Yellowstone Academy

Yellowstone Academy is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian, private school in the Third Ward, Houston, Texas. It was established to educate low-income African-American children in the Third Ward area, and it is one of three Houston area private schools aimed at low income families. It occupies several buildings, including the former Frederick Douglass Elementary School.

The non-profit organization Yellowstone Academy opened in July 2001. After the board of directors was established, the board hired Kim Hansen as the executive director. The board asked her to travel to twelve inner city private schools across the United States to observe their practices. The school opened in August 2002, within leased facilities in the Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The school had an initial enrollment of 64 students, all three- and four-year-olds who lived in the Third Ward.

In August 2003, the school moved into the City of Refuge Church. Rufus and Jacqueline Smith, the pastor and his wife, assisted in recruiting students. The school did not conduct a lot of advertising or recruiting, but the school became popular. As of 2006, it had a waiting list of over 300 students, and it intended to have a maximum capacity of 352 students in grades kindergarten through 8. In 2006 it agreed to purchase the Douglass Elementary School building, a former public school facility, from the Houston Independent School District. The school's bid on the building for $1.9 million ($2257230.11 when adjusted for inflation) was above bids from other groups, such as KIPP.

The school opened a capital campaign so it does not have to take out loans to purchase the building. The school had a goal of $11.5 million ($13662182.24 when adjusted for inflation). It received $1 million ($1188015.85 when adjusted for inflation) from Jack S. Blanton and the Brown Foundation. Robert Rowling, an entrepreneur from Dallas, gave another $1 million to the school. With 85% of the targeted level of funds, the school acquired Douglass and a .7-acre (0.28 ha) plot of land at 2813 Sauer Street, adjacent to Douglass. On the Sauer property it constructed the Jack Blanton Community Center. The school took possession of the Douglass property in June 2006. Ultimately the capital campaign netted $12 million ($14256190.16 when adjusted for inflation), and it was able to acquire land for ball fields.

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