Reimagine
Advance
Advocate
The Campaign for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ
Reimagine
A Legacy of Innovation, Leadership, and Transformational Results
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ story began in 2004 with a diverse group of educators, civic and business leaders, and civil rights activists determined to upend the inequities within traditional public education. Together, our founders pioneered an award-winning school system built upon the deep belief in the inherent brilliance of every child—regardless of income level, ability, or socioeconomic background.
Our founders
Judy Ivie Burton
Nationally Renowned Educator
Founding CEO
Howard Lappin
Award-winning School Leader
Founding Principal
Frank Baxter
Former Chairman, Jefferies & Co.
Former Ambassador to Uruguay
Gayle Miller
Former President
Anne Klein II
Tony Ressler
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman
Ares Capital Management
Richard Riordan
Former Mayor of LA
Entrepreneur
Ted Mitchell
President, American Council on Education, Former Chair CA State Board of Education
Bill Ouchi
Professor of Organizational Management at UCLA
Bestselling Author
Virgil Roberts
Managing Partner
Bobbit & Roberts
A National Leader
Today, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is one of the largest and highest-performing public charter school networks in the nation. With a proven track record of rigorous academics, exceptional extracurriculars, and comprehensive college preparation, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is a beacon of excellence with a replicable model for what is possible in public education.
National Recognition
EXCELLENCE AT SCALE
Our reach
0
High-Performing Middle & High Schools
0
Scholars
0
Alumni
Communities we serve
- South LA, East LA, Downtown, Huntington Park, Northeast LA/Lincoln Heights, Sun ValleyÂ
Our impact
- Despite arriving at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ three grade levels behind, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ scholars graduate and are accepted to college at rates on par with private school peers.
- This past year, 96% were accepted to college, with 80% admitted to 4-year colleges and universities.
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ scholars graduate college at a rate 3.5 times higher than their peers of similar backgrounds nationwide.
1
Opened in 2004-05
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Gertz-Ressler High School
2
Opened in 2005-06
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Richard Merkin Middle School
3
Opened in 2005-06
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Collins Family College-Ready High School
4
Opened in 2005-06
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Judy Ivie Burton Technology High School
5
Opened in 2006-07
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Dr. Olga Mohan High School
6
Opened in 2006-07
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science School
7
Opened in 2006-07
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ William & Carol Ouchi High School
8
Opened in 2007-08
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Jack H. Skirball Middle School
9
Opened in 2007-08
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Patti & Peter Neuwirth Leadership Academy
10
Opened in 2008-09
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Christine O'Donovan Middle Academy
11
Opened in 2009-10
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ College-Ready Middle Academy 4
12
Opened in 2009-10
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Environmental Science High Shool
13
Opened in 2009-10
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Health Services Academy
14
Opened in 2009-10
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Morgan McKinzie High School
15
Opened in 2010-11
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy High School
16
Opened in 2011-12
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Ted K. Tajima High School
17
Opened in 2012-13
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Susan & Eric Smidt Technology High School
18
Opened in 2012-13
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Renee & Meyer Luskin Academy High School
19
Opened in 2013-14
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ College-Ready Middle Academy 12
20
Opened in 2014-15
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ College-Ready Middle Academy 8
21
Opened in 2014-15
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Kory Hunter Middle School
22
Opened in 2014-15
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Margaret M. Bloomfield High School
23
Opened in 2015-16
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Virgil Roberts Leadership Academy
24
Opened in 2015-16
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Milt and Debbie Valera Middle Academy
25
Opened in 2016-17 School Year
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Marine-Innovation and Technology 6-12 Complex
A Brighter Future For All
What began as a single school in 2004—now known as Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Gertz-Ressler High School—has grown into a network of 25 schools, each transforming lives across Los Angeles, one scholar, one community, one year at a time.
A Promise Fulfilled
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ promises to prepare the young people who attend our schools with the tools to pursue choice-filled, purposeful lives. Whether shaping policy, driving impact, or serving as leaders in their communities, they graduate embodying the transformative power of an Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ education.
PURPOSE IN ACTION
Jesus Gonzalez Saucedo
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Dr. Mohan High School ‘17
Occidental College ‘21
Born and raised in South Los Angeles, Jesus saw firsthand how hard it was for his parents to make a living as street vendors. He was determined to build something more for himself and his family. He credits his Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ teachers, mentors, and administrators with helping him find his voice. Jesus currently works at a community development organization, where he helps members of his community obtain small business loans.Â
Krystal Johnson
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Gertz-Ressler High School ‘08
University of Southern California ‘12
The first in her family to earn a college degree, Krystal’s journey is one of breaking barriers and uplifting others along the way. After a challenging personal experience navigating the healthcare system for her mother, her career path became clear. Today, she’s a business owner and entrepreneur who advocates for better therapies and medications to ensure people receive the healthcare they deserve.
Our Alumni Growth
* Preliminary figure as of July 25, 2025.
Reimagining public education
As we launch our third decade of operating exceptional public schools, we recognize how much has changed since opening our first campus in 2004. Today, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ schools are thriving hubs of innovation, creativity, and academic excellence—preparing young people to succeed in a complex, interconnected world.
Amidst a climate of uncertainty, polarization, and shifting educational priorities, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has a unique opportunity to honor its legacy while shaping the future. With steady enrollment, strong academic performance, high staff retention, and sound financials, we are well-positioned to continue redefining what's possible in public education.
Three critical initiatives will propel us into the future, ensuring Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ scholars receive the absolute best while we advance public education throughout Los Angeles and beyond. Through our Reimagine, Advance, Advocate Campaign, we invite you to join us in making bold investments in:
Academic Innovation & Acceleration
Educators and Scholars
Scaling AI in the classroom
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is taking a proactive approach to AI, collaborating with developers to design AI tools that intuitively support scholars' needs, empower educators, and can be scaled effectively at the school systems level.
- Investment: $1.35M
- Impact: Accelerate mastery of English Language Arts and Math based on the unique needs of each scholar.
Reimagining the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Educator
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is leading the nation in developing innovative school schedules and structures that increase educator planning time and provide additional enrichment and academic support to scholars.
- Investment: $1.75M
- Impact: Pilot expansion to 50% of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ schools, increased teacher retention and sustainability, and improved scholar academic outcomes.
College & Career Success
Alumni
Advance Alumni Success
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is expanding programming that exposes scholars to various career paths while building the professional skills to thrive in college, career, and life, and provides enhanced support for alumni six years out from high school graduation.
- Investment: $2.05M
- Impact: Increase college enrollment and graduation rates through investment in career readiness programming and internships, data and programmatic partnerships with colleges and universities, and increased communication, outreach, and support to alumni.
Alumni Teacher Residency Program
A one-year apprenticeship program designed to provide a clear pathway for teacher certification and career advancement, and develop highly qualified educators from Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ communities to advance the next generation of scholars.
- Investment: $2.65M
- Impact: A total of 60 new highly effective teachers trained and in the classroom, educating thousands of scholars every year.
Advocacy
Thriving Public Schools
Creating Long-Term Change
As debates around public education grow increasingly contentious, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ must invest in shaping a political and policy environment that enables us to innovate, thrive, and influence the broader education field toward one that puts achievement and justice at its center.
- Investment: $2.2M
- Impact: Strategic engagement and partnerships with policymakers, elected leaders, and community leaders, shared reports on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ innovations and best practices, and expanded support for policies and legislation that secure equitable funding, access to resources, and opportunities for all scholars to succeed.
3-Year Investment
Priority areas by investment amount & percentage of $10M investment
AI in the classroom
Reimagine Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Educator
Teacher Residency
College & Career Success
Advocacy
$10M
Total Investment
- AI in the Classroom
- 13.5%
- $1,350,000
-
Reimagine
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Educator - 17.5%
- $1,750,000
- Teacher Residency
- 26.5%
- $2,650,000
-
College &
Career Success - 20.5%
- $2,050,000
- Advocacy
- 22%
- $2,200,000
Lead the way forward
Our Goal: Raise an additional $10 million over the next three years, above and beyond our annual philanthropic support. This investment will fuel the key initiatives of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Reimagine, Advance, Advocate Campaign through 2028 and beyond, driving academic innovation, college and career success, and a brighter future for all.
To accelerate this vision, a private family foundation has committed $5 million in matching funds, doubling the impact of every contribution made by other champions.
With you, we can achieve:
Accelerated Academic Growth: Propel scholars forward through academic innovations on the cutting edge of K-12 education.
Increased College Graduation Rates: Close the gap in college enrollment and completion through investment in robust Career Readiness and Alumni programming.
A Transformed Education Landscape: Ensure public schools can operate in an environment conducive to running excellent schools, through local, statewide, and national advocacy efforts.
Ways to give
Tailored Giving:
For personalized giving options, please contact Tiffany Markarian, Vice President of Development, at tmarkarian@laalliancefoundation.org.
Double your impact
Check with your employer to see if your donation to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ can be matched!