Other Highlights
MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAYOR'S OFFICE CONTACT:
Sarah Hamilton
213-978-0741
PARTNERSHIP CONTACT:
Nadia Gonzalez
213-300-9987
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA WELCOMES STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL AND CELEBRATES NEW ERA OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN LOS ANGELES
Partnership for Los Angeles Schools Commits to New Levels of Excellence
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Villaraigosa celebrated the first day of school for more than 18,000 students attending Partnership for Los Angeles Schools by meeting with students, parents, and teachers to reflect on the success achieved during year one of the Partnership and discuss strategies that will further accelerate student academic achievement during year two.
On his first stop, the Mayor met with dozens of parents at 99th Street Elementary School where he praised families and school staff for their extraordinary achievement in parent engagement.
“For students to excel they need quality classroom instruction, and parents who invest in building relationships with their children’s teachers-we need them to step up and support their child’s learning,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Last year, 99th Street got it right, and my message to parents today is that this is only the beginning. This year we will ask more of ourselves and our families to improve our children’s education.”
At 99th St., Principal Sherri Williams and her staff set a high standard for their students and parents. They not only challenged their students, but also parents and urged them to play a role in their child’s education. They believed that children with parents who are actively engaged in their education excel at a fast pace. Their efforts paid off, as recent California Standards Test Results placed 99th Street in the top 2% of all LAUSD elementary schools for growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Following this, the Mayor hosted a lunchtime meeting with teachers at Felicitas & Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center. There, he applauded Mendez administrators, teachers, and staff, for their focus and tireless dedication in preparing the school for its first day.
“This is an exciting time for the families of East Los Angeles as we celebrate today the opening of a school that will prepare students for a career in the 21st century,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “I am confident that the talent of our teachers, and the leadership of our administrators will inspire Mendez students to perform at the highest levels.”
Mendez Learning Center is the first new high school built in the Boyle Heights community in over 80 years. It will operate as two small high schools on one shared site. One school will focus on math and science, and feature special classes such as biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Instruction at the second school will have a technology and engineering focus and offer computer science courses, robotics, and architectural drafting.
With twelve schools, 18,000 students and 1,500 employees, The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is the largest non-district school operator in Los Angeles. Its mission is to transform teaching and learning so all students have a foundation for academic excellence and personal success.