Fort Worth’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy earns National Blue Ribbon status

September 28,2016

By Diane Smith

The Young Women’s Leadership Academy was named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2016 by the U.S. Department of Education, one of 26 Texas schools to earn the honor.

“It is so exciting,” Principal Tamara Albury said Wednesday. “It is so phenomenal.”

The Blue Ribbon Schools program, which was founded in 1982, recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students are performing at high academic levels. Twenty-six schools in Texas were named Blue Ribbon Schools on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Education.

Cross Timbers Elementary in the Azle school district also received the honor.

YWLA is Fort Worth’s first single-gender school for girls in grades six though 12, . It opened in August 2010 with 75 sixth-grade students and 75 seventh-grade students. The campus’ first graduating class received diplomas in June. The second graduating class will is spring 2017.

“It’s a win for all of Fort Worth,” Albury said. “Our community is Fort Worth. This is a great thing for Fort Worth as a whole.”

She said students monitored the Blue Ribbon Schools announcement via the Internet and held watch parties.

The campus first opened on West Magnolia Ave and later moved to 401 E. Eighth St. in downtown Fort Worth. It has 400 students, including 35 seniors.

YWLA is open to girls across the Fort Worth school district. It features rigorous coursework and personalized counseling to help students succeed in high school and be ready for college. Albury said one seniors has reached National Merit Commended Scholar status. The campus also has six AP Scholars, she said.

Schools nominated for the Blue Ribbon program were selected based on state and national assessments. Nominated schools had to complete an application also.

Fort Worth’s Charles Nash Elementary School was selected a Blue Ribbon award winner in 2014. Edward J. Briscoe Elementary School was nominated in 2012.