple, Morgan Stanley, Google, Bain, The LA Philharmonic, Teach for America, Goldman Sachs, Mercedes Benz, Amazon, F/X Networks, Autodesk, The National Park Service, City of Hope, and LinkedIn .Over 85% of our scholars are first-generation college students, and 87% qualify as low or super-low income. YES-LA serves scholars across Greater Los Angeles County-from Watts, Inglewood, & South Bay to East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, & downtown Los Angeles. In New York City, scholars are identified from six public schools in Harlem District 5. YES-Chicago serves students from the South Side and West Side, and our Appalachian scholars are identified in rural public schools in Watauga & Ashe Counties in Western North Carolina. YES currently serves over 720 students across the country and grows by approximately 75 students annually.