The Academy

Our Mission

To empower young women to think critically, lead purposefully, and live healthfully, by providing a college preparatory public education that fosters the academic support, tools, and skills required to succeed in college and in life.

Our Vision

At the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, our vision is to consistently ensure 100 percent of our students graduate high school equipped to enroll and graduate from a four-year accredited college or university, and that they will go on to be active & responsible leaders in their community.

History & Culture

The Young Women’s Leadership Academy is San Antonio’s first all-girls public school, and is part of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). YWLA opened in August 2008 as a tuition-free, college-preparatory school that focuses on a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math) curriculum – fields in which women are typically underrepresented. Since its founding, YWLA has cemented its status as a rigorous yet supportive school that fosters the well-being of the whole student, and empowers young women to uncover the leaders within themselves.

The YWLA environment is one of serious learning, where students build confidence and learn to ask critical questions, and where academic achievement, leadership development, and experiential learning are top priority. Our curriculum inspires academic success, while our enrichment programs, volunteer service, internships, and competitions instill confidence, generate civic and community responsibility, and develop leadership. Students participate in academic decathlons, science fairs, and robotics competitions; they intern at hospitals, nonprofits, and businesses; and they volunteer at senior centers, food banks, and homeless agencies. This breadth of experience not only provides our students with insights into real-world vocations, they also expand student awareness of the many ways they can become active participants and leaders in their communities, and often help determine which areas of focus the students may pursue in their college careers.

Young Women’s Preparatory Network

YWLA is part of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) and has been since its inception. YWPN is the nation’s largest network of public, all-girls schools, with a total of ten schools across Texas. The ten schools are a product of the vision and generosity of Lee and Sally Posey, who provided the initial seed money for YWLA. YWPN continues to invest in the sustainability of the YWLA, through funding of professional growth opportunities for teachers and sisterhood opportunities for the girls. The mission of YWPN is:

“Our mission is to support single-gender, college-preparatory, public education in Texas and beyond, giving young women the academic and leadership skills to achieve success in college and in life.”

YWPN serves over 5,100 students of which 60% are considered economically disadvantaged, and most are the first generation in their families to attend college.

To learn more about the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, click here.

Academic Life

  • Curriculum

    YWLA’s rigorous college-preparatory curriculum includes a wide range of advanced academic opportunities including Pre-AP and AP classes, AVID, dual credit with local universities, and substantial Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) offerings. Students graduate from YWLA well-equipped with the personal discipline, foundational knowledge, and critical thinking skills needed to succeed at high caliber four-year universities.

  • Extracurriculars

    Our young women are taught responsible leadership through active participation in extracurricular activities and service-led learning opportunities. Athletics, fine and performing arts, academic competitions, honor societies, and a wide range of clubs allow YLWA students to develop their skills holistically and create community with their fellow Cardinals.

  • Testing

    While we actively avoid “teaching to the test”, YWLA’s rigorous coursework, academic support services, and practical test preparation strategies ensure every student is highly prepared for all state-mandated and college-entry standardized testing. With 100% SAT/ACT completion and some of the highest SAT scores in Bexar County over multiple years, testing is just one of the many success metrics that help all of our YWLA scholars earn a four-year university acceptance.

Rankings, Awards, & Statistics

  • Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) was ranked #124 of all high schools nationally in the 2023-2024 rankings by the U.S. News & World Report.

    YWLA received high rankings in many other categories, including being named #1 of all San Antonio ISD high schools and #14 of all high schools in the state of Texas.

  • YWLA students received 13 of the 40 scholarships given by a San Antonio Area Foundation Scholarship Fund in 2022; $10,000 a year for four years.

    Students received this scholarship at the Junior level, so they have initial funding secured before beginning college applications. Applications were available to all Junior level students in Bexar County.

  • 8 YWLA Students Recognized for Academic Honors from the College Board National Recognition Program

  • Earned #20 spot in the The Challenge Index, the oldest high school ranking system in the country

  • Recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School for Second Time in School History

  • Earned a Record-Breaking $16.4 Million in 2020 Merit-Based Scholarships

  • Achieved the Highest SAT Scores in Bexar County in 2016, 2017, and 2019

Student Testimonials

 

“I like how you know that every day you walk into class, they are going to push you.”

— Ilana Villagran, YWLA ‘15

“I am keenly focused on my future and my own high expectations. My high school experience has required real discipline.”

— Danielle Muro, YWLA ‘18

“I am a UTSA Honors graduate, with a degree in both Public Administration and Women’s Studies, with a minor in Non-Profit Management. I was just accepted on a full ride to the University of Texas at Austin where I will work on my PhD in Mexican American and Latino Studies.”

— Lillian Cervantes, YWLA ‘18

Enrollment & Admissions

For further information about the Young Women’s Leadership Academy
and how to apply, please visit the official school website here.