News Story

HOUSTON— On Saturday, May 3, YES Prep Public Schools launched Rock the Block, its first-ever districtwide, community-centered student recruitment day, mobilizing more than 80 staff and volunteers across 16 Houston neighborhoods. The event resulted in 103 new student applications and countless powerful conversations with families, community members and future YES Prep students. 

The one-day initiative brought YES Prep teams directly into apartment communities, parks and neighborhood blocks surrounding eight campuses with open seats for the 2025–2026 school year, including: 

• YES Prep Hobby Elementary and Secondary 
• YES Prep White Oak Elementary 
• YES Prep Northwest Secondary 
• YES Prep Fifth Ward Secondary 
• YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary 
• YES Prep North Rankin Elementary 
• YES Prep West Elementary 

Volunteers knocked on doors, greeted families in shared community spaces and offered on-the-spot enrollment support while sharing YES Prep’s mission of ensuring every student — regardless of zip code or background — has access to a high-quality, college-ready education. 

“Rock the Block was more than a recruitment event — it was a movement,” Managing Director of Student Recruitment and Enrollment Cynthia Rubio said. “We showed up in neighborhoods that deserve to know their options. And the response from families was incredible. This is what the Education We Deserve looks like — in action.” 

With bilingual outreach and a deeply community-rooted approach, Rock the Block reaffirmed YES Prep’s belief in the power of partnership, connection and access. The event marked a major step forward in ensuring that families across Houston are informed, empowered and welcomed into the YES Prep family. 

For families still interested in enrolling, applications remain open at yesprep.org/enroll.