The new K-8 facility is being constructed using a $19.8 million bond issue from the California School Finance Authority (CSFA). ICEF expects to occupy the campus during the 2015-16 school year.
One of Los Angeles’ first charter management organizations also announces ambitious plan to house all of its schools in permanent facilities by the 2018-19 school year
ICEF Public Schools (ICEF), a network of 12 charter schools in South Los Angeles and Inglewood known for sending African-American and Latino students to the top 100 colleges in the country, today announced that its flagship View Park Preparatory Elementary and Middle schools will move to a new 54,000 square-foot campus currently being constructed. These schools currently occupy four smaller campuses in South Los Angeles. The new K-8 facility is being constructed using a $19.8 million bond issue from the California School Finance Authority (CSFA). ICEF expects to occupy the campus during the 2015-16 school year.
This is ICEF’s second permanent facility. The first, View Park High School, was financed through another CSFA bond issue in October 2013. These campuses are the start of ICEF’s plan to place all 12 of its schools in permanent homes over the next four years. Within the next two years, ICEF expects to open a permanent facility for their Lou Dantzler Middle School thanks to a Prop. 1D opportunity provided by the State of California.
“With the completion of ICEF’s View Park K-8 facility, our founding family of schools will have a permanent home. This is ICEF’s first step toward an everlasting commitment to our entire community of scholars,” said ICEF’s CEO Parker Hudnut. “ICEF was founded with the support of our families and as we produce more college-bound graduates each year, we wish to honor and reinforce our commitment to our scholars, our families and our community as we share and celebrate together the progress in their personal and professional lives.”
Founded in 1999, ICEF is celebrating its 15th anniversary this school year. The organization serves approximately 4,100 mostly African-American and Latino students, and the new facility will allow ICEF to serve more families seeking access to a high quality public education.
“ICEF not only stands for education, but it also represents an organization that has spent the last 15 years investing in the youth of south Los Angeles and Inglewood,” said Mayor Richard Riordan, chairman of ICEF Public Schools Board of Directors. “The new View Park K-8 facility represents ICEF’s financial investment and commitment to its students and the community for the next 15 years and beyond.”
Historically, over 90 percent of ICEF’s graduating students have gone on to pursue their college educations at many prestigious schools across the United States. ICEF attributes its success to a model that focuses on academics along with other critical school experiences that create well-rounded students who are prepared to succeed in college.
ICEF’s model focuses on the three As—Academics, Arts and Athletics. The academic instruction uses technology and Concentric Circles, which combines online delivery of educational content with the best features of classroom interaction and personalized learning. This allows for thoughtful reflection and differentiated instruction across their diverse group of learners. ICEF’s Visual and Performing Arts department works with students to cultivate creativity, creative thinking and problem-solving ability through the arts. The athletics department consists of championship football and basketball teams as well as intermural boys and girls basketball, track and field and volleyball. ICEF also has a Soccer Academy and a world-renowned rugby program. The combination of the three A’s allows ICEF students to compete at universities outside Los Angeles and to travel the world, exposing them to unique experiences and opportunities not available to most high school students.
