Vaughn Next Century Learning Center

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, located in Pacoima, is a large urban public school within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Since the early 1970's, low student achievement had been a pattern. In 1993, tired of being helpless and hopeless, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center became the first conversion charter school in the nation and was authorized by LAUSD. The charter was renewed in 1998 and again in 2003. This previously failing elementary public school is now a full-service, community-based, K-12th charter school. The school serves 1,917 neighborhood students that include 96.9% eligible for free meals, 2.8% eligible for reduced meals, 72% English learners, 7.3% students with disabilities, 98% Hispanic, 1.6% African-American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% Other White. Vaughn Next Century Learning Center was awarded the California Distinguished Schools Award in 1996 and the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award in 1997.