About The Ann Richards School
The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is a unique all-girls public school founded to educate young women and give them the confidence and skills necessary to succeed in college, in their careers, and in their communities.
Our vision is to focus on the whole girl, providing academic and enrichment opportunities that engage our students, expand their horizons, and give them the tools to achieve their dreams.
Mission
The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders dedicates itself to prepare young women to attend and graduate from college, commit to a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle, lead with courage and compassion, and solve problems creatively and ethically in support of our global community.
Proven models
The Ann Richards School is based on proven models — the Young Women's Leadership School in East Harlem, New York, and the Irma Rangel Leadership School in Dallas, Texas. Established ten years ago, the Young Women's Leadership School educates girls from economically disadvantaged families, with 100 percent of graduates applying to and being accepted to college. The Ann Richards School's college preparatory program have the identical goal. To learn more about the Young Women's Leadership School, visit www.ywlfoundation.org. It is our intention, too, that our graduates progress to college with the scholarships and financial aid necessary to attend.
College preparation
Pursuing college education is a cornerstone of the culture of the Ann Richards School. Key to the college preparatory program is a rigorous academic program. With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), students are challenged to succeed in areas where girls often fall through the cracks.
Read more about the Ann Richards School college preparatory program »
Unique partnerships
To address the needs of our students and to expand their opportunities, the Ann Richards School is partnering with a broad array of community organizations including Femme Film Texas, Girls Scouts, GENAustin, GirlStart, Sustainable Food Center, and The Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area, among others.
Opened in August 2007, The Ann Richards School primarily serves girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school started with 6th and 7th grades in 2007, and will add a new grade each year, and graduate our first 12th grade class in 2013.
The school is made possible by a unique public-private partnership between the Austin Independent School District, the Foundation for the Education of Young Women, and the Ann Richards School Advisory Board.