Open Magnet Charter School

Welcome to Open Magnet Charter School

Open Magnet Charter is an Affiliated-Charter and Magnet Elementary School (K-5) in the Los Angeles Unified School District. We are conveniently located near the 405 Freeway in the City of Los Angeles adjacent to the community of Westchester.

Like an oasis away from the busy city, Open students, parents, and staff come together to build a true learning community where students learn through meaningful experiences. Teams of two teachers sharing the same “cluster” of multi-age students design the instructional program to create a thematic project-based curriculum. Enrichment programs covering visual arts, vocal arts, orchestra, physical education, and gardening are also integrated. With its constructivist approach to teaching and a dedicated and diverse school community, Open is one of the most unique schools in the district.

Our goal is to inspire and support our students’ love of learning, thereby enabling them to master the skills they will need as lifelong learners and responsible citizens in our ever-changing society.

Information about upcoming tours will be available on our website in September-October. Click here on how to apply to Open Magnet Charter.

Open Magnet Charter has been designated as a California Distinguished School in 1997, 2003, and just recently in 2012.

"[These Schools] demonstrate the incredible commitment of California's teachers, administrators and school employees to provide a world-class education to every student, in spite of the financial hardships facing our state and our schools. Their dedication is inspiring, and I applaud and admire their passion and persistence."
--State Superintendent Tom Torlakson

In 2001, we were one of three schools chosen in the county of Los Angeles to be the recipient of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership Excellence Award. The LAEP Excellence Awards highlight the accomplishments of teachers, schools and school-communities in the Los Angeles Unified School District that have enhanced student learning and achievement in pre-K through 12th grade.

News Highlights

Requires Response: Please Read About Monday's Solar Eclipse Activities (Article)

Submitted by Peggy Lew on Aug 18 (last updated Aug 18)

Please carefully read the letter regarding Monday's Solar Eclipse from Superintendent Michelle King and return the Solar Eclipse Viewing Permission Slip by Monday morning.

A copy of the letter and permission slip is being sent home today. Please check your child's backpack or reprint using the links.

On August 21, 2017, for the first time since 1918, a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the United States. From our school, we will experience a partial eclipse.

Every cluster will have the option of creating a cluster specific experience around the solar eclipse. Each teaching team is responsible for deciding what those specific activities will be. In all cases, if a cluster decides to go out during the eclipse, they will be wearing approved eye protection.

As always, student safety is our top priority. Looking directly at the sun is unsafe and can cause permanent eye damage or other unknown effects. The only way to safely look at the sun -- eclipsed or partially eclipsed -- is through special-purpose solar filters, such as "eclipse eyewear." According to NASA, homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even those with very dark lenses, are not safe for looking at the sun.

Although there is no way to guarantee student safety during such a rare event, we will take precautionary measures to ensure that students are aware of the risks of looking directly at the sun.

At no time should students or other participants remove their eclipse eyewear and look directly at the sun. Please speak with your child about the importance of keeping their eclipse eyewear on during this event. For more information, visit https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety.

If you want your child to participate in the outdoor viewing activity planned for your cluster on August 21st, please review, sign and return this form to your child’s teacher. If you do not wish for your child to be outside during in the event or if you do not return this form, alternative activities will be held inside during this period.

Superintendent's Letter about the Solar Eclipse

Viewing Permission Slip must be returned on Monday

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Save the Date for Back-to-School Night (Article)

Submitted by Peggy Lew on Aug 16 (last updated Aug 17)

Save the Date: Back-to-School Night is Tuesday, August 29th from 6:00pm until 7:30pm.

Your child's teachers and the Friends of Open School have a lot of valuable information to share with you about this school year.

We will begin in the auditorium at 6:00pm.

This event is for parents and guardians only. Students should not be in attendance. There will be no childcare provided, so please make arrangements in advance.

We hope to share some exciting plans for the upcoming school year and look forward to seeing you then.

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Principal's Message (Article)

Submitted by Antoinette Cass on Apr 26 (last updated Apr 27)

In an effort to make a meaningful contribution to the professional education community at large and to extend our leadership, we were selected by LAUSD to participate as a host school for the Annual Magnet Schools of America Conference current taking place in Los Angeles. This conference hosts approximately 2,000 participants from across the nation and a bus load of 50 educators descended upon Open School today to see constructivism in action.

This one-day visit for educators from across the U.S. took place on our campus, offering visiting educators the opportunity to experience and observe learning and teaching processes in an authentic context. It provided a chance for participants to observe constructivist practices and focused classroom demonstrations, as well as see student performances, visit the garden and ask questions of panelists including teachers, students, and staff.

We thank LAUSD for this national recognition and we look forward to many opportunities to come.

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