Geneva Matthews

Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) is an innovative network of free public schools serving South Los Angeles. Founded in 2001, ECS is comprised of a high school and two middle schools, and serves more than 1,000 students each year. The mission of ECS is to reimagine public education in low income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers who are equipped to graduate from college and create a more equitable and sustainable world. While the neighborhoods served by ECS have crime rates that are twice that of the national average, low levels of educational attainment, and high levels of poverty (with 86% of local youth qualifying for free lunches), ECS students live a markedly different story- they reach their academic potential. 98% of ECS high school graduates have completed the coursework needed to apply to a 4-year college or university. In 2015, 96% of its graduates were admitted. Most ECS graduates – who are predominantly first and second-generation immigrant youth of color – are the first in their families to go to college. Beyond operating award-winning schools, ECS also runs the Green Ambassadors program, a hands-on service learning lab for students, and The Green Ambassador Institute, a comprehensive professional development program to assist educators in the "greening"​ of their schools through teacher and administrator trainings, interdisciplinary curricula, coaching, program implementation, and ongoing program support. Currently our network of schools includes: - Environmental Charter High School- Lawndale www.echslawndale.org - Environmental Charter Middle School- Gardena www.ecmsgardena.org - Environmental Charter Middle School- Inglewood www.ecmsinglewood.org - Environmental Charter Schools website - www.ecsonline.org - Green Ambassadors Network - www.greenambassadors.org Come see for yourself why ECS is such a special place: www.ecsonline.org/tour/