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 usually in October. Applicants MUST be residents of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) at the time of application in order to participate in the LAUSD Magnet Program. 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

Welcome Back - Principal's Message (Article)

Submitted by Antoinette Cass on Aug 20 (last updated Aug 25)

Dear Wonderful Open School Families,

Welcome to Open School for the 2020-21 school year. I am in awe that this is my ninth year at Open School as principal and I cherish this responsibility that you have entrusted to me. I am so lucky to be working amongst such talented, dedicated and committed faculty and staff, as well as the amazing families here at Open School. I hope that all of your families are healthy.

Today was an amazing day! I definitely want you all to know that we join you as we all reflect on today. It was fraught with nervousness, technical glitches, troubleshooting and finding our rhythm in this very uncomfortable new normal. AND it was full of smiles, happiness, shared experiences and love. At Open School, we like to focus on the love and the community, communication, bonding and support. We are here to support you every step of the way.

We may not have all of the answers right when they are asked, as we are learning alongside each of you, but we do have the willingness and drive to try to wrestle through it all to get to the answer. With patience, we will all reach the end goal together.

At Open School, we have our Roots of Respect Program in which we highlight five words per school year that we trust will develop the character of all of our community members. The first word this school year is Communication. In these remote times this has never been more important. As a community, we will lean on each other to provide respectful, caring, clear, appropriate and timely communication. We will also make sure that our children are learning how to communicate effectively and are finding ways for meaningful expression.