Welcome to Larchmont Charter School!  Our school opened its doors in the fall of 2005 with 140 children in grades K-2, and has grown by one grade each year since then.  In Fall 2009 we are thrilled to have 450 students enrolled grades K-6.    Larchmont Charter School (LCS) is a parent-initiated, tuition-free and non-sectarian public elementary school of LAUSD.  We offer a project- and inquiry-based, experienced-centered curriculum to serve our culturally rich and diverse population of students. Admission is determined by annual lottery, which is open to all children in California.

Currently we lease and share space with Hollygrove Children and Family Services in Hollywood for grades 2-6, and St. Ambrose Church in West Hollywood for our primary center, grades K and 1.  Both campuses boast extraordinary facilities. Our Hollygrove campus is on more than three acres, with outdoor basketball, a covered play area, two gardens, a soccer field and shaded swimming pool. Our St. Ambrose campus also has an outdoor play area and garden as well as an auditorium. 

Classrooms are well designed, cheerful learning environments suitable for students to break into smaller groups as part of the constructivist model.  Both campuses host a weekly Morning Sing to which families and our larger community are invited. We maintain a low student/teacher ratio (22 students per class in grades K-5 and 28 students in grade 6)  with one teacher and one highly qualified teacher’s aide in every classroom. A credentialed teacher is on the yard at all times.

LCS features multi-age classes and differentiated instruction, which tailors instruction to the full spectrum of educational needs. All LCS students receive instruction in art, music, dance or P.E. each day. We offer an outstanding gardening program that integrates real-life experience with science studies and we are the proud recipients of the prestigious Edible School Yard affiliation from Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Foundation. Our hot lunch program, available to all students and free or reduced in price for those who qualify, features locally grown and organic foods prepared by an on-site chef. 

Libraries at both our campuses were created by parent volunteers and feature thousands of books and programs for all ages. After-school care and classes are provided for reasonable fees, with financial assistance for families whose means require it.  This year, LCS has been selected as a site for the Youth Policy Institute’s After School Program, which has enabled us to expand our after-school offerings. For the 2008-09 school year, our state test scores were 889 API, making LCS one of the top 10 highest performing charter elementary schools in LAUSD and qualifying us for a second year to be invited to apply for the California Distinguished School designation.

Our Community
Larchmont Charter students are over 40% non-white and nearly 30% of our families are eligible to receive free/reduced-price lunch, which is a federal designation for economically disadvantaged families. Twelve different languages are spoken within our community.

Volunteerism is a cornerstone of our school culture. Parents are strongly encouraged, per our charter, to volunteer 50 hours per year at LCS. Families with 2 or more children enrolled are encouraged to volunteer 75 hours and participate in fundraising activities to the extent of their ability. Parents head up committees and help in classrooms, on the field, at events, in the office and in the libraries. LCS is on sound financial footing, despite having to make up an annual shortfall of $1800 per student -- the difference between our budget and public funding. Last year, through fundraising activities and our annual pledge drive, we raised more than $700,000 from our parent community.

With guidance from our school leadership, we reach into the wider business and political community to aid in our fundraising and connect us more closely to our city.

Background
Larchmont Charter was founded by a group of families who were inspired to create an exceptional public school. A charter school model allowed them to work with respected educators to develop a constructivist curriculum without the constraints of some LAUSD regulations. The goal was to:

• Use proven educational methods to help children learn how to learn, building upon their own knowledge and experience, and, in the process, master all required academic subjects. Students learn and retain more through this constructivist approach, which emphasizes understanding concepts over traditional methods of rote learning.
• Integrate the arts and physical education as a necessary part of education.
• Reflect in the student body the social richness of their own neighborhood, which is racially, culturally and socio-economically diverse.
• Build a vital community of students, teachers, staff, families and the wider world in order to teach their children how to live and work together.
• Create a sustainable institution, with strong financial and management resources.

 

Today, we are realizing these goals every day in our classrooms, offices, outdoor play areas and in the larger community. 

Our Sister Elementary School and Middle School Plans
Larchmont Charter School falls under the umbrella of Larchmont Schools, which is led by an executive director and governed by a Board of Directors. Larchmont Charter – West Hollywood (LCW), our sister elementary school that also falls under the Larchmont Schools umbrella, opened in Fall 2008.  Our two schools co-locate at the St. Ambrose site and LCW also has space at Rosewood Elementary in West Hollywood.  For more information about LCW, Cick here!

Plans are well underway to create a Larchmont Charter middle school.  Please check back here for updates.