The school opened in August, 2011 for the 6th and 9th grades, and will gradually become a middle and high school. It first opened in the E.O. Smith Education Center campus in the Fifth Ward. The district modeled the school off of the Chicago Urban Prep Academy in Chicago. The school has admission requirements.Mellon, Ericka. "HISD board OKs creation of a school just for boys." Houston Chronicle. December 10, 2010. Retrieved on May 23, 2011. It later moved to the former Crawford Elementary School,"School Information." Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men. Retrieved on January 23, 2015. "1510 Jensen Dr Houston, TX 77020 HISD Rt 2.""Home." Crawford Elementary School. December 13, 2005. Retrieved on January 23, 2015. "1510 Jensen, Houston, Texas 77020"Mellon, Ericka. "Judge puts demolition of old Wheatley building on hold pending trial." Houston Chronicle. August 24, 2014. Retrieved on January 23, 2015. "The all-boys school is now housed in the old Crawford Elementary on Jensen Street." in both the Fifth Ward and in Northside."gnmd_map.pdf." Greater Northside Management District. Retrieved on November 11, 2009.
