Awards
Awards
The 2025 Yass Prize Winner!
Chesterton School Network
Chesterton Schools Network stands out as the 2025 Yass Prize winner because it embodies all four STOP principles at once. Its model is sustainable, allowing parents to open affordable, high-quality classical high schools in education-freedom states; transformational, restoring joy, deep thinking, and character formation through a content-rich, tech-free environment; outstanding, producing remarkable academic, social, and spiritual outcomes for students nationwide; and permissionless, enabling families to found accredited schools in as little as 18 months. Chesterton proves that when parents are trusted and equipped, exceptional schools can flourish anywhere. And the network is on pace to reach 150 schools by 2030 and 1,000 schools by 2040.
Meet the Texas Education Freedom Award Winners
Yass Prize alumni were awarded funding to position them to launch or expand innovative school models in 2026—meeting the needs of even more Texas students.
Yass Award for
Education Freedom, 2023
Celebrating States that Expand Education Opportunity
Other State Initiatives
Responding in real time to policy opportunities as well as challenges.
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Airborne Christian Academy
Martinsburg, WV
Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School
Bessemer, AL
AloeVR
National
American High School
National
An Achievable Dream
Newport News and Virginia Beach, VA
Archimedean Schools
Miami, FL
Arizona Autism Charter Schools
Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools
North Little Rock, AR
ASU Preparatory Global
Tempe, AZ
Atlanta Unbound
Atlanta, GA
Atlas Public Schools
St. Louis, MO
Aurora Science and Tech High School
Aurora, CO
Austin Achieve Public Schools
Austin, TX
Be More Colorful
Fargo, ND & National
Beyond Excellence Academy of STEAM
Nashville, TN
Big Picture Learning Company
National
Bill of Rights Institute
National
Black Mothers Forum
Phoenix, AZ
Black Pastors United for Education
Harrisburg, PA
Bob Hope Schools
Port Arthur, TX
Boddle Learning
National
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
San Diego, CA
Bridgeway Academy
Columbus, OH
Brilla Public Charter Schools – Paterson
Paterson, NJ
Brooklyn STEAM Center
Brooklyn, NY
Brookstone School
Charlotte, NC
Brothers Liberating our Communities
Kansas City, MO
Build UP
Birmingham, AL
Burbrella Learning Academy
Burlington, NC
Café Momentum
National
Capital Prep Schools
Bridgeport, CT
CARE Elementary School
Miami, FL
Career Academy of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL
Catalyst Academy Public Charter School
Pittsburgh, PA
Center for Creative Education
West Palm Beach, FL
Charleston Classical School
North Charleston, SC
Chesapeake Bay Academy
Virginia Beach, VA
Chesterton Schools Network
National
Chickasaw City Schools
Chickasaw, AL
City on a Hill Christian Academy
Fairmont, WV
ClassBank
National
Coded by Kids
Philadelphia, PA
Colēgia, by Academica
Miami, FL
Coleman A. Young II Educational Foundation
Detroit, MI
College Achieve Public Charter Schools (CAPS)
Tinton Falls, NJ
Colossal Academy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Comp Sci High
Bronx, NY
CREATE Conservatory
Mount Dora, FL
Cristo Rey Network
National
Da Vinci RISE High
El Segundo, CA
Dallas Education Foundation
Dallas, TX
Delta Streets Ministries
Greenwood, MS
Detroit Achievement Academy
Detroit, MI
Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy
Milwaukee, WI
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Public Charter School
Kapolei, HI
Dreams Academy International
Akron, OH
Durham Charter School
Durham, NC
Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School
New York, NY
Ecclesial Schools Initiative
Oviedo, FL
Edily
San Francisco, CA
Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute
Cleveland, OH
Empower Community High School
Aurora, CO
Engaged Detroit
Detroit, MI
Esperanza Academy Charter School
Philadelphia, PA
Expert IEP
National
Families Empowered
Houston, TX
Father Judge High School
Philadelphia, PA
Franklin Regional School District
Murrysville, PA
Freedom Institute of Collier County
Naples, FL
Freedom Preparatory Academy
Memphis, TN
Friendship Public Charter School
Washington, DC
Fugees Family, Inc.
National
Full STEAM Forward
National
G-Star School of the Arts, Inc
West Palm Beach, FL
Gem Innovation Schools of Idaho
Deary, ID
Gentlemen’s League
Memphis, TN
GlobalED Solutions, Inc/PBC
Pueblo, CO
Goodwill Excel Center
Memphis, TN
Gordon Bernell Charter School
Albuquerque, NM
Great Hearts America Microschools
Phoenix, AZ
Great Oaks Foundation
New York, NY
GuidEd
Tampa, FL
Heritage Academy Public Charter School
Jerome, ID
Herring Gut Coastal Science Center
Port Clyde, ME
HOPE Ranch Learning Academy
Hudson, FL
I Dream Public Charter School
Washington, DC
Indi-ED
St. Petersburg, FL
Jackson Hole Classical Academy
Jackson, WY
Jumoke Academy Charter School
Hartford, CT
Kaimuki Middle School
Honolulu, HI
KaiPod Learning
Boston, MA
Kairos Academies
St. Louis, MO
Kind Academy
Coral Springs, FL
Lab51 – One Stone
Boise, Idaho
Lancaster Science Factory
Lancaster, PA
Latitude Learning Resources
Derry, NH
Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School
Brooklyn, NY
Leaders to Legends
Omaha, NE
Leading Little Arrows
Arlington, TX
Learning Center for the Deaf
Framingham, MA
End of Awardees
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Having the status of Yass Prize Semifinalist has opened doors that we’ve been knocking on for years,
including public recognition from our Governor and partnership conversations with other education innovators from around the country.
If you're committed to wanting to be one of the change makers of the future in education, I believe that this is a place for you.
Not only because of the capital, but because of the knowledge that comes by communing with the diverse group of people as opposed to everybody that thinks the exact same way that you might think.
I’m dreaming bigger, bolder, and more bodacious [because of the Yass Prize].
It has helped me raise the ceiling on what’s possible.
Believe in your mission… Ground yourself… Never give up…
When we follow the money, it’s ludicrous how this country is getting away with funding education.
The funding is not following children. We're trying to make better options for kids, for poor kids, middle class kids. Wealthy people have this choice, they opt out of their systems easily, why shouldn't all children have that choice?
Being a part of the [Yass] family confirmed that what I'm doing is right,
going against the common core and focusing on what we know is important for kids really works, and having a network of people now that also agree was super huge.
There is absolutely zero downside to being a part of this network by submitting your application and what you will encounter is unlike any other grant.
It's actually mind blowing. I really see myself as an education entrepreneur, but this expanded me.
The foundation of any society is a good education.
Yass brought us together, creating opportunities to create an educational universe within which we can look at education differently…
we have to find academic experiences that represent neuro-divergent learners, kids who want to learn about gaming, who want to do stuff online, who dropped out of school.
The Yass Prize process has created an awareness of the education freedom movement within churches and communities.
It's given us an opportunity to start critical discussions with our congregations, parents, community leaders and members, about the laws that govern education in Pennsylvania.
The Yass Prize has brought together such diverse leaders
from all different demographics, all different states, all different service provider types that you can learn from.
The Yass Prize is centered around ensuring that this [program] provides you a stepping stone...
We don’t want you to rinse, wash, repeat. We want you to build and sustain.