Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox school
| name = The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
| logo = Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders logo.svg
| image =File:Ann Richards School Austin Texas 2023.jpg
| alt =
| caption =Current school building
| established = {{Start date|2007|df=y}}
| address = 2309 Panther Trail
| city = Austin
| state = Texas
| zipcode = 78704
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|30.236|N|97.788|W|region:US-TX_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| schooltype = Middle school & High school
| fundingtype = Public
| principal_label = Director
| principal = Kristina Waugh
| gender = Single-sex Female
| faculty = 40.35 FTE
| enrollment = 773{{cite web|url=https://www.annrichardsschool.org/school/|title = School Overview}}
| enrollment_as_of = 2014–2015
| district = Austin Independent School District
| us_nces_district_id = {{NCES District ID|4808940|district_name=Austin Independent School District|access_date=4 March 2015}}
| mascot = Stars
| colors = {{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|white|border=darkgray}} Blue and White
| ceeb = 440382
| us_nces_school_id = {{NCES School ID|480894011354|school_name=Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders|access_date=4 March 2015}}
| website = {{URL|annrichardsschool.org}}
| athletics = {{URL|annrichardsathletics.com}}
| sports=Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Track, Tennis, Swimming, Roller Derby
| footnotes =
}}
The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is an all-girls college preparatory public school of choice for students in grades 6–12 located in Austin, Texas. The school is named for former Texas governor Ann Richards and is part of the Austin Independent School District. In 2015 it was named the 19th most challenging high school in the nation by The Washington Post.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/19/americas-most-challenging-high-schools-national-top-25-list-for-2015/ |title=America's Most Challenging High Schools national top 25 list for 2015 |date=2015-04-19 |author1=Jay Mathews |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}
History
File:Ann Richards School Austin Texas.jpg
The Ann Richards School (commonly referred to as "ARS") was established in 2007 in the former building of Porter Middle School in south Austin. Former Texas governor Ann Richards took part in making the school possible, but Richards died before she could see the school open. Actress Sandra Bullock{{cite web|url=http://www.annrichardsschool.org/get-involved/founders |title=Founders |website=The Ann Richards School |accessdate=15 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718071244/http://www.annrichardsschool.org/get-involved/founders |archivedate=July 18, 2013 }} and the school's founding principal, Jeanne Goka, also took part in opening the school. In its first year the school was opened to sixth- and seventh-grade students, and a grade was added each year until the 2012–2013 school year, when the school's oldest students reached the twelfth grade; in June 2013 the school's first senior class graduated.{{Cite news|title=Ann Richards School's first seniors prepare to graduate, attend college |date=25 April 2013 |last=Weldom |first=Kelli |newspaper=Community Impact News |url=http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/southwest-austin/ann-richards-school%E2%80%99s-first-seniors-prepare-to-graduate-attend-college/ |accessdate=3 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091351/http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/southwest-austin/ann-richards-school%E2%80%99s-first-seniors-prepare-to-graduate-attend-college/ |archivedate=April 2, 2015 }} Although the school was originally housed in the former building of Porter Middle School, the school was rebuilt in stages following a 2017 bond and the new building was fully completed in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox7austin.com/news/austin-isd-holds-grand-opening-for-new-ann-richards-school-campus|title= AISD holds grand opening|website=Fox7|date= March 30, 2022|accessdate=23 September 2022}}
The Ann Richards School is part of the Young Women's Preparatory Network (formerly the Foundation for the Education of Young Women), the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, and the Young Women's Leadership Network; it is a "sister school" to the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School in Dallas, Texas and the Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem in Harlem, New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.annrichardsschool.org/school/|title=School Overview and History|website=The Ann Richards School|accessdate=7 January 2015}}
The school has also had various notable visitors including Chelsea Clinton{{Cite web |url=http://kxan.com/2015/10/08/chelsea-clinton-visits-school-for-young-women-leaders/ |title=Chelsea Clinton visits Austin school for young women leaders |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=October 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012052532/http://kxan.com/2015/10/08/chelsea-clinton-visits-school-for-young-women-leaders/ |url-status=dead }} and Kirsten Gillibrand{{Cite web |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190221/kirsten-gillibrand-democratic-candidate-for-president-speaks-at-ann-richards-school |title=Kirsten Gillibrand, Democratic candidate for president, speaks at Ann Richards School - News - Austin American-Statesman - Austin, TX |access-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619153550/https://www.statesman.com/news/20190221/kirsten-gillibrand-democratic-candidate-for-president-speaks-at-ann-richards-school |url-status=dead }} and Angela Davis.{{Cite web |url=https://www.annrichardsschool.org/news/dr-angela-davis-visits-the-ann-richards-school/ |title=Dr. Angela Davis Visits the Ann Richards School - Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders |access-date=July 19, 2023 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619153550/https://www.annrichardsschool.org/news/dr-angela-davis-visits-the-ann-richards-school/?utm_source=Ann+Richards+School+Foundation+Email+List&utm_campaign=44857df6ed-September+Programmatic+Email+-+2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-44857df6ed-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D |url-status=dead }}
Admissions
Admission to the school is only granted in grades six through ten. The admissions are classified as "competitive" with 150 acceptances in the sixth grade and no waiting list. Admissions are based on prospective students' essay of interest, teacher recommendations, recent report cards, attendance records and standardized test scores. Qualified applicants are then placed in a lottery and are drawn at random, where 75% are admitted from Title I schools.{{cite web|url=https://www.annrichardsschool.org/admissions/|title=Admissions}}
Academics
The school's curriculum focuses on leadership, STEM subjects, and college readiness.{{Cite news|title=Birthday Bash benefits Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders|last=Jackson|first=Holly|date=6 December 2013|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/birthday-bash-benefits-ann-richards-school-for-you/ncDWK/|accessdate=3 March 2015}} Upon entering high school, students choose between course schedules emphasizing one of three "pathways": biomedical science, engineering, or media technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.annrichardsschool.org/about-the-school/curriculum|title=Curriculum|website=The Ann Richards School|accessdate=15 July 2013}} Additionally, high school students are required to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses, while middle school students are required to take Pre-AP courses. Middle School students also take STEM based electives and PLTW courses.
The school also has a comprehensive wellness program and students are required to participate in yoga once per week, as well as enjoy time outdoors. Students also take athletics and physical education classes and yearly wellness courses that focus on body image and health. The Ann Richards School is also part of the CDC's CATCH school program, designed to improve physical activity and diet.{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/prc/study-findings/research-briefs/elementary-school-program.htm |title=CATCH School Health Program |website=www.CDC.gov |date=March 27, 2019 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=September 1, 2023}}
Extracurricular activities
The Ann Richards School offers a variety of extracurricular activities is notable for its success in extracurricular activities at the district and state level.
The student-run yearbook, "The Constellation," and the student-run newspaper, "The Polaris Press,"{{cite web|url=http://arspolarispress.com/about-us/|title=About Us}} are popular among students. High school students can participate in Texas Youth and Government which includes Model United Nations and Mock Trial. A number of STEM-related groups are also available including a robotics club. The school also offers Theatre, Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Visual Arts.
Athletics
=Cross Country=
The Ann Richard School's high school cross country team has consistently placed 1st or 2nd in both the JV and Varsity{{cite web|url=http://arspolarispress.com/986/sports/who-run-the-world-girls/|title = Who run the world? GIRLS}} divisions of the District meet,{{cite web|url=http://arspolarispress.com/6180/sports/all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end-ars-cross-country-seniors-run-their-last-race/|title = All good things must come to an end: ARS Cross Country seniors run their last race}} even sending runners to the Regional and State Meets as well.
=Volleyball=
The school's high school volleyball team played its first varsity season in 2012.{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Danny |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Ann Richards volleyball team shining in first varsity season |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2012/09/28/ann-richards-volleyball-team-shining-in-first-varsity-season/9905300007/ |work=Austin American Statesman |access-date=February 26, 2025}} The team has won multiple district titles since 2012.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}
The Ann Richards School Foundation
The Ann Richards School Foundation is a non-profit organization that funds The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.{{cite web|url=http://www.annrichardsschool.org/about-the-school/ann-richards-school-foundation|title=Ann Richards School Foundation|website=The Ann Richards School|accessdate=15 July 2013}} Ann Richards' daughter, Ellen Richards, is one of the foundation's directors. The Ann Richards School Foundation held the annual "Ann Richards Birthday Bash" as a fundraiser to the Ann Richards School from 2007 to 2013.{{cite web|title=Ann Richards Foundation retires the Birthday Bash, adopts new spring fundraiser|url=http://arspolarispress.com/2440/news/ann-richards-foundation-retires-the-birthday-bash-adopts-new-spring-fundraiser/|date=13 September 2014|website=ARS Polaris Press|accessdate=3 March 2015}} In 2012, the Ann Richards Birthday Bash was held at the home of cyclist Lance Armstrong.{{cite magazine|magazine=Tribeza|date=October 2012|url=http://issuu.com/tribeza/docs/octoberissuu/24|title=Ann Richards School Birthday Bash|accessdate=3 March 2015}} In 2013 the Birthday Bash was replaced with the annual "Reach for the Stars" event held in May to celebrate the achievements of graduating seniors. The event honors notable speakers such as Brené Brown.{{cite web |url=https://www.annrichardsschool.org/reachforthestars/ |title=Annual Gala: Reach for the Stars Past Honorees and Interviews |website=annrichardsschool.org |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- Taboada, Melissa B. "[http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/ann-richards-girls-reach-the-end/nX99z/ All-girls school sends first graduating class to college]" ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105063451/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/ann-richards-girls-reach-the-end/nX99z/ |date=January 5, 2016 }}). Austin American-Statesman. Monday, June 3, 2013.
External links
{{commons category|Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders}}
- [http://annrichardsschool.org/ Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders]
- [http://annrichardsathletics.com/ Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders - Athletics]
{{Austin ISD Schools}}
{{Girls' schools in Texas}}
{{Public high schools for girls in the U.S.}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Austin Independent School District high schools
Category:Austin Independent School District schools
Category:Public middle schools in Texas
Category:Girls' schools in Texas
Category:Public girls' schools in the United States