Youth Leadership Academy

698 Concord Church Road
Pickens, SC 29671

Charter School 287 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

The **Youth Leadership Academy (YLA)**, located in Pickens, South Carolina, is an alternative educational program operated by the School District of Pickens County. It is designed to provide a structured, supportive environment for students who may be struggling in a traditional high school setting. The academy focuses on helping students earn necessary course credits while addressing behavioral or academic challenges, aiming to get them back on track for graduation through a more individualized approach to learning.

Beyond core academics, the academy emphasizes character development, personal responsibility, and leadership skills. By maintaining a smaller student-to-teacher ratio, the program allows for closer mentorship and targeted interventions tailored to each student's specific needs. The ultimate goal of the Youth Leadership Academy is to empower students to overcome obstacles, foster a positive school culture, and provide them with the tools and discipline required to succeed both academically and in their future professional lives.

287

Total Students

19.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Youth Leadership Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	260
Hispanic	15
Black	5
Asian	2
Two or More	5

White
260 (90.6 %)
Hispanic
15 (5.2 %)
Black
5 (1.7 %)
Two or More
5 (1.7 %)
Asian
2 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	SC Public Charter School District
Phone:	(864)898-4511
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	287
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the 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 6 97

Grade 7 97

Grade 8 93