Watts Learning Center is a high achieving independent elementary charter school strategically located in inner city Los Angeles.  The blue print for WattsLearningCenter was derived from a focus group held by visionary and founder Mr. Eugene Fisher.  In assessing the results of the focus group it was determined that students from lower income families were not achieving on standardized test thus in a sense perpetuating a permanent underclass.  He determined that the greatest hope for these children to evade entrapment was through a culturally responsive world class education.  Fisher aligned with a group of like minded individuals and under the California Charter School Law they began Watts Learning Center.

Watts was established with the core values of acceptance, achievement, commitment, community, integrity and respect.  Since their inception in 1997 they have made great strides towards advancing the cause of education for inner city students.  A large portion of their accomplishments stems from their development of a strong alliance with educators, parents, and the community at large.  A major goal of the charter learning center is to build on the success of head start and other pre-school programs by creating a culture of learning in which all stakeholders not only know their role but actively engage in the process.  This affords the students an educational experience that extends beyond the four walls of the school.

Mr. Eugene Fisher, now board president, stated that the factors that differentiate Watts from other schools are not only their quantifiable success, but their child centered, world class education.  He noted, “Students are ready to accept more than educators and parents are ready to give”.  By expanding our expectations students will expand their thinking.  Another stark contrast mentioned by Fisher, is that other inner city schools tend to only “sell education,” while African Americans “buy service”:  most inner city schools generally focus solely on academics, overlooking the emotional and societal demands affecting the student.  Watts has committed to servicing the whole child. Specifically, they provide the Kedren counseling program and the We Love Children program, which provides special support services for students with adjustment problems, both in an attempt to cultivate a love for learning.  In addition to their support services, Watts has taken an innovative approach to academia – integrating a curriculum of traditional subjects such as literacy, mathematics and science with activities like physical education, yoga and music.

Watts Learning Center has had several significant victories.  Recently, the California Charter School Association awarded Watts Learning Center the Hart Vision Award for being the 2007 charter school of the year.  They were recently awarded the distinguished Title I Academic Achievement Award.  When asked what he credits for the success of Watts Learning Center, Fisher replied, it was the culmination of, “hard work, commitment, deeply caring and mission-minded staff, and rigorous curriculum.”

With these major successes to their credit one might speculate as to what is next for Watts Learning Center.  To that Fisher would add perfection and continuation of what has proven to work.  The school has an Academic Performance Index of 822 a number that is admirable by most however, Fisher has his sights set on a 900.  He would also like to see the vision carried over into the creation of a middle school.  In follow up with students who matriculated from Watts he found that the students were doing well but in many cases they were doing in middle school, things that they had been taught at Watts.  This speaks volumes on the curriculum at Watts however he would like to see the students continue the momentum in building on the foundation they received at Watts.  Ultimately, he would like to see the students of Watts going on to be competitive at the top colleges and universities in the nation and accomplishing great things.

[1] For more information on Watts Learning Center and other member organizations of the Connecting Communities Coalition, please http://www.calresearch.org/ccc.asp.

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