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The Gabriella Charter School (GCS) is a K−5
dance−themed public elementary charter school, one
of the first of its kind in the United States. Its 152
students take one hour of dance per day, and dance
is infused into the standards−based curriculum. GCS
is nestled in a shaded, tree−lined mixed−use historic
site that the school shares with an affordable
housing project in the densely−populated Rampart
community just west of downtown Los Angeles.
Students range in age from 5−11, and are divided
between 68 boys and 83 girls. Eight percent (8%) of
students receive special education services.
Although the overwhelming majority of GCS students
are first−generation Central American immigrants
(80%), the GCS student body is a diverse group that
encompasses a significant percentage of
otheethnicities, including Korean (10%), African
American (3%), White, not of Hispanic Origin (2%)
and Filipino (2%) students. Approximately 84% of
GCS students have parents that are first generation
immigrants, 82% of the students are English
Language Learners and 91% of the students qualify
for the Free and Reduced Nutrition Program.
A culture of high expectations inspires GCS’ primarily
low−income, English language learners to achieve at
a level comparable to their more socio−economically
advantaged peers. The schools API scores since its
2005 opening have exceeded each year the States
benchmark target of 800, making it one of the citys
top−performing elementary schools. In 2006, GCS
was described in Los Angeles Magazine as one of
sixty great elementary schools you should know
about. The School received has received awards for
excellence and innovation Siart Foundation and the
Insight Education Consulting Group and has been fully
accredited by the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges.
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GCS was founded in 2005 as an outgrowth of the
non−profit Gabriella Axelrad Education
Foundations community−based everybody dance!
after−school program. Opened in 2000,
everybody dance! provides over 100 to almost 1000 inner−city children in ballet, jazz,
tap,
hip hop, modern and world dance.
Inspired by the ability of the dance program to motivate students academically and
in response
to repeated parental requests for an academic program with the high engagement level and
challenging standards associated with the dance program, the Foundation’s board committed to
open a charter school which would draw upon the discipline, creativity and cognitive aspects
of dance to engage children to become more active learners and to enhance academic
skill−building by integrating dance throughout the curriculum.
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