Los Angeles Unified School District / Pilots

In 2007, the United Teachers of Los Angeles and the surrounding community launched the Belmont Zone of Choice, modeled after Boston Pilot Schools. After initial success, UTLA “overwhelmingly” voted to expand the number of schools in 2009. In 2010 a new Kennedy Zone of Choice emerged and in 2013 a third option opened in the Sotomayor Zone of Choice. In 2015, there are now 18 Zones of Choice that house small school options for students including 50 plus pilot schools in Los Angeles. Some of these pilot schools have chosen to have teacher-powered school governance structures and are part of our Los Angeles Teacher-Powered Network listed below. We estimate approximately 40 pilot schools have some degree of teacher-powered governance.

Individual schools in this group include:

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]