History & Timeline

New Designs Charter School was founded by Dr.Yaw O. Adutwum, a teacher, formerly of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The School derives its name from the New Designs for Learning, a national organization currently based in Oregon State University. The organization headed by Dr. George Copa has developed a model for the integration of academic and technical education curriculums. The New Designs model also emphasizes service learning, strong parent participation, post-secondary articulation and industry as well as community partnerships.

New Designs Charter School is an LAUSD approved charter school located in the heart of the Crenshaw District. From the commencement of operations New Designs has been an academic forerunner in the community, posting an Academic Performance Index, (API) score of 659 in its inaugural year. The score of 659 and the subsequent statewide ranking of 3 is higher than any traditional school in the community. In the second year of its operation, New Designs Charter School set a much higher record, this time posting an Academic Performance Index, (API) score of 679, the statewide ranking of 4 and a similar schools ranking of 9 out of 10. This performance again is higher than all the traditional schools in the community. In fact, no traditional secondary school in the area has a statewide ranking above 1. The School ended its second year of operation with 280 students, third year with 425 students and will be offering its exemplary academic programs to about 600 students in grades six through eleven this coming fall. The School is poised to exceed the Adequate Yearly Progress; (AYP) benchmark set by the federal government and continues to make strides in academics, community outreach, and the overall enrichment of the families that it serves. Besides its great academic program, the school also offers CIF sponsored athletics in Football, Soccer, Basketball, and Track and Field. New Designs Charter School also competes in the national Academic Decathlon, cheerleading, and step team competitions.

Historical Timeline

November 2002:

New Designs Charter School receives $450,000 in Federal Public Charter School Startup Grant funds through the California Department of Education.

October, 2003:

New Designs Charter School is approved by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

September 7, 2004:

First day of operation, New Designs opens with a student enrollment of 120.

August, 2005:

New Designs obtains an Academic Performance Index (API) score of 659 during its inaugural year of state mandated testing.

September, 2005:

New Designs begins its second year of operations with a student enrollment of 280.

September, 2005:

New Designs introduces CIF sponsored sports programs in football and basketball.

January, 2005:

New Designs attains full membership in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

June 2006:

The Accreditation Committee of the Western Association of Schools (WASC) and Colleges visits New Designs Charter School.

July 2006:

WASC grants New Designs Charter School full accreditation for grades 6-9 through June 30, 2009.

August, 2006:

New Designs obtains an Academic Performance Index (API) score of 679 during its second year of state mandated testing.

September 5, 2006:

New Designs Charter School opened another middle school campus at Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club.

January, 2007:

School receives $150,000 grant from the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation through Edvisions Inc. to enhance curriculum development and instructional delivery.