| Why Single-Gender Education in Public Schools?
Before we created our schools, single gender options were
available only to affluent, parochial, or yeshiva students.
Because of the successes in those communities, we believed
the all-girls model would have an even greater impact in
the inner cities and that underserved students and parents
deserved the same opportunity. Single-gender public schools offer
an appealing alternative to public schools where gender distinctions
in learning and social development are mostly ignored.
What Makes Our Schools Unique?
The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS) are small and use the 6th through 12th grade
model. A strong public-private partnership exists, in that
every day a member of our organization is working on the schools.
Our curricula are first-rate college prep programs. A full-time
college counselor, funded and trained by YWL Network (YWLN), is placed
in each of our schools in the tenth grade. We emphasize achievement, leadership,
scholarship and future. Our track record and know-how enables
us to replicate our schools anywhere. All TYWLS schools
are unified by a set of Core Values.
Core Values of The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS)
• All-girls Environment
• Small Schools Engaged in Leadership Development
• High Expectations
• College Preparation
• Focus on Results
For a more detailed explanation of the TYWLS Values, please
click here Core Values
Every Student is College Bound
At our schools high standards define the culture and each
student is expected to go to college. That is why our network
provides highly qualified and trained college guidance counselors
in each school on a permanent basis. YWLN's
program, CollegeBound Initiative, is a comprehensive college guidance program
in all YWLN schools and in seven of the co-ed New York
City public high schools. The CollegeBound Initiative counselor’s
sole responsibility is to guide students and parents through
the entire college admissions and financial aid process and
to instill in the younger students the importance of a college
education.
Our National Impact
YWLN was instrumental in shaping legislation
that became part of the “No Child Left Behind Act,”
which became law in January 2002. The success and statistics
of The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of East Harlem
were read into the congressional record, followed by a unanimous
Senate vote to provide federal funding for single-gender schools
and programs. For many years, only a limited number of public
schools in the United States offered single-gender educational
opportunities. In the 2004-2005 school year, 33 single-sex
public schools will be in operation and roughly 90 other co-ed
public schools will offer single-gender classrooms.
Our Goals
Our goal is to create all-girls public schools and college
guidance programs in New York City and to create a network
of top quality schools across the nation. The YWL Network
has blazed the trail and has expanded the choices offered
to students and families. Our work has forever changed the
face of public education in this country and will continue
to change the lives of the students we touch.
YWLN currently includes four all-girls public
schools in New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia and an affiliate school in Dallas. To expand
options and opportunities, our Network seeks to build on
our success and to extend our impact on public education.
YWLN currently includes five all-girls public schools in New York City and Philadelphia and six affiliate schools in Texas (4), Chicago (1) and Baltimore (1).
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