FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 21, 2023
Philadelphia, PA – Esperanza Academy Charter School, a K-12 school in the Hunting Park neighborhood, is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as a quarterfinalist in the prestigious 2023 Yass Prize competition.
The mission of the Yass Prize and STOP Awards Initiative is to identify and support more best in class education providers who can tackle the big education challenges of the day. These schools deliver an education for students that is Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless. In conjunction with The Yass Prize, the STOP Awards initiative provides over $20 million in support annually to honor educators who achieve excellence. Being named a quarterfinalist is a testament to Esperanza Academy’s unwavering dedication to providing a quality education that prepares critically thinking, socially capable, spiritually sensitive and culturally aware young adults who can use English, Spanish, and technology as tools for success in the 21st century.
Esperanza Academy works to maximize students’ opportunities for learning and to focus on individual student outcomes as their bottom line. Because the students in its surrounding community have historically been underserved, Esperanza Academy recognizes the urgency of its work in education as a vehicle for social and economic progress for marginalized communities. Two programs in particular that exemplify this kind of transformative educational experience are the high school majors program and the dual enrollment program, which is offered in partnership with Esperanza College of Eastern University. If chosen as a Yass Prize award recipient, Esperanza Academy would use the funds to support and expand one of these programs.
High school students select from 13 curricular major programs including technology, entrepreneurship, teacher education, journalism, engineering, criminal justice, health sciences, visual arts, dance, drama, film, instrumental music, and voice. This experience makes students more competitive in the job market and on college applications, engages them in learning in new ways, and helps them develop their skills, interests, and passions. Through the dual enrollment program, students have access to individual college-level courses at Esperanza College or the option of enrolling in the Early College Program. Students who are accepted into the Early College Program take all of their junior and senior year classes at the College, and receive both their high school diploma and associate degree upon successful completion of the program.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as a quarterfinalist in the 2023 Yass Prize competition,” said Mr. David Rossi, Chief Executive Officer at Esperanza Academy. “This achievement is a result of the dedication and hard work of our talented educators, staff, and students who continuously strive for excellence. It reinforces our commitment to providing a high-quality education to the students in our community and working to move students forward in all areas.”
As a quarterfinalist, Esperanza Academy will move forward in the competition with the hope of joining the group of semifinalists who will be announced on October 10, 2023. To learn more about the Yass Prize, and to follow Esperanza Academy’s journey in the competition, please visit the Yass Prize website at: https://yassprize.org/
For media inquiries, please contact: David Rossi, Chief Executive Officer, drossi@neacademy.net, (267) 270-4044 ext. 1123
About Esperanza Academy Charter School:
Esperanza Academy Charter School is a K-12 charter school in the Hunting Park neighborhood of Philadelphia. Esperanza Academy Charter School is dedicated to providing a quality education that prepares critically thinking, socially capable, spiritually sensitive, and culturally aware young adults who can use English, Spanish, and technology as tools for success in the 21st century. For more information visit www.esperanzaacademycs.org.