Our doors were opened in 1976 as a public junior high school serving primarily students in the Anaheim Hills area. Over time, we imagined a slightly different path for ourselves. We had big plans for growth and variety to offer to our students. Even with our high hopes, we couldn’t have predicted we’d not only reach, but surpass, the number of goals we already have.
So how did we break through the limitations that normally live within a strictly public-school system and make our own success?
We owe a lot of it to our 2002 decision to become a conversion charter school.
A conversion charter school, in essence, is a traditional public school that has been converted to a charter school by a group of stakeholders like teachers, staff, parents or the greater community. In our case, it was our teachers and principal at the time that spearheaded the effort in the hope to provide a better-quality education. We still look, feel, and act like a public school, but we’re able to manage ourselves with fewer restrictions, allowing us to prioritize what we care about most: our students and their education.
Since 2002, we’ve used our independence to make sure every decision contributes to ensuring a well-rounded education. We do this through a “liberal arts” approach to middle school, prioritizing self-discovery and personalized structures over extreme specialization or a too-uniform approach.
In this effort, in 2017 we opened a brand-new Athletics and Science Center with five science classrooms and a gym that can seat 750 and hold up to 1,200 people and a professional dance studio.
We’re also proud to be self-starters. Similar to the way we took matters into our own hands to format a charter school, our teachers, students, and even parents, are proactive in helping make our school a better place. Last year, our teachers wanted to incorporate more new media, so we created a podcast and blogging activity elective. In addition, we offer an extensive list of electives from 9 music classes, 10 performing arts classes, multiple digital media and technology courses, and industrial arts. Among our selection for seventh graders in their quarterly rotation are home economics, wood shop, art and computer technology. We want our students to get to know themselves, so they can develop inside and outside the classroom.
After school, our program continues to focus on our student’s wide range of interests. Such as multiple after-school sports teams, robotics, intervention and academic assistance, community assistance groups and environmental interest groups. Over 350 students participate in our activities like these outside the classroom, and we expect to see that number rise as the school year kicks into full gear.
Continuing our success and dedication as a charter school has enabled us to take action for ourselves. We believe the future is what we make it and we’re ready to see where the El Rancho students will take us. El Rancho is Future Ready!