This summer, students across YES Prep’s elementary and secondary campuses engaged in meaningful learning experiences designed to build academic skills, boost confidence and lay the groundwork for a successful school year.  

Guided by the theme, Unlock Your Potential: Learn, Grow, Achieve, each program was thoughtfully tailored to meet students where they are. From Camp Chispas and Bilingual Bridge Camp in elementary to Credit Recovery and ASPIRE in secondary, summer programming offered personalized support that reflected the needs and goals of every learner. 

Supporting Key Transitions 

One program that sets YES Prep apart is the 4th to 5th Grade Bilingual Bridge Camp, designed for students moving into all-English instruction in fifth grade. Transition years can bring uncertainty, but this camp provides students with the tools and confidence they need to succeed. 

“This transition can be intimidating for some students,” said Hajek, “but YES Prep ensures that students receive the opportunity to build necessary skills for the transition well beyond the school year and into summer. In many cases, students return in August to see the same teacher they saw during summer. This is yet another way that YES Prep uniquely designs learning journeys for students to set them up for success.” 

For secondary students, summer learning provided the chance to recover credits, explore college pathways, and prepare for critical exams. One student at YES Prep Southwest Secondary shared how summer helped them refocus on their goals: 

“I didn't do my best on my End Of Course (EOC) back in April, so I knew I'd probably want a redo on the exam in the summer. I thought I would just show up and have English all day long, but actually, I got to do some cool stuff in College Club that got me really thinking about what I want to do after graduating.” 

Highlights From the Summer 

Every YES Prep campus brought energy and heart to this year’s summer experience. One early bright spot came from North Rankin Elementary, one of YES Prep’s newest campuses. 

“From day one, the energy was high, the engagement was real, and everyone was invested in helping our students reach their full potential,” Hajek shared. “It wasn’t just school—it was a movement toward achievement!” 

Secondary students echoed that momentum. Christopher Chavarria, Class of 2028 from Fifth Ward Secondary, said: 

“This summer school experience helped me realize to do my very best throughout my time in YES Prep. Also, to reach out to my teachers and fellow classmates to get any additional support in order to pass all EOCs. Thank you to my teacher that helped me realize my potential.” 

What Sets YES Prep Summer Apart 

Every part of YES Prep’s summer programming was designed with one guiding principle in mind: putting students first. From the structure of daily schedules to the decision to bring back familiar teachers, every detail centered on what would best support student growth. As Sara Hajek, manager of school strategy, shared, the biggest difference in YES Prep’s summer approach is “the commitment to having a student-first approach.” She added that “every conversation about Summer Programming at YES Prep was grounded in what is best for students.” That clarity of purpose contributed to one of the highest summer participations rate the district has ever seen. 

Looking Ahead to the School Year 

While the summer is coming to a close, the momentum continues as students head into a new school year more confident, prepared and excited to learn. From pre-K to 12th grade, each student’s journey is unique and YES Prep is committed to supporting that journey year-round. To get ready for the 2025–26 school year, families can find school supply lists, transportation updates, uniform information and more at https://bit.ly/YESBackToSchool2025.