Unique Accomplishments

API Scores: MSA-Reseda increased its API score by a total of 173 points over the past nine years, surpassing the LAUSD and the California averages in its second year of operation. Similarly, MSA-San Diego increased its API score by a total of 58 points over the past five years, surpassing the SDUSD and the California averages in its second year.

High School Graduation: MSA Reseda’s high school graduation rate has been 100% for all years with a drop-out rate of 0% (Magnolia serves a high-need area of the LAUSD). All of our graduates were enrolled in a college and 44% of them were first generation college attendees.

Best High School:

2011: MSA-1 was ranked 13th in California and 114th nationally by the Washington Post’s High School Challenge Index in 2011.

2008 & 2009: MSA-1 was awarded the Bronze Medal in 2008 and the Silver Medal in 2009 by the U.S. News & World Report in its ranking of “America’s Best High Schools.”

2007: MSA-1 received Title I Academic Achievement Award.

Promising Practices: MSA Reseda was selected as a case study for the LAUSD study of charter school innovative and promising practices in 2004 selected as a highly improving charter school by Pacific Research Institute in 2005 selected for USC’s Compendium of Promising Practices by USC, Dept. of Education in 2006 (one of two programs in math, science) qualified for Title I Academic Achievement Award in 2007.

Math, Science Competitions: Magnolia Schools’ students have won more than 60 awards in nationwide math competitions, science competitions, and science fairs such as USA Computer Olympiad, American Computer Science League, American Mathematics Competitions, Los Angeles County Science Fair and San Diego County Science Fair.

First in LAUSD: MSA Reseda students participated in the 55th Los Angeles County Science Fair in 2005 with 16 projects, which constituted more than 10% of the total projects (142) from LAUSD. Magnolia Science Academy received the highest number of awards among all LAUSD schools at the 55th Los Angeles County Science Fair in 2005. (2 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 3 honorable mentions among 733 participants in about 30 categories.) MSA- San Diego students have participated in the San Diego County Science Fair and received gold, silver and bronze medals.

First in California: Magnolia Science Academy was the first school in California to participate in the American Computer Science League, in which students from 200 schools throughout the US compete in computer programming. Magnolia Science Academy was the region winner of the junior division at the American Computer Science League in 2004 among all schools participating from Texas, New Mexico and California.

First in Charter School History: Zarathustra Brady, an 11th grader at MSA-Reseda, won the gold medal at the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)1, the most prestigious and the most difficult international math competition for high school students. He became the first charter school student to qualify for the US National Math Team. The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Directors presented a letter of recognition to Zarathustra, the first Southern Californian to win after a decade, on September 26, 2006.

Grants: Magnolia Foundation has raised so far $5.5M in start-up grants from Federal Grant Programs, Walton Family Foundation, and other private foundations and personal donors.

Replicating Success: MPS has successfully implemented an education program that has gained state level, national, and international recognition.