LA's Promise (formerly known as MLA Partner Schools) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. Its focus is on school reform and neighborhood revitalization. It currently operates two large public high schools and one middle school on a first-of-its-kind performance contract with
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school district in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the largest public school system in California in terms of number of students and the 2nd largest public school district in ...
(LAUSD).
These schools are
West Adams Preparatory High School
West Adams Preparatory High School is a secondary school in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Central Los Angeles, California.
The school is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is operated by a nonprofit organization working in co ...
,
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary public school in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Manual Arts High School was founded in 1910 in the middle of bean fields, one-half mile from the nearest bus stop. It was the third high scho ...
and
John Muir Middle School, with a total student enrollment of approximately 6,000 students.
LA's Promise's first school, West Adams Preparatory High School, is applauded as a new model for non-charter public schools because of its unique programs and student culture.
LA's Promise is one of the first nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles to operate a non-charter public school with the opening of West Adams Prep in 2007. The school's model of shared leadership between LAUSD and LA's Promise became a new model teamwork between the private and public sectors for public school operation. In 2008, LA's Promise became one of four nonprofit organizations known as "Network Providers" working within LAUSD's newly created iDesign Schools Division to create the speedy turnaround of a select number of LAUSD's lowest performing schools. Among the four Network Partners is the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PLAS), a nonprofit created by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to drive his school reform agenda.
Mission
LA’s Promise, a nonprofit organization, is working to radically shift the education, health and social outcomes for thousands of youth in one South Los Angeles community. This will accomplish a “neighborhood turnaround” in an area called LA’s Promise Neighborhood.
History
LA’s Promise founders have served students in the South Los Angeles community for over 15 years. LA’s Promise began as an organization called Center for Innovative Education (IE) in 2003 with a 60-student cohort at Manual Arts High School. In the subsequent years, the organization expanded the number of students they served and reincorporated itself into MLA Partner Schools. Four years later,
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary public school in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Manual Arts High School was founded in 1910 in the middle of bean fields, one-half mile from the nearest bus stop. It was the third high scho ...
and
West Adams High School joined MLA Partner Schools through the iDesign Division of the
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school district in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the largest public school system in California in terms of number of students and the 2nd largest public school district in ...
. In 2011, John Muir Middle School joined MLA Schools through LAUSD’s Public School Choice.
Reorganization
In April 2011, MLA Partner Schools changed its name to LA's Promise. In March of the same year, the LAUSD school board voted to give control of John Muir Middle School to LA's Promise.
Neighborhood Turnaround
LA's Promise Neighborhood is an 8.2 square-mile enrollment zone that includes
West Adams Preparatory High School
West Adams Preparatory High School is a secondary school in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Central Los Angeles, California.
The school is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is operated by a nonprofit organization working in co ...
,
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary public school in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Manual Arts High School was founded in 1910 in the middle of bean fields, one-half mile from the nearest bus stop. It was the third high scho ...
and
John Muir Middle School. There are approximately 150,000 residents in LA's Promise Neighborhood and slightly over 20,000 youth between the ages of 12-18. The average student population is approximately 80% Latino and 20% African American.
Schools
LA's Promise currently operates three schools:
West Adams Preparatory High School
West Adams Preparatory High School is a secondary school in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Central Los Angeles, California.
The school is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is operated by a nonprofit organization working in co ...
,
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary public school in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Manual Arts High School was founded in 1910 in the middle of bean fields, one-half mile from the nearest bus stop. It was the third high scho ...
, and John Muir Middle School.
West Adams Preparatory High School
West Adams Preparatory High School
West Adams Preparatory High School is a secondary school in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Central Los Angeles, California.
The school is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is operated by a nonprofit organization working in co ...
opened and joined LA's Promise in 2007. The current principal is Dr. Jose Iniguez. There are 2,635 students enrolled in grades 9th-12th. Student demographics are 89% Latino, 10% African American and 1% Asian.
West Adams Preparatory High School and LA's Promise (then called MLA Partner Schools) received increased notoriety through its association with famed chef and activist
Jamie Oliver
James Trevor Oliver MBE OSI (born 27 May 1975) is an English chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and open many restaurants.
Oliver reache ...
when they were featured as a primary plot element in the second season of his television show,
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
''Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution'' (retitled ''Jamie's American Food Revolution'' in the United Kingdom) is a television show on ABC from March 2010 until summer 2011. The show was produced by British chef Jamie Oliver and Ryan Seacrest, followi ...
, on ABC. Jamie Oliver worked with students in West Adams Preparatory High School's culinary program and encouraged healthy eating habits at the school.
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary public school in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Manual Arts High School was founded in 1910 in the middle of bean fields, one-half mile from the nearest bus stop. It was the third high scho ...
opened in 1909 and joined LA's Promise in 2009. The current principal is Erica Thomas-Minor. There are 3,577 students enrolled in grades 9th-12th. Student demographics are 82% Latino and 18% African American.
In November 2011, American pop group
The Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas (also known as The Black Eyed Peas) is an American musical group consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo. The group's line-up during the height of their popularity in the 2000s featured Fergie, who replaced Kim Hil ...
surprised 35 Manual Arts students involved in the Robo-Skunk team as they were listening to a presentation by
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include '' Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', '' ...
explaining the makings of their new video game
The Black Eyed Peas Experience
''The Black Eyed Peas Experience'' is a music video game based on songs by The Black Eyed Peas. It was developed by Ubisoft Quebec for the Wii and iNiS for the Xbox 360's Kinect, published by Ubisoft and released in November 2011.
Gameplay
Wii
T ...
. The surprise visit by Fergie, Taboo, and apl.de.ap was a result of a collaboration between Manual Arts High School, LA's Promise and
FIRST
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
– an organization devoted to inspiring young people to be science and technology leaders. Led by Manual Arts teacher, Mr. John Santos, the Robo–Skunk team is composed of Manual Arts High School students that are members of the Imaging, Sciences, and Technology Academy (ISTA) and the Math Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Program.
John Muir Middle School
John Muir Middle School opened in 1922 and joined LA's Promise in 2011. The current principal is Aminika Readeux. There are 1,818 students enrolled in grades 6th-8th. Student demographics are 76% Latino and 23% African American.
In December 2011, John Muir Middle School hosted AEG's (
Anschutz Entertainment Group
The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), also known as AEG Worldwide, is an American global sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation. It is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports even ...
) Season of Giving Day of Service in conjunction with
City Year
City Year is an American education nonprofit organization founded in 1988. The organization partners with public schools in 29 high-need communities across the US and through international affiliates in the UK and Johannesburg, South Africa. Ci ...
and LA's Promise. Over 100 volunteers and staff helped beautify the campus of John Muir Middle School by painting murals in the gymnasium, dance studio, hallways and exterior walls.
Online Directory and Partner Organizations
LA's Promise connects students and families in the LA's Promise Neighborhood to resources which range from tutoring, health screenings, legal services and employment support through their Online Directory. Some noted partners LA's Promise has collaborated with are
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and death ...
,
Amgen-Bruce Wallace Biotech Program,
Bresee Foundation Bresee is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Bryan Bresee (born 2001), American football player
*Frank Bresee (1929–2018), American radio actor, radio historian, and board game designer
*John Bresee (1966–2019), American entre ...
,
Brotherhood Crusade
Brotherhood or The Brotherhood may refer to:
Family, relationships, and organizations
* Fraternity (philosophy) or brotherhood, an ethical relationship between people, which is based on love and solidarity
* Fraternity or brotherhood, a male ...
,
California African American Museum
The California African American Museum (CAAM) is a museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, United States. The museum focuses on enrichment and education on the cultural heritage and history of African Americans with a focus o ...
,
City Year
City Year is an American education nonprofit organization founded in 1988. The organization partners with public schools in 29 high-need communities across the US and through international affiliates in the UK and Johannesburg, South Africa. Ci ...
,
First Robotics
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (''FIRST'') is an international youth organization that operates the ''FIRST'' Robotics Competition, ''FIRST'' LEGO League Challenge, ''FIRST'' LEGO League Explore, ''FIRST'' LEGO Leagu ...
,
Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), commonly referred to as simply Girl Scouts, is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. Founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, it was organized a ...
,
Operation HOPE, Inc.
Operation HOPE, Inc., is an American non-profit organization providing financial literacy empowerment and economic education to youth and adults. The mission of this organization is providing everybody with enterprise work and the programs carried ...
,
Run with US
"Run With Us" is the end theme song for the 1980s television series ''The Raccoons''. It was written by Kevin Gillis, Jon Stroll and Steve Lunt.
The song was originally recorded by Steve Lunt for the first season in 1985 but was later covered ...
,
Sound Body Sound Mind UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind is a United States nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) that promotes self-confidence and healthy lifestyle choices among children. The Foundation was established by Cindy and Bill Simon in 1999 and is currently bas ...
,
St. Johns Well Child & Family Center,
Teach for America,
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) is the Los Angeles Philharmonic's initiative to establish youth orchestra programs in underprivileged communities throughout Los Angeles. Modeled on Venezuela's El Sistema, a program which brings classical music ...
, and
YWCA
The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries.
The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swi ...
.
References
External links
*
West Adams Prep Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:LA's Promise
Los Angeles Unified School District
High schools in Los Angeles
Public high schools in California
2003 establishments in California
Educational institutions established in 2003