Our Beginning
UCLA partners with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), and the Belmont Education Collaborative—a grassroots coalition of community-based organizations—to study the feasibility of creating a UCLA-partnered community school
Pilot School Approved
UCLA Community School proposal submitted and approved as one of ten new Pilot Schools–small autonomous public schools that are locally governed based on an innovative agreement between the district and teachers’ union
Design Team
Principal and Lead Teachers are hired and join UCLA new school design team; co-location plan developed to share space with five other Pilot Schools on the historic site of the former Ambassador Hotel, now called the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools
School Opens!
School opens with 340 neighborhood students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. An innovative dual language program is launched to build on the assets of local Spanish and Korean speaking families.
School Expands
School expands to serve 842 students in Kindergarten through 11th grade. Students enter from more than 60 schools, many after years of being bussed out of the neighborhood.
Full Enrollment
School is fully enrolled with 941 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade; receives initial accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
First Graduating Class
First graduating class of seniors, students who entered the school as 10th graders; 81% of the Class of 2012 report they plan to attend college, 35% to 4-year and 46% to 2-year colleges
Self-Study
Self-study conducted as part of full accreditation cycle. After careful analysis of school’s strengths and areas for improvement, school receives highest level of accreditation the following year. WASC visiting committee concludes, “UCLA Community School is a brave experiment in redesigning the structure of the traditional school.”
College-going Soars
First four-year cohort of seniors graduate; college-going rate climbs, with 96% of graduates planning to attend college, 59% to 4-year and 37% to 2-year colleges.
Self-Study
Self-study conducted as part of full accreditation cycle. After careful analysis of school’s strengths and areas for improvement, school receives 6 year accreditation.
April 2021
Return to campus and hybrid learning since school closure in March 2020. Weekly COVID testing to ensure safe campus.
Congratulations Class of 2022
We return fully to in person instruction and open campus for all students.
The first inaugural Kindergarten Class (from 2009) graduates June of 2022!