About
"At TYWLS, students do not let their sisters fail, it is cool to be smart and hardworking, and young women believe anything is possible."
BerniceTYWLS Class of 2011Smith College, Class of 2015 By the Numbers
- Enrollment: 500
- Serves Grades 6-12
- Student Attendance: 96%
- Teacher Attendance: 97%
- 98-100% Graduation Rate
- 100% College Acceptance
- $25,000+ in college financial aid per student
- 96% student attendance rate
- 100% pass rate in all regents required for graduation
About Us
The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem (TYWLS) opened in 1996 as the first school in a national network of excellent all-girls college prep schools. TYWLS nurtures the intellectual curiosity and creativity of young women by supporting the 'whole girl' in order to maximize academic achievement, social emotional well-being, and post-secondary success.
Our school is guided by teachers and staff dedicated to creating a supportive and academically challenging environment, investing in each girl's potential to achieve high standards in every area including math, science, and technology. We have a very supportive school culture that includes daily advisory, after-school academic tutoring, and regular contact with parents. Our students have opportunities for challenging work both in the classroom and through partnerships with many outside organizations. The Student Leadership Network supports TYWLS with a wide range of programs to help prepare our students for leadership in their communities.
TYWLS is also supported by the CollegeBound Initiative (CBI), which promotes college access and financial aid options for every student. We have a full-time CBI college counselor on staff who guides students and parents through the process of visiting and choosing colleges, applying to college, and applying for financial aid. Since its inception, TYWLS has been extremely successful, with near perfect graduation and college acceptance rates.
Advanced Placement Courses
AP US History
AP Government and Politics
AP Statistics
AP Calculus
AP English Literature
AP Biology
AP Spanish Language
Accelerated Courses
8th Grade Math
Physics
Chemistry
Activities
Art Club
Columbia Piermont Marsh Summer Research Program
Community Service Club
Model U.N.
Open Doors, Theater Development Fund
Orchestra
Love Heals (Health/Relationship Education)
Robotics Club
Step-Up, Women's Network
Social Justice Club
Community Service
- Common Pantry
- Habitat for Humanity
- READ Alliance
- Special Olympics
- Sweet Readers
Sports
East Harlem Pride
Golf
Running
Soccer
Yoga
Basketball
Volleyball
Flag Football
Softball
Notable Guest Speakers
- Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for girls’ education
- Queen Rania of Jordan, advocate for girls’ education
- Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General
- Irshad Manji, Women’s Rights Activist
- Dr. Yvonne Thornton, celebrated obstetrics specialist
- Melissa Mark-Viverito, Speaker of City Counsel and City Councilwoman
- Honors student Nene S. interviewed Michelle Obama
- TYWLS students were featured in Starbucks Teavana commercial with Oprah Winfrey
Notable Student Opportunities
- The 100th screening of "The Empowerment Project" was shown at TYWLS; students were featured in ABC news interview about the documentary
- TYWLS seniors participated in UBS panel discussion