The O'Farrell Charter Schools, or The O'Farrell Charter School, is a system of public charter schools in

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, California, United States. The school opened its doors in

San Diego Unified School District San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is a public school district based in San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 ...

in 1959 chosen in 1957 as Mabel E. O'Farrell Junior High. It was voted to become a charter school in 1994. Through the years, the O'Farrell Charter School has received numerous awards and distinctions. It was named one of America's top high schools by U.S. News and World report six years in a row. It has also been named a school of distinction by National Center for Urban School Transformation. O'Farrell is an AVID National Demonstration School. President

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made a visit to San Diego in 1995 to sign the

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education bill and to visit O'Farrell because it was a charter. The school was mentioned in

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's book ''

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''.

Schools within a school

The O'Farrell Charter Schools resembles an elementary, middle, high and all-grade independent study course, all schools falling under 'The O'Farrell Charter School'. The O'Farrell Charter Schools has become its own district of its three different schools after ceasing partnership with San Diego Unified School District, when O'Farrell expanded from being only a junior high school. All schools operate on the same campus in the

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– South Encanto border area. The high school is located rather separate from the middle school and elementary. Each O'Farrell school has a principal and vice principal, and has a separate program, teachers, and bell schedules. In 2014, "Ingenuity Charter School, Blended Learning Independent Study Program" was added as an official part of The O'Farrell Charter Schools. Students attend in person at one of the school's resource centers at least twice per week and work independently online on the other days.

Athletics

The O'Farrell Falcons (also known as the OCS Falcons, O'Farrell Charter Falcons) are the athletic clubs that represent The O'Farrell Charter Schools. The Falcons compete in various leagues all in Division V of the CIF San Diego Section, depending on the sport. O'Farrell offers basketball, cross country, soccer, track, and volleyball to both genders. They recently have established a girls flag football team to go alongside the football team at O'Farrell.

Notable alumni

* Rosalie Hamlin, known for 1960 song " Angel Baby" * Shirley Horton, California assemblywoman and former mayor of

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, claimed to have attended this school and remembered it as an all-black school in a 1973 interview

References

{{authority control Charter K–12 schools in California Educational institutions established in 1959 1959 establishments in California San Diego Unified School District Public high schools in California Schools in San Diego County, California Schools in San Diego High schools in San Diego High schools in San Diego County, California Education in San Diego County, California Education in San Diego Southern California school stubs