One component is Yellowstone Academy, a non-profit,[1] non-denominational Christian,[2] private school, which includes pre-kindergarten to grade 5.

The other component is a charter school, Yellowstone College Prep, which covers secondary grades (6-12).

The board asked her to travel to twelve inner city private schools across the United States to observe their practices.

The school opened in August 2002, within leased facilities in the Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

[5] Ultimately the capital campaign netted $12 million ($18717068.34 when adjusted for inflation), and it was able to acquire land for ball fields.

[10] Specifically the school intends to serve students who live in households making no more than half of the poverty line.

[2] The Houston Business Journal said that the new location was a "perfect fit" for the school since its mission was to educate low income inner city students.

[11][12] In spring 2005 Douglass Elementary had 274 students and had faced a 26 percent decline in enrollment in a five-year period leading to 2005.

[12] The HISD board voted 6–1 to lease Douglass to the KIPP program for one year, so the Katrina school could operate.

[6] The 10,700-square-foot (990 m2) Jack Blanton Community Center is located on a .7-acre (0.28 ha) plot of land at 2813 Sauer Street, adjacent to the main school.

The developer installed an HVAC system that met the most current energy code requirements.

In 2002, when the school first started, it was unable to implement a color-coded discipline system because the students did not know the names of the colors.

[2] Yellowstone charges tuition rates which differ depending on each family's income and spending habits.

The school says that it charges the fee, described by Jennifer Radcliffe of the Houston Chronicle as "nominal," so students could approach their studies seriously.

Teachers have operated carpools and lent gasoline cards to ensure that students continue to attend Yellowstone while they experience times of financial difficulty.

[2] Most of Yellowstone's budget consists of private funds originating from churches, corporations, foundations, and individuals.