East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy

East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy
Seal of E.L.A.R.A.
Address
East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy
4211 Dozier St. East Los Angeles Los Angeles, California, United States, 90063
Coordinates	34°2′30.507″N 118°10′30.175″W / 34.04180750°N 118.17504861°W / 34.04180750; -118.17504861Coordinates: 34°2′30.507″N 118°10′30.175″W / 34.04180750°N 118.17504861°W / 34.04180750; -118.17504861
Information
School type	Pilot school/ Public
Religious affiliation(s)	Secular
Opened	2010
Status	Active
School district	Los Angeles Unified School District
NCES School ID	12657
Administrator	Martin Buchman
Principal	Jose Gonzalez
Faculty	Diana Diaz
Grades	9–12
Gender	Co-Ed
Enrollment	443 ((2012-2013))
Campus	Esteban Torres High School
Campus type	Urban
Color(s)	Purple
Mascot	Toro (Bull)
Newspaper	The Renaissance Newsletter (discontinued)
Information	Office : 323-265-6760 Fax : 323-265-6761
Website	ELARA Website

The East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy, officially the East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy at Esteban E. Torres High School, unofficially East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy, School of Urban Planning and Design, and often known by its initials E.L.A.R.A. or by Renaisssance, is a public, year-round high school and one of the 5 pilot schools situated on the Esteban Torres High School campus. ELARA is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is located in East Los Angeles, an unincorporated section of Los Angeles County, California. It is the least populous school on campus. ELARA is bordered by the East Los Angeles Performing Arts Academy (ELAPAA) to the northwest, the Humanitas Academy of Art and Technology (HAAT) to the northeast, the Torres Administration building to the west, the Social Justice Leadership Academy (SJLA) to the east, and Dozier Street to the south, and it shares a gymnasium, multi-purpose room/auditorium, cafeteria, and library with the other schools.

ELARA is nicknamed "the Purple Building," a reference to the color used on the building to distinguish it from the other schools, which have their own unique color.

History

Pre-Construction

Prior to the construction of the Esteban E. Torres High School campus, the land on which the East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy building is now located was an agricultural center administered by the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.

Founding

In 2009, nine James A. Garfield High School teachers, along with students, parents, and representatives from community-based organization, such as Inner City Struggle, joined together and submitted a proposal to the Los Angeles Unified School District Public School Choice motion in order to found the proposed East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy as a Pilot School at the yet unopened Esteban E. Torres High School campus.

The main Design Team was composed of Martin Buchman, Michael Leavy, Zoe Souliotis-Foley, Michael Rocha, Rachel Varty (formerly Rachel Greene), Antonio Marquez, Norm Chen, Monique Ulivi, and Adrianne Harwood (formerly Adrianne Sarabia).^[1]

After being approved by the motion, the East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy was founded, along with four other sister schools—East Los Angeles Performing Arts Academy, Engineering and Technology Academy, Humanitas Academy of Art and Technology, and Social Justice Leadership Academy—on September 13, 2010 at the Esteban E. Torres High School campus.

The main purpose for the establishment of Esteban E. Torres High School and its five pilot schools was to alleviate the student overcrowding problem at the nearby James A. Garfield High School. Garfield was only equipped to withhold 1,500 students, but, by the 2009-2010 school-year, it was overcrowded with more than 4,000 students. Garfield High School was the only high school situated within the East Los Angeles boundaries. Since its founding in 1925, no other high school had been constructed in the area. The East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy and the rest of the Torres High School campus provided the solution of Garfield’s student overcrowding problem.

ELARA side entrance

Education

School of Urban Planning and Design

The East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy prepares students in the field of urban planning and design, ELARA students see themselves as architects of their own future and that of their community. The Academy offers a full range of college preparatory classes, independent study opportunities, project-based electives in New Media and architecture, and community-based internships—all with an emphasis in urban planning and design.

ELARA college-ready graduates obtain broad-based knowledge, learn collaborative skills, and gain the self-confidence necessary to become innovators and leaders in their communities and professions.

ELARA is "one of only three high schools in the United States with an Urban Planning/Design focus".^[2]

On June 21, 2012, ELARA held their first class graduation. On June 5, 2014, the last of the first generation students graduated from the school.

School Principals

Block Schedule (2010-2012)

ELARA was on a traditional calendar, 4x4 block schedule system from 2010 to 2012 that granted students an advantage in gaining more course credits. Students had a total of 8 courses and an additional College Preparatory course known as "Advisory", every Tuesday. Tuesdays are "Banked Days", or shortened days, in which students entered school at a later time than the other days.

6-Course Rotating Schedule (2012-present)

ELARA is currently on a 6-course rotating schedule system.^[3] 5 courses are given daily. The class periods are known as "Tracks" (i.e. Track A - Government) "Banked Days", or shortened days, are still in the system.

Community Partners^[4]

ELARA is in partnership with:

• The Huntington
• Los Angeles Education Partnership^[5]
• Public Matters LLC^[6]
• 826LA^[7]
• Cal Poly Pomona
• Inner City Struggle^[8]
• Gensler^[9]

Academics

Overall, ELARA had in 2011 a sophomore population that places slightly below average in the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).^[10] ELARA had also in 2011 a student population that places below average in the California Standardized Test (CST).^[11]

References