LOS ANGELES RIVER AT SONIA SOTOMAYOR LEARNING ACADEMIES

Los Angeles River at Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies is a Title I public high school that is part of the Los Angeles Unified school district, located in Los Angeles, CA with about 241 students offering grade levels from 9th Grade to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 15 teachers, Los Angeles River at Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies has a student/teacher ratio of about 16:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

The **Los Angeles River School (LARS)** is a small, specialized pilot school located within the Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies campus in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. As a project-based learning institution, it emphasizes a rigorous, inquiry-driven curriculum designed to connect classroom academics with real-world applications. By prioritizing project-based assignments, the school encourages students to develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for success in both higher education and their future professional careers.

Beyond its academic focus, the school places a strong emphasis on community engagement and social responsibility, inspired by its namesake’s dedication to justice and civic action. The environment is designed to be inclusive and supportive, leveraging its position within the larger Sotomayor campus to offer a "small school" feel while still providing access to the facilities and extracurricular opportunities of a larger comprehensive high school. Through a blend of personalization, academic challenge, and community-centered learning, LARS aims to cultivate empowered, well-rounded graduates ready to make a positive impact on their local and global environments.

For more information, contact Los Angeles River at Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies at (323) 276-5535 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.