YCCS West

Charter School 80 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

**YCCS-Westside Holistic Leadership Academy (WHLA)** is a specialized campus within the Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) network, located in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Serving students who have often faced challenges in traditional high school settings—such as credit deficiency, truancy, or personal obstacles—the school operates as an "options" school. Its primary mission is to re-engage these students, providing them with a flexible, supportive environment designed to help them earn their high school diploma and prepare for life after graduation.

The "holistic" approach mentioned in the school's name is central to its identity. Beyond standard academics, the academy places a heavy emphasis on social-emotional learning, mentorship, and wraparound support services. By addressing the personal, social, and developmental needs of its students, WHLA aims to cultivate leadership skills and foster a sense of community responsibility. The school functions as a critical bridge for at-risk youth, aiming to turn academic setbacks into pathways for college enrollment, vocational training, or career development.

Total Students

2.0

Full-Time Teachers

40.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for YCCS West
Demographic	Student Count
White	1
Hispanic	14
Black	65

Black
65 (81.2%)
Hispanic
14 (17.5%)
White
1 (1.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
Phone:	(773)261-0994
Website:	http://yccs.us/
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	80
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	2.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	40.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 10 36

Grade 11 40

Grade 12 4

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for YCCS West
Grade	Student Count
Grade 10	36
Grade 11	40
Grade 12	4

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for YCCS West
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	38	47.5%
Male	42	52.5%

Nearby High Schools (Within 10 Miles)