Pilot Schools

In 1994, Boston Public Schools designed “pilot schools” in an effort to retain teachers and students after the Massachusetts legislature passed a state chartering law in 1993. Under the pilot agreement, the BPS Superintendent delegates authority to pilot schools’ governing boards to try new and different means of improving teaching and learning in order to better serve at-risk urban students. The potential exists for the boards to informally transfer that decision-making authority to the group of teachers at the school. Some boards have done this, to varying degrees.

Schools with this arrangement

Mountain View School

Mountain View School is a progressive, learner-centered Pilot School in Southeast San Diego focused on whole-child, constructivist education. We are proud to be a high quality TK-8 public school of choice under San Diego Unified School District. At Mountain View, we are a true community of changemakers, where all children are empowered to develop the skills to become lifelong engaged …

Josiah Quincy Upper School

Josiah Quincy Upper School Mission Statement The mission of JQUS is to develop its students to be knowledgeable, productive members of a global society through an education that promotes cultural awareness, skillful use of information, personal renewal, and both individual and community path-finding for the twenty-first century. IB Mission Statement The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring …

Baldwin Hills Elementary Pilot & Gifted High Ability Magnet

School Motto: Anchored and grounded in strengths from our past, poised and ready to soar. Opening Statement of School Mission: The mission of Baldwin Hills Elementary Pilot and Gifted/High Ability Magnet, a culturally and linguistically diverse community, is to work in partnership with the children, families, and community we serve in order to provide a strong academic, ethical, and culturally …

School of Social Justice

EDUCATE Graduates of The School of Social Justice experience a unique education that is both academically rigorous and personalized. In addition to California Content State Standards and university requirements, the SSJ curriculum utilizes inquiry-based instruction and higher-level questioning and thinking. At the center of the school’s curricular design is service learning that encourages students to take ownership of their education …

The Academic Leadership Learning Community School for Advanced Studies

The ALC Vision The Academic Leadership Community (ALC) believes that a healthy intersection of rigorous academics, leadership opportunities and a nurturing community will empower our students to reach their academic and professional potential. Thus, we declare our vision and purpose to be: Providing a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum and encouraging lifelong learning, cultivating each student’s unique leadership identity, and fostering …

Ambassador School of Global Leadership

Ambassador School of Global Leadership (ASGL) is a teacher-powered LAUSD pilot school located in Los Angeles. ASGL is one of six pilot schools co-located on the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools site. The school was founded by a team of teachers in 2010. Facing teacher layoffs and leadership turnovers During their first few years, ASGL was confronted with budget shortcuts …

Ambassador School of Global Education

Our Mission: The Ambassador School of Global Education nurtures children, helping them experience success in academic and social settings with an appreciation of the various cultures, languages, and communities around the world. Our Vision: Regardless of a child’s background, cultural experiences, and family history, all children have access to educational experiences that present opportunities to excel in academic, social, and …

Los Angeles High School of the Arts

Los Angeles High School of the Arts offers rigorous classes in theatre, dance and technical theatre; provide opportunities for students to be involved in our season of dramatic performances; and create opportunities for students to observe and work with professionals in the performing arts community.

Academy of Medical Arts

The Academy of Medical Arts values interdisciplinary educational experiences, the democratic process, student voice, shared leadership, community partners, and learning that extends beyond the school walls. Teamwork is a hallmark of our culture. Staff members will regularly reflect and share ideas openly through verbal and written communication. Students will actively participate in school leadership, academic exploration, and Health Occupation Students …

ArTES (Art, Theater, and Entertainment School)

The Art, Theater, and Entertainment School (ArTES) has been granted increased autonomy by LAUSD to inspire and celebrate innovation. ArTES employs the power of technology to engage learning, and every student here has an iPad. ArTES is a school that develops meaningful relationships between students and educators, holds high expectations, values creativity and inquiry, provides support, and celebrates achievements. At …

East LA Renaissance Academy

ELARA is a Pilot School, an innovative model developed in a collaboration of LAUSD, UTLA, and the LA Small Schools Center. It is a result of LAUSD’s Public School Choice program, year one, and won its place at Torres in a public competition. The campus itself is the result of years of community activism, and ELARA’s proposal was developed in …

Social Justice Humanitas Academy

In the Social Justice Humanitas Academy, we treat each of our students as individuals, and we teach to their diverse learning needs. We prepare each and every one of our students to get to and through college, in an effort to increase their social capital. Our curriculum combines the lessons from the past, with the skills they need for their …

Boston Arts Academy

To be a true artist, one must also be a scholar. The academic curricula at Boston Arts Academy prepare a diverse community of aspiring artist-scholars to be successful in their college or professional careers and to be engaged members of a democratic society. In addition to specializing in one of five arts subject areas: visual arts, theatre, dance, instrumental music, …

Esteban Torres HS – Humanitas Academy of Art & Technology

The fundamental mission of the Humanitas Academy of Art and Technology is to be a supportive academic and artistic community that engages all students in learning in order to enable them to solve problems creatively, develop as caring human beings, and graduate with a clear plan for further study and growth.

Another Course to College

The curriculum in all academic courses is rigorous, and designed to prepare students for four-year colleges. Classes are heterogeneously grouped and the academic expectations are the same for all students. Students have the option of taking any course as an Honors course by meeting additional requirements that include additional work and/or taking additional exams or writing additional papers. ACC teachers …

Fenway High School

Teachers develop their own lesson plans, projects and materials to give students “multiple points of entry” to the curriculum. In other words, teachers use different modes of instruction e.g., lecture, project-based learning, small group discussion, individual research and writing so that every student finds a way to engage with the material.

Dr. Julian Nava Learning Academy (JNLA)

The mission of JNLA is to nurture students who are intrinsically motivated to prepare themselves for college and their future careers. By integrating relevant thematic units and real world applications through an emphasis on developing artistic talent and exploring multicultural studies, students will understand civic responsibility and the impact they can make on the global network as genuine agents of …

UCLA Community School (UCS)

UCLA Community School is an innovative K-12 learning environment that prepares all students for college, work, and civic participation. The instructional program is community-based, learner-centered, and university-assisted. Building on the strengths of the local neighborhood, the school is bilingual, bi-literate, and multi-cultural. Parents and community members are integral members of the school and their funds of knowledge help shape the …

Boston Teachers Union School

The BTU School teaches a broad curriculum, with a focus on integrated, thematic units. Students receive instruction in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, Spanish language, the arts, and physical education.