In August 2012, Young Men’s Leadership Academy (YMLA) opened its doors as an innovative school aimed at preparing young men to succeed in college and take their place as responsible leaders of our global society. They graduated their first class in 2018. All “scholars” have been accepted to a four-year college and earned a collective $7.5 million dollars in scholarships. There is a strong community at YMLA, they call it a brotherhood, where every teacher and every student roots for the brother next to him. Relationships are both about understanding and supporting as well as holding each other accountable to the high standard set. The curriculum is challenging and hands- on. All students take Latin and participate in STEAM curriculum through Project Lead the Way. The courses spiral and scaffold learning in a project-based learning environment. Students also participate in interdisciplinary and cross curricular projects designed to help them learn about themselves and the content. College is not just an aspiration, but something consciously worked toward whether it be scholars telling visitors the college they will attend, building their Career Cruiser portfolio or attending college fairs and writing about what they learned pertaining to their future plans.