Young Women's Leadership Academy

Posted: June 4, 2026

I graduated from YWLA this past May, and as someone who has come to this school in 9th grade, the past four years have been nothing less than phenomenal! No doubt that the workload and mandatory AP courses do add a lot on our plates, but it also provides as a perfect simulation for college and ensures that our focus remains on honing our current educational abilities. I'm grateful that in my experience, all of my teachers have really wanted me and my classmates to succeed wholeheartedly, helping us during their lunch/planning periods if needed. Though not many sports are offered here, from the ones which are, coaches provide their complete time and dedication to train the team to reach success. Furthermore, the smaller class sizes and overall graduating class sizes (this year had 46 girls) fosters a tight knit community which really allows the sisterhood amongst us flourish. Another benefit is also the free SAT/ACT waivers, AP exams, and college applications, all which saved me so much money and gave me the opportunity to apply to 20+ colleges. I was even able to start my own club with the support of the teachers and the principal, suggesting that students voices are heard and implemented upon if we really want to make a change or have an opinion about school well-being. Overall, every year at this school has given me new opportunities, and its location in downtown of Fort Worth is literally perfect for making connections and networking with professionals in one's prospective career field. Can't recommend this school more!

Posted: June 4, 2026

Posted: June 4, 2026

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Posted: March 27, 2026

this school literally doesn’t care about ur mental health do not send ur kids here they don’t do anything about it..

Posted: March 27, 2026

Posted: March 27, 2026

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Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

Posted: December 9, 2025

I am a former student from YWLA and I attended there from 6th - 10th grade. YWLA is a dangerous place for students’ mental,emotional, and physical well-being. If you don’t want to see your child struggle with mental illness and if you don’t want to see them attempt suicide, DO NOT send them here. The school claims to support and empower young women and talks all about sisterhood, but my experience was the exact opposite. The staff are uncaring and completely unprepared to help students in crisis. I struggled with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and eating disorders throughout my time there—and not once did the school provide proper support, counseling, or even basic concern. My mother passed away in my 8th grade year on my first week of school. When my mom passed away, the lack of empathy and guidance was shocking. I was left to grieve entirely alone while staff and counselors ignored the severity of my situation. The absence of real mental health support at YWLA is not just neglect—it is harmful. My time there contributed to OVER SEVEN suicide attempts and worsened my mental health struggles. This is not an exaggeration: the school’s failure to care put my life at risk. YWLA also enforces rigid rules and denies students opportunities other schools in FWISD allow, including early graduation, creating a suffocating and controlling environment. Students are treated like checkboxes, not humans, and those who need emotional or academic support are left to fend for themselves. Parents, be warned: YWLA’s reputation does not reflect reality. Academics alone are not worth attending a school that endangers your child’s mental health and ignores their well-being. If you care about your child’s emotional safety, look elsewhere. This school failed me in every way that matters.

Posted: June 11, 2025

Posted: June 11, 2025

Posted: June 11, 2025

Posted: June 11, 2025

Posted: June 11, 2025

Posted: June 11, 2025

I regret sending my daughter to this school. The previous principal made the school a positive environment, but when she was replaced, that’s when the school really tanked. The current principal makes no attempt to hide which students she likes and which ones she doesn't. The rules are enforced with some students but not all equally. We were told bullying would be dealt with, but it was not—not in any instance that was reported. Parents will be told they're dealing with it but nothing gets done and no attempt is made to check back to see if the bullying is continuing. Serious online bullying was ignored because "it happened on the girls’ personal phones." There were a few excellent teachers, but many were openly hateful to the students. There was a known serious issue with a teacher's personal behavior that was ignored for three years before something was done about it. Problems the students reported for a while and were ignored. And all those amazing trips and field trip opportunities the school brags about? They were often times offered to selective girls; not everyone in the class or grade was invited to go. It really depends on if the teacher/principal likes the student. I witnessed many girls’ self-esteem plummet, becoming afraid to speak out—either about student bullying or about issues with teachers.
Yes, your student’s test scores will be higher because “teaching to the test” is prioritized above anything else. This is not a school that encourages critical thinking, it’s focus is on test taking skills.
An important note: this is NOT a LGBTQ+ safe school. If any child is outed the principal will call the parents and send emails to all of their teachers. I would say a lot of their fellow students are accepting but they are not safe with the current administration. No attempt will be made to make sure the child is safe at home before outing them to their guardians.
If your focus is on increasing your child’s test scores and ensuring they get into college, then yes this school is good for that. But please be active in their mental health and be super involved with what goes on at the school.

Posted: April 30, 2025

Posted: April 30, 2025

Posted: April 30, 2025

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Posted: April 30, 2025

Posted: April 30, 2025

Posted: April 30, 2025

This school was horrible for me. I became depressed didn't feel comfortable in my own body and felt like an outcast. The teachers don't help at all. If you get into beef they make you talk it out like that's going to help. If anything it makes you get bullied even more. Principal is weird and rude. She thinks suspension makes us better. News flash it doesn't. I used to be a straight A student and now my mental health has sunk more and more. This school made me hate myself. I hate this school so much. The middle school science teachers are rude as heck. The computer teacher talks to much and won't let you use the bathroom unless you finished her work. The math teacher is really nice and chill. The reading teacher assigns so much work and it is extremely overwhelming. The gym teacher is really nice and helps you with mentality. The counselor tries to help as much as she can. Other than that I cant say much about high school teachers. DO NOT SEND YOUR DAUGHTER HERE!

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

We regret ever sending our daughter to this school. We watched her become depressed before our eyes, and just a different child. By the time she would get off the bus, at close to 6 PM, she would have at least an hour or two of homework. She was miserable and so were we. There is also an underground lesbian culture. I do not judge and support the community, but I also do not support putting young girls in an environment where homosexuality is encouraged and applauded. Sexuality is the main topic of conversation among the girls, and when it is brought up to administration, they will act like you are crazy. When your child gets behind or has a bad day, you will get calls asking about your home life. All of it, is just too much and too serious. School is not and should not, be life.

Posted: May 16, 2024

This school Needs serious Help. Some of the teachers just lean back and just hope that you learn by putting everything online. The food is horrible One of the kids had gotten mold on their pizza. They don't care if kids report an issue they just put them in a group and hope it gets solved while still planning on suspending the children The bathrooms are always and always smell like straight Doodoo and always end up getting flooded from the sink the principal doesn't really handle the students and tries to hand it off to the other staff she could see somebody walk in and just hand it off to one of the students. They say the child gets one on one time put the school it to chaotic you barely get any time This school is unorganized and degrades our mental health by a lot the uniforms cost a whole bunch of money so you would think its a good school only for you to find out the school has little to no funds. save your child while you still can

Posted: May 16, 2024

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Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

This school is horrible! There are fights every week. I have my child coming home crying because they have been bullied so i went up to the school and reported this but nothing has been done it has been 3 months. The teachers are horrible they don't help you at all. And this school solve all it problems by suspending students.They are not in contact at all with parents like me, i had to find this out from my kid.And this school does nothing about racism. DONT bring your kid here you will regret it all i promise you. WORST SCHOOL EVER

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: September 25, 2023

im a new student here and belive it will get me to colledge but my mental health will be destroyed

Posted: September 25, 2023

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Posted: April 10, 2023

This school will get you to college. However, it may also destroy your mental and physical health in the process. The school is disorganized and chaotic and the leadership is not in touch with the students (with the exception of one vice principal.) If you have a disability or mental illness, the administration is less than sympathetic. There are wonderful teachers in this school that genuinely care about your learning, but they are not paid enough or valued enough by the admin. Most students here have some form of mental illness and the amount of counselors does not address that. You will graduate, you will get internships, you will get scholarships and amazing opportunities, but you will also face a huge amount of debilitating stress. If you do decide to go to this school, it can be a wonderful experience. But make sure not to take it as seriously as they want you to. Your health is more important than the school's ratings. As for whether I would recommend this school- my opinions are mixed.

Posted: April 10, 2023

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Posted: October 30, 2022

I have very mixed feelings about YWLA. The teachers are excellent and really care about the students and their success. However, I think the leadership is a mess. There is quite a bit of emphasis “appearance” rather than substance, especially in middle school. I think this is primarily due to fundraising, but you can feel the underlying current or instability if you are involved in the school. There is also a tendency for administrators to play favorites among students and parents and isolating those who aren’t. Finally, there is very little growth room for high achieving students due to the curriculum and class structure.

I would recommend this school for a child who does not have a strong elementary foundation or a strong middle school to attend and who prioritizes education.

Posted: October 30, 2022

Posted: October 30, 2022

Posted: October 30, 2022

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Posted: October 30, 2022

Posted: August 1, 2020

There were both good and bad things for me at this school. On one hand, the faculty is amazing and works day in and day out for the success of the students. On the other, there is a lot of external pressure and sadly this very negatively impacts the students and most students there have some kind of anxiety or depression that they didn’t have or wasn’t as bad before they came to YW. There is also a stigma around leaving. I remember in 8th grade, they sat my entire grade down to tell us all the reasons we shouldn’t leave and how all the other schools in our district weren’t nearly as good and how if we went anywhere else we couldn’t be successful. The girls that go here are amazing and brilliant and could succeed anywhere if they can handle an environment as taxing as this one.

Posted: August 1, 2020

Posted: August 1, 2020

Of all the things I did not enjoy about this school, the teachers were definitely not one of them. The teachers here are amazing and care endlessly about their students.

Posted: August 1, 2020

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Posted: August 1, 2020

Posted: May 26, 2016

Posted: May 26, 2016

Solo lo justo para la excelencia, además mantienen bien ocupados a nuestros hijos aprendiendo mas de lo que otras escuelas exigen. Muy de acuerdo con esto. Prefiero que estén haciendo tareas a estar chateando con amiguitas...

Posted: May 26, 2016

Posted: May 26, 2016

Excellent: Mi hija está en esta escuela y está preparándose para una Universidad. Es la única escuela que he visto que realmente se preocupan para que nuestros hijos lleguen a una educación terciaria. El resto de las escuelas que he conocido dan lastima.

Posted: February 18, 2016

A post from April stated the sexual orientation is an issue. This year, a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) is in the process of being created. We actually have counselors that care, so any issues can be brought to them. There are issues of bullying in any school. It's worse in middle school than high school at this school. Eventually, they grow up and learn that bullying is pointless especially in such a small class.

Posted: August 31, 2015

I am an inaugural member of this school. Being here since it opened, it has come a long way. The two inaugural classes have definitely decreased in size but has had improvements in some ways. Still being generally new, we haven't quite rooted ourselves in tradition. It has it's pros and cons. Allowing leeway to create new ones but also not really know what to do. Many inaugural teachers have left us, again stated by another review were "irreplaceable", but were replaced by good teachers. This year, there has been a good amount of trial and error for the staff, and things are coming along. This school has been and will continue to be a good experience. I often wish to leave but have made a family here and good relationships with my teachers. Also, at this point in high school there isn't much point in leaving.

Posted: April 10, 2015

I am a former student. I would just like to say the intolerance here is a huge issue. Sexual orientation is a big subject and those who aren't straight are discriminated. The girls gossip and talk about each other all the time. It's really bad. There's a lot of bullying, and if the dean or principal doesn't like you, nothing will be done about it. Favoritism and intolerance are huge issues. I hope something will be done soon.

Posted: August 23, 2014

This is a non traditional school. In the 21st century, we need more schools that prepare students for college, careers and success in life.

Posted: October 23, 2013

The teachers and all staff are simply amazing!!! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be a part

Posted: October 2, 2013

I am a student at this school it is amazing. They challenge us. Everyone here is like sisters. Our teachers will come early in the morning or stay after school to help us with anything or to get ready for upcoming projects. Our teachers are amazing instead of just giving us lectures they give us worksheets projects and mini projects. This is my favorite school I am planning on staying here until I graduate.

Posted: August 23, 2013

I love the school . My daughter will be here until she graduates in 2016.

Posted: May 15, 2013

I am very please with YWLA, the principal is very involve and the teachers are challenging the students. The girls are getting ready for true success!

Posted: March 4, 2013

well i really cant complain except when it comes to the athletic department it has its favorites and they dont believe in giving every girl a fair chance at trying out for the sports