Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy

Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy (WYMLA) is a public secondary school for boys in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a part of Wake County Public School System.

It has grades 6–13, with the former Thompson School in Downtown Raleigh having most grades, except Early College students (grades 11 through 13.) Early College students temporarily attend on the campus of Wake Tech's "Scott Northern Campus" for the 2024-25 school year, having previously (2012-2024) been at their former partner's campus at St. Augustine's University (SAU). Beginning in August of 2025, they will attend Shaw University, which has recently been announced as their partner going forward.

History

WYMLA opened in 2012, with Ian Solomon as the first principal,[1] with Xavier King taking over the role of principal in 2019.[2]

Originally, in 2011 the school system proposed creating single gender schools. Initially they were to be located at William Peace University, but that institution chose not to host them.[3] The ex-Thompson School held all Wake Young Men's students until St. Augustine's formed a partnership in 2013. From 2013 to 2024, alongside their partner all-girls school WYWLA, Early college students attended at SAU. In 2016 the first class graduated.[3] After financial issues resulted in SAU's loss of accreditation in November 2023, the partnership was put into question.[4] After subsequent appeals and many meetings between WCPSS and SAU officers, the decision was made to terminate the partnership.[5] Starting in the Fall semester of 2024, Students will attend college courses through Wake Technical Community College, while district leaders establish a potential new relationship with a different University.[6] The relationship with Wake Tech is temporary, earning credits through the state's Career & College Promise (CCP), not an establishment of a new "Early College" under North Carolina's Cooperative Innovative High Schools program,[7] which they expect to establish with a future partner. The NC General Assembly passed HB 900[8] intending to expedite that process, and maintain the status of "Early College" for the leadership academies.[9] The Superintendent and School board eventually state that the process had narrowed to two schools, and they had chosen Shaw University over North Carolina State University, with the decision announced in a mid-July 2024 WCPSS board meeting.[10]

Athletics

In 2016 it allowed students to play sports at other schools if the sports are not offered at WYLMA, but that year a board member proposed changing the rule.[11] Students are still allowed to participate at nearby High Schools.

References

1. Hui, T. Keung (2019-01-23). "Leesville Road High School gets a new principal". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
2. Hui, T. Keung (2019-03-20). "Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Richland Creek Elementary get new principals". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
3. Hui, T. Keung (2016-05-24). "Wake County's first single-gender public schools hold graduation". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
4. Hui, T. Keung (2024-01-24). "Wake's school academies to stay at St. Aug's for now, despite accreditation fears". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
5. "Wake County Schools terminates early college program with Saint Augustine's University". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
6. "Wake school board ends agreement with Saint Augustine's for leadership academies". WRAL.com. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
7. Hui, T. Keung (2024-03-25). "As Wake schools end ties with St. Aug's, leadership academy students are in limbo". The News & Observer.
8. "House Bill 900 (2023-2024 Session) - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
9. Hui, T. Keung (2024-04-25). "NC Legislators aim to speed up Wake schools effort to find new early college partner". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
10. Hui, T. Keung (2024-06-18). "Which university will replace St. Aug's to partner with Wake's leadership academies?". The Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
11. Hui, T. Keung (2016-12-13). "Wake County may end interscholastic sports option at some schools". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-01.

Further reading

• "MEMORANDUMTO: Wake County Board of Education Members, Superintendent Tony TataFROM: Public Education and Child AdvocatesRE: Concerns about the establishment of single-sex academies in Wake County" (PDF). 2011-12-01. - Discussed in "Wake County's first single-gender public schools hold graduation".

External links

• Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy

35.7784°N 78.6295°W / 35.7784; -78.6295