Gabriella Charter Schools are a set of two public charter schools in Los Angeles, California.[1] It is known for its strong emphasis on dance for all students, being named after the founder's thirteen-year-old daughter who died in 1999.[2][3] In 2013, a report from the University of Southern California listed Gabriella as the number two charter elementary or middle school in California.[4][5]
History
editLiza Bercovici founded Everybody Dance after the death of her only daughter, Gabriella, in a 1999 car crash. Dance instructor Carol Zee led the nonprofit dance program, which inspired Bercovici to start her own charter school in the vein of the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, where many youth from the program went to school. The school's goal was to have high academic standards, while providing ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance programs to pair.[6]
Gabriella has become a major subject of the battle over charter schools and their colocation in the Los Angeles Unified School District.[7][8][9] In April 2024, the LAUSD Board passed restrictions on colocation that could remove Gabriella from campuses, which was subsequently challenged in court by the California Charter Schools Association as a violation of 2000 California Proposition 39.[10]
Campuses
edit- GCS 1 (Echo Park)
- 1435 Logan Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026
- GCS 2 (Downtown Los Angeles)
- GCS 2 Lower: 3736 Trinity Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011
- GCS 2 Upper: 4312 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90037
References
edit- ^ Rodriguez, Monica (November 14, 2023). "Echo Park charter school prepares to benefit from arts funding". The Eastsider LA. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Aguirre, Kimberly (July 1, 2024). "25 years after 13-year-old dancer's death, her legacy lives on at L.A. charter schools". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Power of dance: Liza Bercovici turns tragedy into beauty". Spectrum News. September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Schevker, Marla (August 23, 2013). "Echo Park Charter School Ranked Top 10 By USC Report". Patch Media. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Lopez, Steve (March 9, 2019). "Column: A charter school report card: They cause problems. But for many families they're the solution". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Lopez, Steve (December 21, 2013). "Learning the dance of life, in memory of Gabriella". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Tat, Linh (October 30, 2021). "LAUSD school's future unclear as charter school looks to expand". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Chapman, Ben (November 13, 2023). "The Fight Over Charters in LAUSD School Buildings: What's Really Happening". The 74. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Mackey, Ashley (November 22, 2021). "Parents fear closure of 117-year-old South LA school, though LAUSD says there are no such plans". KABC-TV. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Chapman, Ben (May 8, 2024). "The Los Angeles Charter School Wars Are Headed To Court. Here's What's At Stake". The 74. Retrieved September 25, 2024.