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Los Angeles

Schools

Los Angeles is at the forefront of debates over school governance, scripted curriculum, access to college readiness coursework, and reducing class sizes. In addition, South Los Angeles, Watts, and Compton have experienced major demographic shifts in the last 10 years, transforming predominately African-American communities into African-American and Chicano/Latino communities. This shift has in some cases brought with it racial tension as well as lessons in collaboration, coalition, and unity.

Student achievement reflects the inequity in Los Angeles public schools where the achievement gap is staggering. For example, in 2005, only 14 percent of fourth grade public school students in Los Angeles performed at or above proficient in reading and only 18 percent of fourth grade public school students in Los Angeles performed at or above proficient in math. In contrast, the same year 22 percent of fourth grade students in San Diego, and 30 percent of fourth grade students nationally, performed at or above proficient in reading. Additionally, 29 percent of fourth grade students in San Diego, and 35 percent of fourth grade students nationally, performed at or above proficient in math.

This year, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Unified School District school board have formed a partnership to focus on reform that will increase student achievement. Additionally, leaders from across the city and nation have donated millions of dollars to build new schools and to develop more charters schools.

The majority of corps members teach in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which serves over 700,000 students and is the second largest school district in the country. Corps members will also be placed in the Lynwood Unified School District, which is south of Los Angeles and serves 17,000 students, as well as charter schools and early childhood centers, such as Head Start. Each year, our placement partners can change slightly. This year, the Los Angeles corps is serving over 32,000 students at 100 schools.

This year, the traditional school calendar began on September 5, though the start date varies based the corps member's placement district. Some schools are on a year-round schedule, which means that corps members might teach during the summer but be off during the winter, for example.

At a Glance

School Districts:
Los Angeles Unified School District
Lynwood Unified School District

Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population (Los Angeles Unified School District)
11% African-American
9% Caucasian
73% Latino/Hispanic
4% Asian-American
<1% Native American
2% Other

Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population (Lynwood Unified School District)
8% African-American
<1% Caucasian
91% Latino/Hispanic
<1% Asian-American
<1% Native American
<1% Other

Ethnic Breakdown-Los Angeles
10% African-American
31% Caucasian
45% Latino/Hispanic
12% Asian-American
<1% Native American
2% Other

Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
80%

Placements
4% early childhood (Pre-K)
12% elementary (K-5)
52% middle school (6-8)
20% high school (9-12)
14% special education (K-12)
93% teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus
K-12 grade level placements general subject elementary(at the elementary and middle school level) specific subject secondary special education bilingual Given the current needs of our partner districts and charter schools, Los Angeles is a heavily secondary (6-12) corps.