RAUL YZAGUIRRE SCHOOLS FOR SUCCESS

In an effort to address the inequities and failures in the public school system in Houston, Texas, in 1996, Tejano Center for Community Concerns established the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success Charter School as an open-enrollment institution, one of the first twenty charter schools approved by the State Board of Education. Starting with an enrollment of 100 7th and 8th graders, the school has grown to 1250 students, with 950 students enrolled in three Houston academies (Primary, Middle and College Prep) and 300 elementary school students enrolled in the Brownsville, Texas Campus beginning in August 2003. In spite of being economically disadvantaged and often entering the school one or more grade levels behind in core subjects, Raul Yzaguirre School for Success students and parents commit to academic success. School demographics include: 95% of the students enrolled at Raul Yzaguirre School for Success are on the free or reduced lunch program and 96% of our students are economically disadvantaged; 56.2% are limited English proficient, and 74.2% are at-risk (Academic Excellence Indicator System 2006-07 Texas Education Agency). Our school programs emphasize individualized education plans, self contained classrooms, uniforms, and a low twenty to one student-teacher ratio. Unlike traditional large public schools, Raul Yzaguirre School for Success maintains an exceptionally low drop-out rate, averaging 1.4% during the most recent four year period. Further, Raul Yzaguirre School for Success requires mandatory parental involvement and also features an extended day program including leadership development and character development activities. Of all Raul Yzaguirre School for Success graduates, 85% go on to institutions of higher education with numbers reaching 100%. Indicative of the change one organization can make, most recently in April 2007, the Texas Education Agency announced that Raul Yzaguirre School for Success was selected as an exemplary model school for highly effective drop-out prevention strategies. The school has consistently had a less 2% drop-out rate even though its student population represents many of the risk factors often associate with a student leaving the educational system.