Latest News
June 24, 2008: LAUSD Board of Education Approves Extension of Avance Charter
The result of new partnership between Academia Avance and the LAUSD Charter School Division was recognized by the LAUSD Board which voted to approve an extension of the charter. Avance is excited by the opportunity to continue its development of a high quality charter preparatory in Highland Park.
May 22, 2008: Avance Scores a 7 on the State API Similar Schools Ranking
The CDE released the 2007 "similar schools ranking" for all schools with Avance scoring a 7! The index compares Avance to 100 schools in the state with similar demographic and socio-economic characteristics among the enrollment. Avance was ranked higher than all but 5 LAUSD traditional middle schools in the group -- in only its second year of operations. We are anxious to see the 2008 results that will show further progress!
May 2008: Avance in Partnership to Create a 21st Century Community Learning Center in Highland Park
Avance is part of a winning partnership that wins a five year 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. The funds will be used to offer much needed after school supplemental instruction and activities for high school students throughout Highland Park. Avance students will be joined by students from the Los Angeles International Charter School and the Design High School in activities organized by the Youth Policy Institute, the Anahuak Youth Sports Association, and staff from El Centro del Pueblo.
April 2008: Development of the Avance Learning Support Center to Benefit from a Lowe's Grant
The Lowe's Foundations, working with NCLR, awards Avance a grant to renovate the front office to house new spaces for a library/internet workstations, reception area, and meeting spaces to support the growing school.
March 10, 2008: City of Los Angeles awarded City Beautification Grant to Academia Avance
Avance wins a grant to upgrade the Figueroa frontage. The grant will be used to create a new entrance way for the school, in line with the architecture of the historic Highland Park business corridor.
August 2007: Avance Awarded Grant by NCLR Charter School Implementation Grant -- Again!
Avance has been very fortunate to be a four time grant recipient under the NCLR Charter School Development Grants Program and the School Improvement and Technical Assistance Program. We received Start-up and Implementation grants in our first year, a Follow-up Grant, in the second, and a SITAP grant this year. Thanks NCLR for recognizing the potential of our community focused school, and for granting us the funds to make this the best school in Highland Park!
January 5, 2007: Avance Awarded a ASES Grant!
Avance wins an ASES (After School Education and Safety) Program Grant commitment for 3 years! These funds will be used to provide academic and enrichment activities. The activities will be provided via the Fuerza Joven program by our partner, Art Research & Curriculum Associates (ARC).
November 20, 2006: Avance Awarded a PCSGP Grant!
The federal NCLB act allocates funds to support the development of high quality charter schools. These funds are distributed in California by the state Department of Education via the Public Charter School Grant Program. The grant review process is very competitive, with only 12 grants awarded to schools in Los Angeles County in 2006 -- and Avance was one of them! These funds will be used to establish our new high school curriculum, prepare for WASC accreditation, and to implement new technology to facilitate parent monitoring of student progress.
October 2006
Did you know that the Occidental College campus used to be just three blocks away from Academia Avance? During the Fall 2006 semester Avance students partnered with Oxy students to explore this history with HiPHOP -- the Highland Park History Online Project. See how it turned out:
Part 1
Part 2