The East Palo Alto Charter School was designed by and for families of East Palo Alto in 1997 to serve students in kindergarten through 9th grade. EPACS works to equip students in this under-served community with the skills necessary to succeed while fostering the desire to participate responsibly in the community.

Our Values

As an Aspire Charter School we hold these values:

• Collaboration: Working collectively to accomplish more than what is possible alone
• Ownership: Individual and group accountability for results, actions and decisions
• Quality: Commitment to excellence and the discipline to continually improve
• Customer Service: Responsiveness to the needs of external and internal customers
• Purposefulness: Deliberate action, focused on the organization's goals and priorities

We continually seek educational partners, community volunteers and parent participation to support our goal that every student will develop into a literate, motivated and confident individual devoted to serving the community and pursuing academic excellence.

Our History

2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

2007

• Ravenswood City School District renews the K-8 Charter
• School receives funding to support a full time Math Coach
• EPACS collaborates with the City of East Palo Alto to provide breakfast for the Go Smart Peace March

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2006

• Teachers consistently collaborate around lesson plans and use data to drive instruction
• 14 8th grade students are accepted to prestigious private high schools
• EPACS Secondary starts with 22 9th grade students
• PG&E selects EPACS for a Solar Energy Grant

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2005

• 30 8th grade students go to Washington DC with Close Up
• Learning in Motion CD featuring 12 songs with students and guest appearances by local Bay Area rappers is released
• 21st Century After School Program officially starts, providing all students access to a comprehensive after school program
• First Annual Spring Cleaning Day is held with Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and Hands on Bay Area

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2004

• Office of Student Affairs at Stanford University grants official University approval for the EPACS Middle School tutoring program
• The state grants $75,000 a year for five years to offer academic and enrichment programs for 3:30 until 6 each evening
• Menlo Park Presbyterian Church sends over 1200 volunteers in one day to make drastic facilities
• Improvement Omega Kids Project launches program to support and guide kids in making healthy lifestyle choices
• 425 students enroll
• The East Palo Alto Charter School Board of Directors votes to make EPACS part of the network of Aspire Public Schools

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2003

• Collective Roots Garden Project joins EPACS to implement garden based education programs
• Young Interpreters Program launches to train Middle School Students to become bilingual interpreters
• Junior League facilitates Middle School's first Character Development Program
• State awards Reading First Grant, enabling to EPACS to hire first-ever full time Reading Coach
• Harvard Club aides 8th grade families in completing private school applications
• Middle School students travel to Stanford Sierra Camp in Lake Tahoe
• 410 students enroll

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2002

• Students participating in Destination Imagination win a regional award for creativity
• Teachers attend first Open Court Training for reading instruction
• 380 students enroll

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2001

• Office of Development is opened to raise support for materials and programs that improve the quality of education for the students of East Palo Alto Charter School — to date, the Office of Development has raised nearly $150,000 in individual contributions and over $450,000 through corporate donations and private, state, and federal grant programs
• Advisory Committee to the Office of Development is founded
• Sutter's Fort field trip is offered to 4th grade students
• Kaboom unites EPACS with Yahoo Employee Foundation for its extraordinary Playground Build
• 360 students enroll

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2000

• School collaborates with Charter Teach to improve teacher retention
• Valley of the Hearts Delight transforms vacant lot into an Organic Garden
• First 8th grade class graduates from the Middle School
• 340 students enroll

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1999

• 1st African American History Celebration is held
• 1st Cinco de Mayo Celebration is thrown
• 320 students enroll

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1998

• EPACS hosts Junior Achievement Day, courtesy of students from Stanford Graduate School of Business
• 1st Latin America Day at EPA is celebrated at EPACS
• 300 students enroll

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1997

• EPACS opens its doors
• Physical Education and Spanish is offered for all students
• Venture Law Group becomes a Partner in Education
• 260 students enroll

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1996

• Parents and community members apply for a charter to open East Palo Alto Charter School

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» Learn about our academic success