New Fort Worth boys' academy stresses ties that bind

By Jessamy Brown

jessamybrown@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH--At the new Young Men's Leadership Academy in Fort Worth, students will have mandatory Latin class, required community service and daily assemblies.

But the first lesson the boys learned at Brotherhood camp this week at the new campus was how to tie a necktie.

"When I got home the first day, I practiced doing it," said Philip Kirkland, 12, a seventh grader. "I can do the four-in-one knot and half Windsor but I can't do the full Windsor. So I am going to have to practice some more, I guess."

When the Young Men's Leadership Academy starts classes on August 27, it joins a handful of all-boys public schools in Texas. Grand Prairie school district is opening separate all-boys and all-girls academies this month. Last fall, Dallas opened an all-boys campus and Houston opened separate all-boys and all-girls schools.

While how each school is organized is different, officials say the goal is prepare students for college by keeping them engaged in a rigorous curriculum that is free from the distraction of having girls in the classroom.

In Fort Worth, 150 sixth and seventh grade boys are enrolled in the academy at the former Dunbar Sixth Grade Center. Plans are to add one grade level each year until the first seniors graduate in 2018. The school district's Young Women's Leadership Academy opened in 2010 and will add a ninth grade this year.

Having PRIDE

Admissions to the all-boys campus was open to students from across the district and was not limited to top-performing students, said Robert Ray, Fort Worth schools deputy superintendent for program efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.

"We didn't cherry pick in terms of choosing our students. We wanted students who desire to go to college and who desire to impact society," Ray said. "This is about young men fulfilling their destiny as leaders, fulfilling their potential."

To get into the boys academy, students had to submit test scores, two teacher recommendations and an essay. And they had to have a 70 percent semester grade-point average in their core classes and regular school attendance.

Each morning, students will gather in the auditorium for a Conventus Fratrum, a meeting of the brothers' ceremony, to recite the student creed -- they'll learn it in Latin, too -- check dress code compliance and learn about college and leadership.

Boys will sit with classmates in their "PRIDE," groups of about 37 boys that will stick together during the year for team building academic activities and mutual support Students can earn merit points for their pride through competitions and good conduct. It's similar to the British school house system depicted in the Harry Potter book series.

PRIDE stands for Perseverance, Resilience, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence. The "p" originally was for "poise," but it was changed because some thought it too girly, said Principal Rodney White."The reason I liked poise is 'Poised for college.' 'Poised for great things to come.' But I do like the perseverance better," White said.

Clarence Smith, 12, is in the Chiune Sugihara PRIDE, named for a Japanese diplomat who helped Jewish refugees escape from Europe at the start of World War II. Clarence's sister attends the Young Women's Leadership Academy and he jumped at the chance to have a similar experience.

"It's going to be pretty okay without girls," said Clarence, who wants to become a Wall Street investment banker. "I have a lot of friends who have taught me to be a better scholar. They're all girls. The boys usually goof off. But the boys here (at YMLA) have more sense."

Extended application

The academy program was the subject of controversy in early 2011 after some parents expressed concern that the academy would not benefit the students most at risk of dropping out. Those concerns have largely dissipated, said Fort Worth schools trustee Christene Moss.

"After they heard all of the positive things about it they became supportive because they saw how it will benefit the young men in the Stop Six community and across the Fort Worth ISD," Moss said.

The application period was extended after only 40 students applied for the sixth grade and 17 for the seventh grade. White said he visited youngsters and their parents to generate interest in the school. Enrollment later hit capacity of 75 students for each grade and now there is a waiting list, White said. This article contains information from the Star-Telegram archives.

Jessamy Brown, 817-390-7326

Twitter: @jessamybrown

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