Young Women's Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) was a grade 9-12
charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
high school for girls in
Douglas,
Chicago,
Illinois.
The school was established in 1999. it had almost 350 students; it was Chicago's only public school only for girls.
The school used a lottery to determine admission. The school is diverse, drawing from many neighborhoods.
The school closed in June 2019 due to lack of enrollment and financial issues.
History
YWLCS opened its doors in August 2000, as part of an effort to provide better education for disadvantaged young women on the South Side of
Chicago. The
charter school focuses on teaching math, science and technology - in response to statistics showing women are underrepresented in these fields. The YWLCS runs from ninth through grade twelve;
providing a single sex education meant to ameliorate gender inequities in the classroom.
First located on the
Illinois Institute of Technology campus, YWLCS has since moved into its own building nearby. Their first class graduated in June 2004; media personality
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', br ...
was the guest speaker. In 2005, the guest speaker at graduation was
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married t ...
.
The YWLCS founders drew inspiration from The Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem, and the school maintains a loose affiliation with the network of Young Women's Leadership Foundation schools
TWYLS. Another TYWLS network school, The Young Women's Leadership School of Queens (New York) opened in September 2005, in the Jamaica neighborhood with a register of 81 students, under the leadership of new principal Avionne Gumbs.
See also
*
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
References
External links
Young Women's Leadership Charter School
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Public girls' schools in the United States
Charter schools in Chicago
Girls' schools in Illinois
Women's Leadership Schools
Public high schools in Chicago
Public middle schools in Chicago
Women in Chicago