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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.

More about this year’s winner

The 2025 Finalists

Pepin Academies
Tampa, Florida

Sustainable

School House
Long Island, New York

Transformational

WonderHere
South Carolina and Florida

Outstanding

Path of Life Learning
Yorktown, Virginia

Permissionless

2025 Yass Prize Contenders

Meet the 18 Semifinalists selected for the 2025 Yass Prize

Learn More

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.

Learn More

Yass Award for
Education Freedom, 2023

Celebrating States that Expand Education Opportunity

Learn More

Other State Initiatives

Responding in real time to policy opportunities as well as challenges.

VIEW THE Initiatives

Search for More Awardees

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Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN)

Multiple cities, WI

Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN)

Multiple cities, WI

Madrona Folk School

Grant Pass, OR

Madrona Folk School

Grant Pass, OR

MAP Academy

Plymouth, MA

MAP Academy

Plymouth, MA

Maryville Academy

Des Plaines, IL

Maryville Academy

Des Plaines, IL

Milwaukee College Prep

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee College Prep

Milwaukee, WI

MindSprout Montessori

Spring, TX

MindSprout Montessori

Spring, TX

Mission Achievement and Success Charter School

Albuquerque, NM

Mission Achievement and Success Charter School

Albuquerque, NM

Modern States Education Alliance

National

Modern States Education Alliance

National

Mountaineer Homeschool Hub

Morgantown, WV

Mountaineer Homeschool Hub

Morgantown, WV

National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators

National

National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators

National

National Microschooling Center

Las Vegas, NV

National Microschooling Center

Las Vegas, NV

New Testament Christian Academy

Milwaukee, WI

New Testament Christian Academy

Milwaukee, WI

New Way Global

Greenville, SC

New Way Global

Greenville, SC

Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies

Elizabeth City, NC

Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies

Elizabeth City, NC

Northern Cass School District

Hunter, ND

Northern Cass School District

Hunter, ND

Notre Dame School of Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI

Notre Dame School of Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI

Oakmont Education

Akron, OH

Oakmont Education

Akron, OH

Odyssey

Washington, DC

Odyssey

Washington, DC

Odyssey Charter School

Wilmington, DE

Odyssey Charter School

Wilmington, DE

Odyssey Leadership Academy

Oklahoma City, OK

Odyssey Leadership Academy

Oklahoma City, OK

Old Sturbridge Academy

Sturbridge, MA

Old Sturbridge Academy

Sturbridge, MA

One City Schools

Madison, WI

One City Schools

Madison, WI

Onward Learning

Martin, SD

Onward Learning

Martin, SD

OnYourMark

National

OnYourMark

National

Open Sky Education

National

Open Sky Education

National

Optima Academy Online

Naples, FL & National

Optima Academy Online

Naples, FL & National

Parents Challenge

Colorado Springs, CO

Parents Challenge

Colorado Springs, CO

Path of Life Learning

Yorktown, VA

Path of Life Learning

Yorktown, VA

Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship

Penn Hills, PA

Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship

Penn Hills, PA

Pepin Academies

Tampa, FL

Pepin Academies

Tampa, FL

Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools

Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools

Philadelphia, PA

Positive Tomorrows, Inc.

Oklahoma City, OK

Positive Tomorrows, Inc.

Oklahoma City, OK

Prenda

National

Prenda

National

Prichard Preparatory School

Whistler, AL

Prichard Preparatory School

Whistler, AL

Purdue Polytechnic High Schools

Indianapolis, IN

Purdue Polytechnic High Schools

Indianapolis, IN

Randolph Eastern School Corporation

Union City, IN

Randolph Eastern School Corporation

Union City, IN

Rapunzl

Chicago, IL

Rapunzl

Chicago, IL

RCMA Immokalee Community Academy

Immokalee, FL

RCMA Immokalee Community Academy

Immokalee, FL

River City Fellowship San Antonio Christian School

San Antonio, TX

River City Fellowship San Antonio Christian School

San Antonio, TX

Rock by Rock

National

Rock by Rock

National

Rural Schools Innovation Zone

Premont, TX

Rural Schools Innovation Zone

Premont, TX

SailFuture

St. Petersburg, FL

SailFuture

St. Petersburg, FL

Savannah Legacy Academy

Savannah, GA

Savannah Legacy Academy

Savannah, GA

School House

East Northport, NY

School House

East Northport, NY

School of Hope

Fayetteville, NC

School of Hope

Fayetteville, NC

Short Answer

National

Short Answer

National

Siembra Leadership High School

Albuquerque, NM

Siembra Leadership High School

Albuquerque, NM

SOAR Academy

Evans, GA

SOAR Academy

Evans, GA

Sora Schools, Inc.

National

Sora Schools, Inc.

National

Space Florida

Merritt Island, FL

Space Florida

Merritt Island, FL

Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies

Manchester, NH

Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies

Manchester, NH

Special Care

Oklahoma City, OK

Special Care

Oklahoma City, OK

St. Francis de Sales School

Philadelphia, PA

St. Francis de Sales School

Philadelphia, PA

St. George Municipal School Unit

Tenants Harbor, ME

St. George Municipal School Unit

Tenants Harbor, ME

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School

San Antonio, TX

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School

San Antonio, TX

St. Mary’s Academy

New Orleans, LA

St. Mary’s Academy

New Orleans, LA

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School

Camp Springs, MD

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School

Camp Springs, MD

Summit School

Lorena, TX

Summit School

Lorena, TX

Thales Academy

National

Thales Academy

National

The Discovery Center of Springfield

Springfield, MO

The Discovery Center of Springfield

Springfield, MO

The High School for Recording Arts

St. Paul, MN

The High School for Recording Arts

St. Paul, MN

The Innovation School

Bismarck, ND

The Innovation School

Bismarck, ND

The Lab School of Memphis

Memphis, TN

The Lab School of Memphis

Memphis, TN

The League of Young Inventors

Brooklyn, NY

The League of Young Inventors

Brooklyn, NY

The Melanin Village

National

The Melanin Village

National

The Oakland REACH

Oakland, CA

The Oakland REACH

Oakland, CA

The Oaks Academy

Indianapolis, IN

The Oaks Academy

Indianapolis, IN

Trinity School

Oklahoma City, OK

Trinity School

Oklahoma City, OK

Trivium Charter School Network

Lompoc, California

Trivium Charter School Network

Lompoc, California

Tutwiler Community Education Center

Tutwiler, MS

Tutwiler Community Education Center

Tutwiler, MS

unCommon Construction

New Orleans, LA

unCommon Construction

New Orleans, LA

Urban Preparatory Academy

Wichita, KS

Urban Preparatory Academy

Wichita, KS

UrbaNeXt

Cincinnati, OH

UrbaNeXt

Cincinnati, OH

Valiant Cross Academy

Montgomery, AL

Valiant Cross Academy

Montgomery, AL

Verdi EcoSchool

Melbourne, FL

Verdi EcoSchool

Melbourne, FL

Vertex Partnership Academies

Bronx, NY

Vertex Partnership Academies

Bronx, NY

VictoryXR

National

VictoryXR

National

Vimenti

San Juan, PR

Vimenti

San Juan, PR

West Virginia Academy

Morgantown, WV

West Virginia Academy

Morgantown, WV

Wildflower Schools

Minneapolis, MN & National

Wildflower Schools

Minneapolis, MN & National

WIN Academy at BridgeValley Community and Technical College

South Charleston, WV

WIN Academy at BridgeValley Community and Technical College

South Charleston, WV

WonderHere

Florida & South Carolina

WonderHere

Florida & South Carolina

Workshop Middle School

Brooklyn, NY

Workshop Middle School

Brooklyn, NY

Young Women’s Preparatory Network

Dallas, TX

Young Women’s Preparatory Network

Dallas, TX

Zeta Charter Schools

Bronx, NY

Zeta Charter Schools

Bronx, NY

End of Awardees

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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?

Janine Yass
Founder,
The Yass Prize

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.

Kenisha Skaggs
Founder,
SOAR Academy

The Yass Prize has significantly impacted the trajectory of our organization.

When we originally applied, we simply provided supplemental support services to homeschooling families. Now, we are growing into an education network that provides community, coaching, and curriculum nationwide.

Brenaea Fairchild
Executive Director,
Melanin Village

It might be the first time you’re speaking where everyone is actually listening and cares about what you’re doing.

I don’t think I’ve been in a room as supportive as the Yass Prize Semifinalist room in Miami.

Brian Curcio
Founder and CEO,
Rapunzl, 2022 Yass Prize Finalist

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.

Taylor Shead
Founder and CEO,
STEMuli Studios

I’m dreaming bigger, bolder, and more bodacious [because of the Yass Prize].

It has helped me raise the ceiling on what’s possible.

Keith Brooks
Founder/CEO,
National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators (NFBLME)

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.

Diana Diaz-Harrison
Founder,
Arizona Autism Charter Schools

I'm a Yass Prize finalist from last year.

And through that, we were able to open up our second campus in the city of Wichita.

Wade Moore
Founder & Dean,
Urban Preparatory Academy

Believe in your mission… Ground yourself… Never give up…

Sal Khan
Founder,
Khan Academy

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.

Dr. Steve Perry
Head of Schools,
Capital Preparatory Schools

We have a tremendously transformative model that could stand for a little disruption.

The Yass experience has given us “permission” to do exactly that.

Kelby Woodard
President & CEO,
Cristo Rey Network

Being a part of this experience has amplified the access we can give to our students in a way that nothing has, and the access is just critical.

The Yass Prize is almost like Burning Man for education reform.

Cris Gulacy-Worrel
Vice President,
Oakmont Education, 2022 Yass Prize Finalist

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