Embedded Files
WYWLA Highlights
Welcome to Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Home of the Owls!
Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy (WYWLA) was established in 2012 to provide educational opportunities for young women in a rigorous single-gender academic program. We are currently North Carolina's only all-girls school associated with a public school district. We emphasize leadership development and serve approximately 50-60 students per grade level in grades six through thirteen.
We share a beautiful campus with the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, and students in 6th through 10th grade attend all classes at this location on Ashe Avenue, which is conveniently located in central Raleigh near Pullen Park and NCSU.
Our high school program is an early college program. Starting in 11th grade, WYWLA students enroll in free college classes at Shaw University, our partner university that is located approximately one mile from campus. Students attend their high school and college classes on Shaw's campus and have the opportunity to graduate with up to two years of college credits.
Our school is a special place and we know you will feel it as soon as you enter the campus. Don't just take our word for it! US News & World Report ranked our school as one of the BEST! Our middle school program is ranked 4th in Wake County and 17th in North Carolina! Our high school program is ranked 9th in the county and 47th in the state. Additionally, our EOG and EOC test scores are top in the state, and as a certified demonstration magnet school, we have earned top honors from the Magnet Schools of America Program!
More important than credentials is the positive impact we have on our students. Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy is a learning community committed to developing young women who are ready to learn and ready to lead.
Please keep reading to learn more about daily life.
Academics
Traditions
Celebrations
Sisterhood
Courses
To be prepared for college courses starting in high school, all WYWLA students are supported to succeed on an advanced pathway.
Our typical course progression is listed below.
During middle school, all students complete an honors pathway for math courses, including 6+, 7+, and HS Math I. Students also complete HS Spanish I in 8th grade. Additionally, our middle school program runs on an A/B Day schedule with four core classes per day.
Our high school program uses a semester schedule to better align with our college partner, and students take four core classes per semester.
Daily Schedules and Calendars
We do not follow the traditional WCPSS school calendar. As a Leadership Academy, our school year is aligned with the college/university calendar. Our school year begins in early August and we finish in May. Our spring break aligns with our college partner's break.
For students in grades 6-10, our school day runs from 7:35 to 2:10.
GLC / WISE
We are a community dedicated to creating successful young women. Every decision is rooted in establishing leadership, academic, individual awareness, and social wellness for our students. Two unique classes we offer are "GLC" and "WISE".
GLC
Girls Leadership Class
Our Girls Leadership Class guides students through a meaningful journey. As sixth graders, we LEARN the foundations of leadership and self-discovery. In seventh grade, we LEAD by applying those skills and stepping into roles of influence. Eighth graders focus on we SERVE, putting leadership into action by giving back to the community. This journey culminates in high school, where students embody a powerful blend of learning, leadership, and service, preparing them to make a lasting impact on their community.
Each grade level participates in a capstone experience. For example, this year's eighth-graders will create and lead the schoolwide Women's History Month celebration.
WISE
Women Inspiring Success in Each Other
WISE time at WYWLA is an exciting journey where middle school students rotate quarterly through vibrant sessions that boost their academic journey in fun and inspiring ways. We sing, we explore, we serve, we play, we fly, we create, we grow, and we soar—bringing energy and creativity to everything we do!
As students move into high school, WISE kicks it up a notch with course-specific support, leadership opportunities through peer tutoring, and dynamic activities that supercharge both their academic skills and their growth as confident leaders and learners.
Traditions, Clubs, Sports, and Fun!
As an all-girls school, do you have...
Dances? Yes! We partner with Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy for high school prom and middle school dances.
Sports Teams? Yes! WYWLA students can try out for Oberlin Middle School and Broughton High School sports teams. We have an activity bus that drops our scholar-athletes off at practice each day. We have between 10 and 20 WYWLA student-athletes each year participating on the cheer, volleyball, soccer, softball, basketball, and track teams.
Traditions
Some of our celebrated school traditions include:
Yellow Rose Ceremony
United Nations Day of the Girl with classes, celebration, and school talent show
Women's History Month Celebration
Fall and Spring Block Parties
Arts Expo and School Play
Big Sisters / Little Sisters
Spirit Days
Student-led Conferences
Academic Award Celebrations
Clubs
WYWLA has over 15 clubs, with some only open to HS students. This year's clubs include:
Mock Trial (2nd Place in NC!)
FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Student Government (SGA)
Student Ambassadors
Science Olympiad
Run Club
Performing Arts Troupe
Innovate-HER (STEM & Entrepreneurship)
Data Science Club
Battle of the Books
Writing Club and the student newspaper (WYWLA Post)
Green Team
National Honors Society and Junior National Honors Society
Junior Civitans
Girls Leadership International
Med Pioneers
and more!
We have focused community partnerships to build leadership capacity within our students, including:
JA in a Day, in partnership with Junior Achievement, local female business leaders, and college students
ATHENA of the Triangle offers monthly mentorship, coaching, and STEM industry visits for all students in 8th - 10th grades. ATHENA is a non-profit organization founded on the deeply held belief that women can achieve a worldwide balance of leadership when they are recognized, cultivated, and encouraged as leaders.
AP Andrea Greene Flowers, AP Brooke Little, & Principal Dr. Mariah Walker
Congratulations to Dr. Mariah Walker,
🎉WCPSS 2025-2026 Principal of the Year! 🎉
Staff
We are staffed by a team of educators who are dedicated to the academic and social progress of all children. As a staff, we commit to our school’s mission and vision for every Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy student. We support, enrich, and empower each young woman to become learners and leaders in local and global environments. We prepare young women for lifelong learning through rigorous instruction.
We collaborate with our students, parents, community members, and each other to create a successful school.
We are a community dedicated to creating successful young women. Every decision is rooted in establishing leadership, academic, individual awareness, and social wellness for our students.
Ready to Lead, Ready to Learn, Ready to Serve!
Page updated
Report abuse