YES Prep Public Schools announced an IMPACT Partnership with Lycoming College, the 27th of its kind for YES Prep. Together, the two institutions are dedicated to increasing the number of college graduates from low-income communities. Across the nation only about 10 percent of students from low-income communities earn a college degree. At YES Prep, students are earning college degrees at four times the rate of their peers and at IMPACT partner schools, more than 85 percent of students have earned a college degree. Schools such as Lycoming College aim to build on that success by opening the door to college for a cohort of YES Prep students.
YES Prep began the IMPACT Partnership Program in 2006 as a way to boost college persistence for its graduates. Since its inception, the IMPACT Program has worked to increase the enrollment and success of YES Prep students at selective colleges and universities by offering preferential admission to qualified students, closing financial aid gaps, and providing on-going comprehensive support to and through college graduation.
“We are so excited to add Lycoming College to YES Prep’s list of IMPACT Schools,” said Jason Bernal, President of YES Prep Public Schools. “I am certain Lycoming will provide our graduates with the resources and support needed to succeed through college and position them well for a promising career.”
Lycoming College pledges to admit a cohort of YES Prep students for the 2014-15 school year. Moving forward, Lycoming and YES Prep will partner to support this cohort of graduates and seek to recruit more YES Prep students to Lycoming in the future.
“YES Prep does a tremendous job of providing students from underserved communities with a high-quality, college-preparatory education,” said Lycoming College President Kent Trachte. “This partnership will allow Lycoming to recruit some of the nation’s top students and prepare them to compete at the highest level as future college graduates.”
About Lycoming College
Lycoming College is a four-year, residential liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. Its rigorous academic program, vibrant residential community and supportive faculty foster successful student outcomes. Lycoming offers 36 academic majors and is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1812 and located near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation. For more information, visit www.lycoming.edu.
About YES Prep Public Schools
YES Prep exists to increase the number of students from low-income communities who graduate from a four-year college or university prepared to compete in the global marketplace and committed to improving disadvantaged communities. Opening its doors in 1998, YES Prep is now a system of 13 high-performing, public charter schools with 8,000 students and 900 employees in Houston, Texas. In the fall of 2015, YES Prep will begin operating schools in Memphis, Tenn., and also plans to expand to Louisiana. By 2020, YES Prep will serve 25,000 students across three regions. To learn more about YES Prep, visit www.yesprep.org