The California Academy of Liberal Studies (CALS) opened in fall 2003 and originated as a public charter middle school, which currently enrolls 250 students in grades 6-8. As an outgrowth of this program, CALS Early College High School (ECHS) opened to support the ongoing education of rising students. It now serves 300 students in grades 9-11. Next year, the school will be at its full capacity of 400 students in grades 9-12. CALS delivers a rigorous college prep curriculum and has partnerships with three local institutions of higher education – Occidental College, Pasadena City College, and Los Angeles Trade Tech College (LATTC).
The mission of the California Academy for Liberal Studies is to offer every enrolled student a dynamic learning environment within a small community committed to educational excellence and personal integrity. CALS guides its students as they discover and cultivate their unique gifts and talents, challenging each individual to achieve his or her full potential. CALS will prepare its students to succeed in college preparatory programs and inspire them to make a lifelong commitment to intellectual growth so that they will enrich and serve the communities in which they live.
This school model allows and encourages students to not only pursue their high school diploma but to attend and complete classes at the community college partner with a goal of attaining an associate’s degree by the time of their graduation. The school’s student body is predominantly Latino and about two-thirds are low income; almost one half of the students entered the middle school as English language learners. In 2005, more than 80% of the tenth-grade class passed the CA High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) in English and math on their first attempt, making them already eligible for high school graduation. By the 11th grade, more than 90% of the students have taken at least one college-level class for credit, and 60% of this year’s ninth-grade class will have taken a college class by the time they enter the tenth grade. It is outperforming and outranking almost all of the local high schools in the area as well as its charter school counterparts.
The school operates on two full floors of a modern office building in downtown Los Angeles and takes advantage of the many cultural and professional resources an urban setting can offer. Students use the beautiful Central Library daily, take regular field trips to the museums and theaters within walking distance, and intern with all types of businesses and organizations. Classes are small with no more than a 20:1 ratio, and teachers focus on a holistic approach to teaching, infusing literacy skills in all the curriculum areas. The students have access to the local community college athletic facilities and engage in various after school clubs.
