Academy Charter School received a full five year charter school renewal. Renewal of a charter is based on evidence of meaningful progress on measures of performance such as student well-being, academic success, parent and student satisfaction, and ability to communicate and transmit the mission. The YMCA Young Leaders Academy (YLA) was granted a charter by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents in August 2001 to open the Young Leaders Academy in September 2002.

The Young Leaders Academy is one of the higher performing elementary schools in the city of Milwaukee with over 82 percent of the eighth grade students performing at the proficient or advanced level in reading and 70 percent in mathematics. Students attending YLA consistently outperform their peers in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Students in 4th grade scored at 75 percent in reading proficiency and 69 percent mathematics proficiency.

In addition, the 2008- 2009 total percentage of YLA students scoring proficient or advanced in both reading and math exceeds the African American student state percentage by more than twenty percentage points in both subjects. Students in eighth grade at YLA scored 82 percent in reading and 70 percent in math, while state averages are 60 percent in reading and 44 percent in math. As compared to neighboring schools, the percentage of YLA students scoring proficient or advanced is higher in both reading and math.

“We pride ourselves on excellence and a five year charter renewal reaffirms our commitment to quality education for all,” said Ronn Johnson, executive principal of the Young Leaders Academy Charter School. “Our goal is to continue to build on the academic success of the school and instill educational excellence in every student that passes through our doors. We believe that every child should receive the best education possible, and we work to provide students with college-bound curriculum that prepares them to become informed, responsible and productive citizens of the world.”

The school’s program is based on the fundamental belief that every child has a birthright to a first-class education, which adds meaning, dignity and a sense of community. YLA combines the beneficial rigors of a classical education with the latest in technology and the best teaching and learning practices.

According to the Young Leaders Academy Charter Renewal summary, approved by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, “The YLA is one of the higher performing elementary schools in the city of Milwaukee. Staff is diverse and focused on the academic achievement of the students, along with a high level of parental support and involvement of parents. YLA has complied with all state and federal regulations and is in full compliance with its charter agreement with the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.”

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