Welcome to
Larchmont Charter School
Welcome to Larchmont Charter School! Our school opened its doors in the fall of 2005 with 140 students in grades K-2, and has grown by one grade each year since then. In Fall 2011 we are thrilled to have over 600 students enrolled in grades K-8. Larchmont Charter School (LCS) is a parent-initiated, tuition-free and non-sectarian public elementary school within the boundaries of LAUSD. We offer a constructivist curriculum, which is a project- and inquiry-based, experienced-centered curriculum to serve our culturally rich and diverse population of students. For the 2009-10 school year, our state test scores were 908 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. Admission is determined by annual lottery, which is open to all children in California.
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.
More about our K-5 Program
At the core of our program is our commitment to small class sizes; we maintain a low student/teacher ratio; 22 students per class in grades K-4 (23 in grade 5). We also have at least one highly qualified teacher’s aide in each grade to support students and teachers. and a credentialed teacher is on the yard at all times.
LCS features multi-age classes and differentiated instruction, which tailors instructional delivery to the full spectrum of educational needs. Classrooms are well-designed, cheerful learning environments and our school setting includes outdoor spaces also suitable for students to break into smaller groups as part of the constructivist model. All LCS students receive instruction in art, music, dance,P.E. weekly. In addition, 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 library was created by parent volunteers and features 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 continues to be a site for the Youth Policy Institute’s After School Program, which has enabled us to expand our after-school offerings.
Currently we lease and share space with Hollygrove Children and Family Services in Hollywood which boasts extraordinary facilities. Our Hollygrove campus is nested on more than three acres, with outdoor basketball, a covered play area and eating areas, two gardens, a soccer field and , and two outdoor classrooms.
OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL Program
Our middle school provides an academically challenging, creative and emotionally nurturing environment for our students – one that celebrates the diversity and culture of our community and prepares students for high-performing high schools and eventually, for the top 100 colleges in America. In addition, through our philosophical tenets of academics, community and diversity, we prepare students to be leaders in our dynamic, diverse society.
We believe students learn best when provided with a challenging, constructivist-based learning environment, with music and arts integrated into the standards-based curriculum that inspires independent thinking, imagination, and a passion for learning. Though many public middle schools have increased class size, we have maintained relatively low class sizes, so our instructional experts can focus on the whole child and provide each student with an individualized and differentiated academic plan to be successful. At LCS, every child’s individual genius is extrapolated and student strengths and talents become a critical part of our academic and instructional approach.
We are excited to offer our Middle School students ( grades 6-8) a dedicated campus, which is located at Immanuel Presbyterian Church just 3 miles southeast of our Hollygrove elementary campus. Our campus boasts spacious classrooms, an auditorium, indoor gym, rooftop garden, rooftop basketball and handball courts and is located at 668 S. Catalina Street in Los Angeles (corner of Wilshire and Catalina).
For more information, please email us.
OUR SISTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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, and opened in Fall 2008. LCW is located at St. Ambrose Church on Fairfax Blvd.
For more information about LCW click here.
LCS Parents
- Watch the LCS Youtube Video
- Events Update-Garage-A-Rama
- Larchmont Calendar
- Committees & Volunteering
- Afterschool Information
- Lunch Menus
Additional Information
- Staff Information
- 2011 - 2012 Lottery
- Larchmont Enrollment Application
- Tour our Campuses
- LCS High School Info