Approval of New Middle School is a Victory for Florence-Firestone

Contact: Sean Thibault,

January 13, 2016, LOS ANGELES — In response to Tuesday’s Board of Education vote to approve a new charter for a middle school led by Green Dot Public Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Cristina de Jesus, President of Green Dot Public Schools California, issued the following statement:

“We are delighted by the Board’s decision to advance the transformation of the Florence-Firestone community with their support for a new middle school in the area. We wish, first and foremost, to thank the Board of Education and LAUSD for the opportunity to lead this school, and acknowledge the solemn trust that our partnership represents for our students and their neighborhoods. We know the quality of the educational experience that students receive is what paves pathways to opportunity and socio-economic mobility. Through Green Dot’s culture of excellence, we will continue to help our students achieve success in college, leadership, and life, working closely and in partnership with their families and our teachers and school leaders.

“The Green Dot approach has delivered some impressive results for nearby schools. Across the Green Dot network, nearly 80% of graduates are accepted to college each year. Animo Pat Brown Charter High School has been a force for positive change in the neighborhood already, graduating 96% of seniors and outpacing California and LAUSD in the new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium statewide assessments.

“Accountability is a valuable and welcome feature of public education, and charter authorization is an important step that ensures that transparency. Families and students in Florence-Firestone can be assured the value of Green Dot’s leadership is as clear to board officials as it is to them.”

Parents and students in the community, many of whom have children or siblings enrolled at nearby Animo Pat Brown Charter High School, are eager for the new middle school to open with 6^th grade this coming August:

“As a parent, it will give me a better choice, where I know that my child will be safe, learn and be held accountable. Animo Pat Brown gives me the freedom to meet with the principal and teachers, talk and have communication with them at any time. This gives me peace of mind, knowing that my child will succeed in life. And that is why a new middle school is important in the community,” said parent Ada Jimenez.

“The teachers at this school inspire you to stay curious. Because of them, I will be attending Princeton next year,” said Jordy Rodriguez-Cervantes, a high school senior at Animo Pat Brown Charter High School.

“Animo Pat Brown is a breath of fresh air on our community. One day my younger children Damian and Aiden will attend the new Green Dot middle school and be our future leaders,” said parent Eddie Cervantes.