A charter school serving at-risk student got a makeover. Now they’re sending kids to college.

Four years ago, Learning for Life Charter School had what Executive Director Ken Lawrence-Emanuel calls a “reputation.” Students—seventh- through 12th-graders who are on the verge of failing in traditional public schools—were underperforming in tests and graduation rates were low. They weren’t showing growth on the Academic Performance Index, the old measuring stick utilized by the California Department of Education until the 2012-13 school year. 

It was that ruler that was the problem, Lawrence-Emanuel says. The school was never re-classified as an alternative school, though it operated as such, serving at-risk students. Learning for Life’s students often live “complicated lives,” Lawrence-Emanuel says, but were tested on the same scale as regular public school students who are more likely to have stability and support. 

“These kids are sometimes caregivers, parents, have various anxiety or mental-health issues,” he says. “We needed to give them flexibility to reach their goals. We’re adapting to their lives, and that’s the key.”

The school was requalified as an alternative school on April 29, 2013, meaning it is now measured by different standards. Since then, test scores and graduation rates have risen; 47 percent of kids  graduate, up from 30 percent; and 45 percent of students meet or exceed the state’s English Language Arts standard, up from 26 percent. 

The school also took other steps. They hired a full-time counselor. They revamped how students could access the curriculum: While the school is open 8am-5pm Monday-Friday (at a new location at the UC MBEST Center in Marina), lesson plans, quizzes, tests and homework can be accessed off-site from any digital device. 

Learning for Life also expanded its mission from beyond sending graduates to community colleges. They also began offering A-G courses, required to apply to UC schools. In October, the first class of seniors are set to apply to four-year UC and CSU schools.