St. Mary's Academy wins $500,000 Yass Prize

By Macie Capote 
Clarion Herald

St. Mary’s Academy has been named one of the finalists for the 2024 Yass Prize, in partnership with The Center for Education Reform (CER) and Forbes Media. 

The Yass Prize, often referred to as the “Pulitzer of Education,” recognizes educational organizations and schools that exemplify Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless (STOP) education opportunities.

St. Mary’s Academy was among four finalists chosen from a pool of institutions nationwide. St. Mary’s received a $500,000 prize, which school president Pamela Rogers got to bring home after a trip to New York, where she met with a cohort of 25 education leaders.

“I am overwhelmed with excitement to represent St. Mary’s Academy and all of its students, faculty and staff on this national stage and bring home the coveted Yass Prize,” Rogers said in a press release on Sept. 13. “This journey has been two years in the making, and I am beyond proud that we are finalists this year. We were among some of the most innovative and forward-thinking educational institutions, and it was exciting to meet everyone and share the Maryite Way with them.” 

The Yass Prize, which awards a total of $7 million to its finalists and semifinalists, seeks to “find, reward, celebrate and expand best-in-class education organizations from every sector, in every state, and to create unprecedented partnerships that accelerate impact with the speed and urgency our students deserve.” 

Each semifinalist, including St. Mary’s, was awarded $200,000.

“The last few years have been so transformational for St. Mary’s Academy in ways that can only be described as a gift from God and the realization of Henriette Delille’s purpose and mission,” Rogers said. “Finding out that we were named semifinalists and then a finalist of the Yass Prize was one of the brightest days here at SMA, and this honor truly reflects who we are as a school – a place where there is no excellence without hard work and determination to keep going.” 

A legacy of excellence

According to the Yass Award’s website, St. Mary’s stood out for being founded in 1867 by the Sisters of the Holy Family – the second Black Catholic religious order in the U.S., and for its innovative approach to education. 

“(St. Mary’s Academy) provides a top-notch education that’s both challenging and uplifting for its predominantly African-American families,” the website reads. “In this vibrant all-girls environment, students excel in leadership and self-esteem. With a rich array of extracurriculars, from sports to the arts and community-service opportunities, the school ensures a well-rounded experience.”

STOP education

What also sets St. Mary’s Academy apart for the Yass Prize is its “permissionless” approach to education, allowing students to take charge of their learning. The payoff of this approach is that for more than a century, St. Mary’s Academy has had a 100% graduation rate and its students have earned millions of dollars in college scholarships.

“I can remember when we were starting the process of applying for the Yass Prize, the Permissionless principle stood out to me the most because if there was anyone who acted permissionless, it was our foundress, Henriette DeLille,” Rogers said. “She did what no one expected her to do, or even thought she had the foresight or knowledge to do, and that was care for and educate the Black and Brown communities around her.”

St. Mary’s success is further bolstered by public funding in Louisiana, which makes the school sustainable and accessible for low-income students.

“This group exemplifies the essence of the STOP principles, operating across diverse sectors and landscapes to deliver students the 21st-century quality education their parents want and they deserve to receive,” said Yass Prize founder Janine Yass in a St. Mary’s press release. “We are so proud to honor and support them.”

The future ahead

The $500,000 Yass Prize will be used to further accelerate the educational experience for current and future students at St. Mary’s Academy, including integrating innovative technology that students can use in the classroom, expanding St. Mary’s college tour program and supporting the ideas students come up with daily.

“They are always coming to me with ideas of organizations, programs and other initiatives that would make things better for them today and thinking about the next generation of St. Mary’s students,” Rogers said of her students. “This money can help bring some of those ideas to life.”

For more information on St. Mary’s Academy’s journey toward the Yass Prize, visit yassprize.org.
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