Lawndale charter school on short list for presidential graduation address

Daily News Wire Services
Updated: 04/13/2010 09:46:10 AM PDT

LAWNDALE — Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale is on the short list to have President Barack Obama speak at its commencement this year, it was announced today.

The 470-student school has been chosen as a finalist by The White House and the Department of Education for its academic excellence, which puts it in the running for the president's Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.

ECHS is one of six public schools selected over more than 1,000 which competed for an audience with the president.

The schools were chosen based on their performance, four essay questions and supplemental data. ECHS student essays focused on demonstrating how the school is helping prepare students to meet the president's 2020 goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

Last year, 92 percent of the school's graduating seniors were accepted at four-year universities. Like its name implies, ECHS emphasizes environmental responsibility.

"We engage students in learning experiences that center around issues that are meaningful to them," ECHS principal Jenni Taylor said. "This motivates them to pursue and achieve the ambitious academic goals and become engaged citizens as they share their solutions with the community."

ECHS is a public charter high school serving Lawndale and surrounding communities in south Los Angeles.   SEE FULL STORY here