News Story

A quarter-century of honoring seniors' futures continues with the Class of 2025 — and a historic first for YES Prep Northwest 

HOUSTON (May 1, 2025) – For 25 years, YES Prep Public Schools — one of the fastest-growing and highest-performing public charter school systems in the country — has honored its graduating seniors with one of the most powerful and joyful traditions in public education: Senior Signing Day. On Wednesday, May 21, the celebration returns to the University of Houston’s Fertitta Center as 1,557 seniors from 14 YES Prep campuses take the stage to proudly declare their next chapter — college, military service, careers or other unique paths. This year’s event is presented by ConocoPhillips. 

Senior Signing Day originated at YES Prep in 2001. What began as a bold idea — to celebrate every senior’s path after high school with the same excitement typically reserved for athletic signings — has since inspired similar events at schools across the country. Today, Senior Signing Day remains one of YES Prep’s proudest and most enduring traditions, a reflection of what’s possible when every student is supported and celebrated. 

This milestone year also marks the first-ever graduating class of YES Prep Northwest Secondary, a historic moment that underscores YES Prep’s continued growth and commitment to expanding opportunity across Houston. 

“Senior Signing Day is more than an event. It’s a movement that began 25 years ago with the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to follow their dreams after high school,” said YES Prep CEO Mark DiBella. “We are proud to continue this tradition and celebrate the Class of 2025 for all they’ve accomplished. They will soon join the other 14,000 YES Prep alum actively working to pursue lives of opportunity and make their communities stronger in the process.” 

The Class of 2025 has submitted 18,707 college applications and earned 12,672 acceptances, with many students receiving multiple offers and significant scholarships. Senior Signing Day is their well-earned moment in the spotlight, cheered on by families, educators and their entire YES Prep community. 

In keeping with tradition, students in grades 8–11 from each YES Prep secondary campus will be bussed to the Fertitta Center to watch and celebrate their seniors as they declare their next steps. They attend not only to cheer on their peers but also to be inspired about their own future goals and pathways. YES Prep Hobby Secondary, which will celebrate its founding senior class next year, will also attend as part of the afternoon audience. 

This year’s event includes two celebratory programs: 

• Morning Program (9:30 a.m.): White Oak, North Forest, Northline, Northside, Northwest, West, North Central 
• Afternoon Program (12:30 p.m.): Brays Oaks, Gulfton, Fifth Ward, Southeast, East End, Southside, Southwest (with Hobby Secondary in attendance) 

In addition to students and staff from YES Prep secondary campuses, the event will be attended by senior families and supporters. The celebration will also be livestreamed at yesprep.org/SSD for those who wish to tune in online. 

The day will also include performances by student groups and on-stage recognition of scholars from national programs like QuestBridge and Posse, military enlistees and local and national scholarship recipients. It is a powerful celebration of the Education We Deserve — the belief that every student, regardless of zip code or background, deserves access to the same excellent opportunities as their peers in the best schools nationwide. 

• What: YES Prep Senior Signing Day 2025 
• When: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 
• Where: University of Houston – Fertitta Center 
• Livestream: https://www.yesprep.org/SSD