Magnolia Public Schools Earns Renewal for High-Performing Santa Ana School
Citing strong academics, state board members vote to renew the high-performing school’s charter.
March 18, 2019 Contact: Molly O’Brien
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MAGNOLIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARNS RENEWAL FOR HIGH-PERFORMING SANTA ANA SCHOOL
Citing strong academics, state board members vote to renew the high-performing school’s charter.
Santa Ana, Calif. – The California State Board of Education voted 6-1 Thursday to renew Magnolia Science Academy-Santa Ana’s (MSA-Santa Ana) charter petition on appeal, citing its strong academic record and positive presence in the community. Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) had denied the school’s renewal petition in October 2018. The school—part of the high-performing Magnolia network of 10 public charter schools in Southern California that emphasizes science, math, technology and the arts—serves a disadvantaged student population and consistently sends 100 percent of its graduates to college.
“We are grateful to the California State Board of Education for putting students and families first. By renewing Magnolia Science Academy-Santa Ana, the board sent a message to our families and local community that they will support their right to have a high-quality choice in public education,” said Magnolia CEO Alfredo Rubalcava. “Dozens of our parents missed out on work, had to find childcare in the middle of the week and chose to get on a day-long bus ride because they needed their voices to be heard by those with the power to make decisions that have a direct impact on the lives of their children.”
Magnolia Science Academy-Santa Ana has achieved a 100 percent college acceptance rate for its seniors. They emphasize a STEM-focused education with a strong push to take care of the social and emotional needs of their students. With more than one in six (19.4 percent) of their students categorized as homeless, Magnolia provides meals to students, before- and after-school care and mental health services. They provide mentors so students have meaningful daily interactions with an adult on campus, and chronic trauma counselors to deal with the issues students face outside of school.
In addition to their academic performance, State Board members cited Magnolia’s strong impact on their community and long-standing commitment to serving the residents of Santa Ana, including the most vulnerable students.
“We’re excited to get back into the classroom to prepare our students to attend and thrive in college—most of whom will be the first in their families to do so,” said MSA-Santa Ana principal Varol Gurler. “Our driving mission every day is to get each of our students into college and to show them their options for the future are limitless.”
MSA-Santa Ana is currently enrolling for their 2019-2020 school year.
About Magnolia Public Schools
Magnolia Public Schools is a high-performing network of 10 public charter schools in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties that provides a college preparatory educational program emphasizing science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). Magnolia’s mission is to prepare students to succeed in college through a rigorous academic program while reinforcing core values through character development classes that cultivate respect for self and others. Magnolia’s vision is to create scientific thinkers who contribute to the global community as socially responsible and educated members of society. www.magnoliapublicschools.org
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