Are you looking for an unparalleled education for your child? “One size fits all” education doesn’t work anymore. Every child has unique strengths and abilities. As parents, caregivers and guardians, finding a school that fits your child’s special qualities is very important. In Gardena, and other nearby cities in the South Bay region, like Carson, there are more public school options for your child, like a charter school.

What is the difference between a charter school and a public school in California?

Charter schools are public schools! Charter schools are free and open to all students. In fact, the major area where public and tuition-free public charter schools differ is that public charter schools don’t have attendance boundaries. This means any student who wants to apply can do so regardless of where they live. If more students apply than a charter school has room for, a lottery is done to fill the classes. 

Speaking of classes, public charter schools usually have smaller class sizes which increases personalization of education for each student. Combined with an atmosphere of community from school leaders, teachers, and parents, charter school students are supported both at home and at school in their academic, personal, and professional pursuits.

Are charter schools better than public schools in California?

It’s normal for parents to wonder whether public charter schools offer high-quality education.

If you are one of those parents who remain unsure about the quality of charter schools, then you should know that studies often show that charter school students display better academic progress than those enrolled in public schools. Here are some figures proving the high-quality education provided by charter schools.

  • In the school year 2009 to 2010, around 67 percent of California charter school students met the state student achievement test targets whereas only 57 of non-charter school students met the same test targets.
  • In the same school year, roughly 74 percent of students from charter schools met the student achievement goals for disadvantaged students, a percentage that’s significantly higher than the 59 percent from non-charter schools.
  • In the same school year, middle school students from charter schools also did better across all-subgroups when compared to students from non-charter schools in California.

In addition, California charter school students in middle schools consistently fared better in their API Growth scores, outperforming their traditional public school counterparts.

What tuition free public charter schools are available in Gardena, CA?

While there are many charter high schools in the Gardena area, we recommend New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS). This small, tuition-free public charter school is accredited and serves 9th-12th grade students in Gardena, Carson, and the South Bay region of Los Angeles. 

At NMSS, students learn problem solving and critical thinking skills while pursuing their personal, academic, and professional goals. Our 9th- 12th grade students attend at least one tuition-free college course while at NMSS. Providing college level rigor with clear, high expectations of our students, NMSS also focuses on personal and academic integrity in all that our staff and students do, especially when communicating ideas, collaborating, or resolving conflicts.

Students at NMSS thrive because of the layers of support, camaraderie, and positive regard we hold for each other. We get to know the families of our students and regularly check in on each other. By getting to know each other well, we build a culture of connection that permeates our community. Every student is known and appreciated for who they are.

Our teachers are recruited for their expertise, but often choose us because they know they’re coming to us not just to teach, but to join our small, close-knit community. The engaging conversations we have and the way we interact is just so very different than a traditional high school. We all treat our students as if they ARE our kids, and as such, we are dedicated to their success!

In addition to academic excellence, NMSS students get to compete in a variety of CIF sports at Gardena High School. From Football and Soccer to Cross Country, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis — you name it, playing sports and getting regular exercise helps our students stay healthy and learn in a more relaxed state. Students also have access to community college classes during school hours through a partnership with East Los Angeles Community College and other surrounding colleges. 

Are There Other Tuition-Free and Public Charter Schools Available in Gardena, CA?

You can choose to apply and enroll your children in a tuition-free, public charter school even if it is outside your school district. Gardena charter schools do not have to comply with boundary school rules. Thus, parents in Gardena, Carson, or the South Bay region can opt for the charter school of their choice and not worry about breaking district rules. California laws state that charter schools admit any child residing in the state if their capacity allows it.

About NMSS

The New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS) is a charter high school in Gardena, CA committed to preparing students to become life-long learners and dynamic leaders in the competitive 21st century.  NMSS was created to address the rising global competitive environment for talent. Our students enjoy a small school education with big school sports and accredited community college classes. Enroll your student today.