Young Women’s Preparatory Network: Public All-Girls Schools Where Leaders Are Made

A conversation with Jill Brewster of the El Paso campuses

The Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) has spent more than two decades building something rare: public all-girls schools that take young women seriously as future college graduates, professionals, and leaders. Across 13 campuses in Texas, the network creates learning environments where there is no question of whether girls belong in advanced math, rigorous science, or positions of leadership — because every role on every campus is already filled by them. Among those campuses are the Young Women’s STEAM Academy (YWA) and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) of El Paso, which together serve 760 girls in grades 6 through 12.

The El Paso schools are the first single-gender public school campuses in their respective regions, and they reflect everything the network stands for: high academic expectations, intentional leadership development, and a deep commitment to guiding students not just to college acceptance but through college completion. The majority of students are Hispanic, many come from families navigating financial hardship, and a large share will be the first in their families to earn a degree — which makes the sustained, seven-year relationship the schools build with each girl all the more meaningful. A Kars4Kids small grant is helping support this work.

We put some questions to Jill Brewster, development manager of the El Paso Young Women’s Preparatory Network, about what it looks like to build that kind of institution from the ground up — and what it means for the young women who move through it.

Kars4Kids: For readers who may not be familiar with the Young Women’s STEAM Academy and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, can you tell us about the students you serve in El Paso — their grades, backgrounds, and some of the challenges and opportunities that shape their experience?

Jill Brewster: The Young Women’s STEAM Academy (YWA) and Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) serve 760 girls in grades 6–12 in El Paso, Texas. The majority of our students are Hispanic, many qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and a large percentage will be the first in their families to attend college.

Our students are bright, driven, and full of potential, but many face challenges that can make the path to higher education feel out of reach. That’s why our schools focus on providing not only strong academics, but also leadership development, mentorship, and opportunities to explore future careers. We want every student to see herself as a college graduate, a professional, and a leader in her community.

 

Kars4Kids: YWA is the first single-gender public school campus in the El Paso Independent School District and YWLA was the first single-gender public school campus in West Texas. What was the thinking behind creating an all-girls environment, and what difference does that setting make for your students day to day?

Jill Brewster: The vision behind creating YWLA ten years ago, and YWA nine years ago was to provide a learning environment where girls could fully focus on their academic, leadership, and personal growth. Research on girls’ schools has found that students often report higher levels of confidence, leadership, civic engagement, and willingness to pursue ambitious goals when they learn in environments designed specifically for girls. Studies have also shown that girls in single-gender schools are more likely to see themselves as leaders and to participate in roles ranging from student government to STEM programs.

Day to day, we see those outcomes firsthand. Our students are surrounded by girls serving as team captains, club presidents, robotics competitors, musicians, and academic leaders. There is no question about whether girls belong in advanced math, science, engineering, or leadership roles – they occupy every role on campus. That visibility matters. It helps students develop confidence in their voices, take on challenges they may not have otherwise pursued, and build the belief that they can succeed in college, careers, and leadership positions. For many of our students, especially those who will be the first in their families to attend college, that confidence can be transformative.

Kars4Kids: YWA and YWLA place a full-time College Success Advisor on campus and aims for 100% college attendance among graduates. What does that college-readiness work actually look like, especially for girls who may be the first in their families to pursue higher education?

Jill Brewster: Our commitment to 100% college attendance begins long before senior year and extends well beyond the seven years students spend on campus. Through our full-time College Success Advisor and our “To and Through College” model, we provide individualized guidance that supports students not only in getting to college, but also through college completion.

Students receive support in selecting rigorous coursework, exploring career interests, preparing for college entrance exams, completing applications, applying for scholarships, and navigating financial aid. For many of our girls – who are often the first in their families to attend college – this process can feel overwhelming, so we also engage families through workshops, college visits, financial aid nights, and one-on-one advising so everyone understands each step of the journey.

Our goal is to make college both attainable and sustainable. By graduation, students have a clear postsecondary plan, have applied to colleges and scholarships, and leave with a strong support system already in place. That support does not end at graduation; through our “To and Through College” program, we continue to advise, encourage, and guide our alumnae as they transition into college life and work toward earning their degrees.

Kars4Kids: Both schools put science, technology, engineering, arts, and math at the center of students’ education. How does that rigorous academic program translate into real confidence and career vision for girls who may not have seen themselves in those fields before?

Jill Brewster: One of the most powerful things we see is that confidence grows when students have the opportunity to do the work, not just learn about it. Through hands-on projects, engineering challenges, robotics, coding, research, and advanced coursework, our students begin to see themselves as problem-solvers and leaders.

Many girls arrive without seeing themselves in STEM careers. By connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences, industry partnerships, competitions, college visits, and interactions with women working in these fields, our students begin to envision themselves in those roles. They gain confidence by tackling challenges, overcoming obstacles, and discovering what they are capable of accomplishing. Whether they pursue STEM careers or not, our students leave with stronger critical-thinking skills, a broader vision for their future, and the confidence to pursue ambitious goals.

Kars4Kids: Community mentors, professional internships, and peer mentoring are all part of how YWA and YWLA develops responsible leadership. How do you go about building those partnerships, and what does a student gain from connecting with professionals in the El Paso community?

Jill Brewster: Building strong community partnerships starts with relationships. We are fortunate to have a community in El Paso that believes in investing in young women, and we work closely with local businesses, nonprofits, higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, and community leaders to create opportunities for our students. A key part of that work is our Advisory Council, which functions much like a board and is made up of dedicated community members from a wide range of sectors across El Paso. They believe deeply in our mission and help connect our students to mentors, internships, career exploration opportunities, and other valuable resources.

These connections help students see what is possible for their futures. When a student spends time with an engineer, physician, entrepreneur, or community leader, she gains more than career knowledge, she gains a role model. Students begin to understand the pathways that lead to different careers, build professional skills, expand their networks, and develop confidence in their own potential.

Kars4Kids: YWA and YWLA serve girls in grades 6 through 12, meaning you’re walking with students through some of the most formative years of adolescence. How does your approach shift as a student moves from middle school into high school, and what does it mean to have that kind of sustained, long-term relationship with a young woman?

Jill Brewster: Serving girls in grades 6 through 12 allows us to walk alongside them through some of the most formative years of their development. In middle school, the focus is on helping girls build confidence, feel a strong sense of belonging, and develop foundational academic and social-emotional skills. We are intentional about creating a space where girls find their voice, take academic risks, and begin to see themselves as leaders.

As they transition into high school, the experience becomes more personalized and future-focused. Girls begin taking more rigorous coursework, exploring STEM and career pathways, engaging in internships and mentorships, and intentionally preparing for college. We support them in connecting their interests and strengths to real opportunities, while continuing to nurture their leadership and independence.

Having a sustained relationship over seven years is powerful because we truly grow with each girl. We understand her story, celebrate her milestones, and support her through challenges. That continuity allows us to hold high expectations while also providing consistent encouragement, so that by graduation she is not only college-ready, but confident in who she is and what she can achieve.

Kars4Kids: The school is part of the larger Young Women’s Preparatory Network, which operates campuses across Texas. What does being part of that network give your El Paso students — in terms of resources, connections, or a sense of belonging to something bigger than one campus?

Jill Brewster: Being part of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network connects YWLA and YWA students to a much larger community of girls’ schools across Texas. The network includes 13 public all-girls campuses and has been growing for more than 20 years. That longevity matters because it means our students are part of an established, sustained effort to support girls from middle school through high school and into college and early career pathways.

Through this partnership, we are able to share resources, best practices, and programming across campuses, which strengthens what we can offer in El Paso while keeping our identity rooted in our local community. Students also benefit from statewide opportunities such as leadership conferences, STEM and college readiness programming, and connections with peers from other YWPN schools who are navigating similar experiences across Texas.

Just as importantly, it gives our girls a sense of belonging to something much bigger than one campus. The sisterhood extends beyond graduation into college and early careers, creating a lasting network of support, mentorship, and connection.