Mission
The New Los Angeles Charter School develops a diverse community of students who are passionate about learning, engaged in their community, and have respect for themselves and others.
Vision
The aim of the New Los Angeles Charter School (New LA) is to cultivate future civic leaders through rigorous project-based learning and hands-on commitment to social justice, teaching students skills that will enable them to thrive and ensure advanced academic success. The school will nurture and train students who understand how to work together to solve problems, changing their own lives as they change the community around them.
Located in the Carthay area of Los Angeles, the heart of a diverse city, New LA will serve a total of 200 students in grades 6-8. With small classes, a diverse student body, and attentive teachers, New LA will be a nurturing standards-based school. New LA will have a rigorous curriculum, foster respect for human life, and provide relevant life experiences. The culture of the school will create a shared sense of mission, one that reinforces in our students a love of learning, a commitment to social action, and a deep respect for others.
Passion for Learning
New LA keyword: Rigor. Middle school is the gateway to future academic success. At New LA, every student will receive the academic foundation to be prepared for a college preparatory high school. Rigorous intellectual development comes from a focus on habits of mind and not merely information retention. Students will demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills by working together on real-life projects rather than test-taking alone. New LA will implement an effective model of rigorous standards-based instruction, through which all students will achieve mastery of California state content standards by the end of each grade level.
Engagement in the Community
New LA keyword: Relevance. At New LA, we believe, as John Dewey did, that “education is the fundamental method of social progress.” New LA students will be challenged to pursue the goals of equality and justice, and will work to promote progress in their local and global communities. They will be taught to use their knowledge and skills to work for a just, equitable, compassionate world. Learning will be connected to real life experiences. Students will be volunteers and interns, gaining valuable experience in social action and in work. This will lead to a deeply embedded feeling in every student that adolescents have the power to change the world.
Respect for Self and Others
New LA keywords: Respect and Relationships. In order for students to grow academically, creatively, and morally, they need a safe space to take risks. New LA will encourage vigorous debate and expression of individual voice, but through the use of active listening and conflict resolution techniques. The school will use project-based learning and thematic integration at strategic points in the curriculum to develop youth who have the skills, knowledge, and resources to work with diverse groups of people in order to lead their communities towards social justice. New LA students will participate in a structured Advisory program in order to develop a deep sense of trust in themselves, the strength and courage to succeed at life’s challenges, and the skills necessary to confidently pursue future academic and career aspirations.
At New Los Angeles Charter School…
There will be active, curious students engaged in rigorous academics. New LA students and teachers will be committed to local and global change through engagement in the community. There will often be multi-ability groups working in teams to solve problems and learn collaboratively. Students will meet with teacher advisors in small groups and one-on-one settings, discussing current events, community involvement, time-management, goal-setting, and participating in book clubs. New LA students will be assessed through test scores, portfolio presentations, and group project assessment. Project-based learning will be employed throughout the curriculum when appropriate, where students actively learn while they work on real-life problems and projects. Students will be involved in a curriculum that values work internships, on-the-job responsibility, community service, and outdoor education. Therefore, learning will also take place outside of the classroom and in the community. At New LA, teachers, parents and students will work together, encouraging teamwork and fostering mutual respect and dignity.