Dear SLA families,

One of our top priorities as an administration has been to provide an option for Middle School students to stay together in the coming academic year with as much continuity in curriculum and faculty as possible. As you know, we have been in conversation with The Oaks, a K–6 school with a campus just eight minutes north of SLA, finalizing an option to run a version of our programming on The Oaks campus and under its administration.

We are excited to share more details about this option, which we’ve dubbed SLA at The Oaks, below. The Oaks and SLA are deeply aligned in our philosophical approach to education and community building. At the Oaks, K-6 students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning process and challenged to discover and develop their passions. The administration at The Oaks believes the best learning opportunities are created when students are able to share in the responsibility of their education, and when they feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and build skills. This aligns with SLA’s project- and inquiry-based learning model and emphasis on experiential education grounded in the City of Los Angeles.

ADMISSION

If enough current Middle School families are interested in enrolling together, currently enrolled SLA students will not have to re-apply to The Oaks. Students will NOT need to go through an application process, and families will NOT need to reapply for financial aid. A rising Middle School student at SLA would automatically be a rising Middle School student at The Oaks.

PROGRAMMING

Under the proposed plan, some members of the SLA’s current Middle School faculty would continue on at The Oaks. SLA’s Middle School course offerings would remain largely intact, and students would be able to continue their current course trajectories in Math, Science, History, Literature, and Language. Clubs would continue to be student driven at The Oaks, with the support of their administration.

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY

At The Oaks, inclusive and multicultural practices are central to their curriculum and community. Families from SLA can expect a similar approach and openness to a uniquely diverse student body and diversity of viewpoints.

INTERESTED? CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT A COMMUNITY SURVEY

In order to continue finalizing details, we need to know how many SLA families are interested in this option. The deadline is Monday at noon to complete the survey. Please help us gauge community interest.