Yes Prep Northwest (Houston, Spring, Parker: transfer to, neighborhood, middle school)

[Houston parent]

This is a brand new campus for Yes Prep just inside Beltway 8 & 290. Somebody I know who is considering this as an alternative to Truitt Middle School asked me about it and I have no info at all on this school or Yes Prep in general. Do any of you know anything about either the new Northwest campus or Yes Prep in general?

[fnh]

I literally have never heard of this new campus until now and we live nearby.

I have heard of Yes Prep in general though, and one of my grad school peers taught at one in SW Houston for a short time. Long days, hyper-focused on discipline and academic drills.

There is another charter school a mile north on Gessner, Harmony School of Excellence. We knew people who attended Harmony when our section of neighborhood was zoned to Dean Middle, about a decade ago. Most of the students attending there were zoned to the extremely low performing Spring Branch ISD schools south of 290, and I assume that is still the case. Since being rezoned to Cook Middle, I don't know anyone who attends Harmony.

I wonder if it is possible for your friend to request an in-district transfer to Cook. Our neighbors there review it quite favorably. I am wary of charter schools based on the input of my friend who taught at one and families I know who have attended. Too little oversight/certification of faculty and administration with too much rigidity toward students.

[zelma]

these "overnight" charter schools are everywhere- we had one pop up behind our elementary school in an abandoned hospital- their website even uses it as a bragging line. then they came to our principal asking to use our playground and athletic field and were denied. what was their plan??? of course the plan is to consume our school! it's even in the city's plan for harvey recovery and rebuild- basically it's a continuation of anise parker's 2012 corporate deal with metro, capital one, avenue cdc and kipp/yes charter schools- the plan literally calls for promoting these schools. mayor turner lost the teacher union's endorsement over not stopping charter schools from invading but now i see his hands are tied and the deal was made by our former comptroller to solidify the plans to bring the metro rail to fruition. kathy whitmire was the first to try for light rail in the 80s and instead we got more toll roads and auto dealerships. now the rail is built out and avenue has the developments going and the charters are here to stay. personally i think they're just like hisd schools- some are stellar and some are in an abandoned hospital without greenspace playing in a parking lot.

[Vicman]

Where may I read Annise Parker's old plan? Do you remember its name / what it was called ?

Originally Posted by zelma

these "overnight" charter schools are everywhere- we had one pop up behind our elementary school in an abandoned hospital- their website even uses it as a bragging line. then they came to our principal asking to use our playground and athletic field and were denied. what was their plan??? of course the plan is to consume our school! it's even in the city's plan for harvey recovery and rebuild- basically it's a continuation of anise parker's 2012 corporate deal with metro, capital one, avenue cdc and kipp/yes charter schools- the plan literally calls for promoting these schools. mayor turner lost the teacher union's endorsement over not stopping charter schools from invading but now i see his hands are tied and the deal was made by our former comptroller to solidify the plans to bring the metro rail to fruition. kathy whitmire was the first to try for light rail in the 80s and instead we got more toll roads and auto dealerships. now the rail is built out and avenue has the developments going and the charters are here to stay. personally i think they're just like hisd schools- some are stellar and some are in an abandoned hospital without greenspace playing in a parking lot.