About Los Angeles Leadership Academy
Our Mission
The Los Angeles Leadership Academy prepares
urban secondary students to succeed in college or on
chosen career paths, to live fulfilling, self-directed
lives, and to be effective in creating a just and humane
world.
High-powered,
performance-based assessment, and an integrated curriculum
promote critical thinking and intellectual depth, breadth,
and agility. Close relationships between students and
staff and attention to students' individual needs and
interests promote a community of well-rounded learners.
Students have opportunities to take action
on important social issues, to work alongside community
mentors, and to enhance the learning power of these
experiences through reflection and skill development
in the classroom.
Academy Mandala
Words
Community |
We are able and willing
to express our ideas, beliefs and feelings; to hear
and respect the same from others. |
Empowerment |
We claim our power to
define ourselves and to struggle for liberty. |
Well-Being |
We nurture our minds,
bodies and spirits by practicing healthy habits. |
Creator |
We express our uniqueness,
imagine new possibilities, shape ourselves and impact
the world. |
Love |
We care deeply about
ourselves and others, and express this through our
actions. |
Integrity |
We have the strength
and self-confidence to act in accordance with our
beliefs. |
Inquiry |
We constantly seek understanding
by asking questions of ourselves and of the world
around us. |
Scholars |
We are critical thinkers
engaged in a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. |
Activists |
We envision a just and
humane world, strive to make it real, and inspire
others to do the same. |
Courage |
We have the strength
to recognize and challenge our fears. |
School Overview
The Los Angeles Leadership Academy opened
in September 2002 with 120 students in grades six and
seven. Currently, in our seventh year of operation, we
serve over 400 students in grades 6-12. When
students meet the gateway requirements at the middle school, they may transfer to the high school. We will continue to expand
by adding one grade per year to eventually serve 455
students in grades 6-12. The middle school is housed in the
education building of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church
on Wilshire Boulevard, three blocks west of Vermont
Avenue, but is moving to a permanent site closer to
the High School soon. The high school is located at 234
E Avenue 33 in Los Angeles.
LA Leadership is a neighborhood school,
though we do outreach to achieve ethnic diversity in the
student body. 74% of our students are Latino, 15% are
African American, 9% are Asian American or Pacific
Islander, and 2% are White. The majority of our students
speak a language other than English at home. Of those,
90% qualify for the federal Free or Reduced Meal
program.
The Los Angeles Leadership Academy aims
to inspire a love of learning in the students who are
often overlooked in large urban schools, and seeks to:
- Prepare students to succeed in college
or on their chosen career paths;
- Promote students' healthy personal
development in an environment that prioritizes strong
relationships and active participation in school and
community life; and
- Build a cadre of young leaders taking
action to advance their visions for a just and humane
world.
The academic program emphasizes critical
thought, sophistication in reading and writing, application
of learning in real-world contexts, reflection, and
cooperative learning. Through critical inquiry and community
action projects, students examine important social issues,
develop a personal philosophy and vision, and act as
thoughtful, effective community leaders.
In grades six through eight, reading and
writing are a focus across the curriculum to ensure
that all students are equipped to succeed in a demanding
academic program. Students' progress is demonstrated
in portfolios and exhibitions and evaluated using school-wide
rubrics rather than relying on testing alone.
As students move
into high school, there is a strong focus on
standards-based instruction along with college
preparatory coursework. Internships and community
mentor programs are also made available. The curriculum
meets state standards and University of California
admission requirements and College Board guidelines.
Through advisory classes and other courses, students
will examine social issues such as immigration, criminal
justice, ethnic relations, labor issues, and the
environment through the lenses of history, civics,
literature, science, statistics, and demography.
Graduates of Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School
boast acceptances and scholarships to top private and
public universities across the United States, as well as
local University of California and Cal States schools
Faculty and administrative staff at the
school each have the role of advisor for a group of
11-12 students, following the students for two to four
years. This relationship is critical to assuring that
each child's needs and interests and challenge areas
are known and addressed by the school. Parents, advisors
and students will meet at least twice a year to discuss
the students' progress and goals in a student-led conference.
Like many of the nation's most innovative and successful
small schools, the Los Angeles Leadership Academy will
follow the organization principles of the Coalition
of Essential Schools.
The school's charter petition was approved
by the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education in March
of 2002. Before the school opened its doors to students
in September of 2002, teachers, parents, students and
community partners developed a detailed school design
in keeping with the school's mission and vision. The
process reflected a commitment to democratic governance,
and began the creation of a school culture that values
the perspectives and talents of a diverse group of stakeholders.
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