Empowering Minds. Transforming Futures.
Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School (EPACS) is a leading TK-8 public charter school dedicated to preparing all students for success in college and beyond.
We equip students with the skills, habits and mindset necessary to achieve success in college and beyond. We believe that a college degree will provide our graduates with the opportunity to earn a family-sustaining income and make a positive impact on their community
History
Over a decade ago, a group of parent advocates proposed the idea for a charter school to the Ravenswood City School District. In 1997, we opened our doors after receiving start-up funds from the School Futures Research Foundation, a non-profit education foundation started by John Walton of WalMart. In 2003, we merged with Aspire Public Schools, a non-profit charter management organization that provides underserved students with high-quality college prep education across the state. In 2002 and 2007, with the help of Ravenswood, we renewed our charter to continue to bring quality education to the community.
Our unique program ensures students receive the education and attention they require while exposing them to activities and opportunities they otherwise would not experience. We enhance our students' learning with exposure to technology, diverse cultures, environmental education, community service and character development both inside the classroom and out.
Values
As a member of the Aspire Public Schools, we hold these values:
Bienestar (Well-being): Learning, working, and playing require us to feel safe and well. Our spaces and interactions support physical, emotional, cultural, ethnic, academic, and social safety, allowing us to feel secure enough to bring our full selves each day.
Culture of Belonging: We seek to be known and seen at Aspire, where we can be our authentic selves and be comfortable sharing all aspects of our identities. We respect and celebrate each other’s differences, and approach one another with empathy and understanding—no matter one’s background or cultural history. Each person is valued and has a place in this community.
Community Partnership: We are all connected and collectively responsible for the well-being of every member of our extended community. When one of us is let down, we are all let down. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed. Only in partnership and by listening deeply to one another, can we create collective movement.
Agency + Self-determination: Each person has unique dreams. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives.
Joy: We strive to make Aspire and our communities a joyful place to learn, work, and be, together. Our work to shift outcomes is hard, yet we persist and have gratitude and pride in the journey. Joy makes it all possible!
Aspire’s core values are a part of its culture, but they do not define the culture. Culture is a shared system of values, beliefs and behaviors that collectively determine how things are done in an organization; it includes but is not limited to values.
Aspire Links
Aspire Bay Area Landing Page - LINK
Aspire Jobs - LINK
City of EPA/San Mateo County Links
Roundabout on Runnymede & Pulgas - Pulgas Avenue Mini-Roundabouts
Walk Audit Report - LINK
We equip students with the skills, habits and mindset necessary to achieve success in college and beyond. We believe that a college degree will provide our graduates with the opportunity to earn a family-sustaining income and make a positive impact on their community
History
Over a decade ago, a group of parent advocates proposed the idea for a charter school to the Ravenswood City School District. In 1997, we opened our doors after receiving start-up funds from the School Futures Research Foundation, a non-profit education foundation started by John Walton of WalMart. In 2003, we merged with Aspire Public Schools, a non-profit charter management organization that provides underserved students with high-quality college prep education across the state. In 2002 and 2007, with the help of Ravenswood, we renewed our charter to continue to bring quality education to the community.
Our unique program ensures students receive the education and attention they require while exposing them to activities and opportunities they otherwise would not experience. We enhance our students' learning with exposure to technology, diverse cultures, environmental education, community service and character development both inside the classroom and out.
Values
As a member of the Aspire Public Schools, we hold these values:
Bienestar (Well-being): Learning, working, and playing require us to feel safe and well. Our spaces and interactions support physical, emotional, cultural, ethnic, academic, and social safety, allowing us to feel secure enough to bring our full selves each day.
Culture of Belonging: We seek to be known and seen at Aspire, where we can be our authentic selves and be comfortable sharing all aspects of our identities. We respect and celebrate each other’s differences, and approach one another with empathy and understanding—no matter one’s background or cultural history. Each person is valued and has a place in this community.
Community Partnership: We are all connected and collectively responsible for the well-being of every member of our extended community. When one of us is let down, we are all let down. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed. Only in partnership and by listening deeply to one another, can we create collective movement.
Agency + Self-determination: Each person has unique dreams. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives.
Joy: We strive to make Aspire and our communities a joyful place to learn, work, and be, together. Our work to shift outcomes is hard, yet we persist and have gratitude and pride in the journey. Joy makes it all possible!
Aspire’s core values are a part of its culture, but they do not define the culture. Culture is a shared system of values, beliefs and behaviors that collectively determine how things are done in an organization; it includes but is not limited to values.
Aspire Links
Aspire Bay Area Landing Page - LINK
Aspire Jobs - LINK
City of EPA/San Mateo County Links
Roundabout on Runnymede & Pulgas - Pulgas Avenue Mini-Roundabouts
Walk Audit Report - LINK
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Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School TK-8
1286 Runnymede Street East Palo Alto, CA 94303 Phone: (650) 614-9100 |
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EPACS is proudly part of Aspire Public Schools.
EPACS is proudly part of Aspire Public Schools.
