About Us
Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success
Founded in 1996, the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success (RYSS) was one of the first open-enrollment charter schools approved by the Texas State Board of Education. By establishing RYSS, Tejano Center for Community Concerns worked to provide a college preparatory educational experience for children of the center’s surrounding neighborhoods in southeast Houston. Today, RYSS continues its commitment to the success of every student, regardless of his/her academic or economic background, by offering a superior college preparatory experience, with the goal of having every student enter and graduate from a four-year university.
Since our modest beginnings in a small rental facility with an enrollment of 100 students, we have successfully expanded our operation and our reach to a combined enrollment to more than 1,500 at our eight campuses.
- BRYSS Academy (Brownsville, Grades PreK 3 - 10)
- Leonel Castillo STEM Early Childhood Academy (Houston, PreK 3 - Kinder)
- PSTEM Academy (Houston, Grades PreK 3 - 5)
- North East STEM Academy (Houston, Grades 6 - 8)
- Early College STEM Academy (Houston, Grades 6 - 8)
- Early College T-STEM Academy (Houston, Grades 9 -12)
- RYSS STEM Academy at Pasadena (Pasadena, Grades PreK 3 - 6th)
- RYSS Early Childhood Academy at OST (Houston, Grades PreK 3 - Kinder)
RYSS is a proud member of both the Houston, Pasadena, and Brownsville communities, working alongside our parent organization — Tejano Center — to ensure effective teaching and learning for all students within an intergenerational model, nurturing lifelong learners, empowering families, and transforming lives.
Mission & Vision
The Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success (RYSS) mission, vision and values statements reflect the belief that our schools should go beyond the traditional model. RYSS must, instead, be a place that focuses, not only excellent academics, but also on meeting the needs of the whole student, the family, and the community. It is our belief that through an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, and community engagement, RYSS will have a long-lasting impact on our surrounding community and the community-at-large.
RYSS MISSION
We the faculty, staff, family, and community of Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success, have committed ourselves to providing and obtaining the highest standard of education in a culturally relevant setting.
The pursuit of excellence is aimed at developing self-respect and pride among our students. Our ultimate goal is for them to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners.
RYSS VISION
RYSS will be the gold standard for excellence in community-based education by graduating college-bound, civic-oriented leaders.
RYSS VALUES
“I CARE”
Integrity- Doing the right thing by being trustworthy, fair, honest and ethical.
Citizenship –Committing to serve and fulfilling individual and organizational responsibilities through service to others.
Achievement – Recognizing and rewarding personal responsibility, outstanding performance and setting high expectations.
Respect- Considering the needs of one another, recognizing others’ differences, and always assuming positive intent.
Empowerment – Developing leadership in our faculty, staff, students, and parents and recognize their voices to effect change.