Welcome to the Green Dot Blog!

Get on the Bus; First-Time Voters Get a Ride to the Polls

Jun 30, 2016

#PartyatthePolls built excitement around the major milestone of voting for the first time for students at five of our 11 high schools in California.

Celebrating the Class of 2016

Jun 23, 2016

Graduation season is always an inspirational time at Green Dot Public Schools. We honor our students as they realize their potential and walk the stage in cap and gown towards a successful future. To our grads: Keep it up!

By Doing Good in the Community, a Father does Right by his Sons

Jun 16, 2016

As Father’s Day approaches, we acknowledge the fathers in our own communities and what it takes to properly raise our families and advocate for our communities. It takes both love and power, especially in the face of barriers and opposition.

Common Core at 2: More persistence, more critical thinking

Jun 9, 2016

With a year of teaching Common Core under their belts, Green Dot teachers are reporting that their students are showing more critical thinking and perseverance– both essential to success in school and in life.

Closing the College Completion Gap with College Persistence

Jun 2, 2016

Today, the biggest driver of upward mobility is education. Without a college degree, half of those raised in the lowest-income families will remain in poverty throughout their adult lives. But with a college degree, nine out of ten will escape the poverty of their youth. The Green Dot Public Schools College Persistence Initiative seeks to close the college completion gap for low-income students.

JROTC Provides Memorable Experiences for Locke Cadets

May 25, 2016

Memorial Day is a holiday where we honor those who have fought for our country. Locke’s Navy JROTC program focuses on citizenship and leadership development. The program also provides an opportunity for mentors to work with students.

Professional Development Guided by Teachers for Teachers

May 19, 2016

All Green Dot Days are days devoted to professional development and provided throughout the school year. We are an ever-evolving organization and we believe that our professional development should reflect that.

Jenesse Center: Holding a Youthful Conversation on a Serious Topic

May 16, 2016

250 students from Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy traveled across Los Angeles to take part in a Youth Conversation to raise awareness about teen dating violence, in collaboration with Jenesse Center, a Los Angeles-based domestic violence intervention program.

Super Moms at the Heart of Green Dot’s Success

May 12, 2016

One of the most effective ways to attack persistently low student outcomes, lingering education inequities, and the intractable achievement gap is to involve parents. We work hard to nurture the organized power of our parents, like these “Super Moms”, to drive positive change in our neighborhoods.

Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5, 2016

The difference our teachers make in the lives of our students does not go unnoticed. During this week’s Teacher Appreciation Week, take an extra moment to thank the educators in your life: whether they are teaching your children, they taught you when you were in school, or they are a neighbor or colleague.

Adelante: Moving Teachers Forward Toward Their Credential

Apr 28, 2016

In partnership with Loyola Marymount University, we’ve created the Green Dot Adelante Credentialing Program. The program aims to support a cohort of soon-to-be teachers as they earn their preliminary teaching credential and teach in a Green Dot Public School.

8 Green Dot Public School High Schools Named Among the Nation’s Best

Apr 21, 2016

For the second straight year, 8 Green Dot Public School high schools have been named among the nation’s best by US News & World Report. These rankings above all else demonstrate that when we set high standards for students, they will rise up and exceed expectations.

Monday Motivation from the 2016 Golden Dot Award Winners

Apr 18, 2016

We asked this year’s Golden Dot Award winners “What inspires you to work hard every day?” Read their answers.

What a Difference a School Makes

Apr 6, 2016

From the moment she walked onto the Oscar de la Hoya Ánimo Charter High School campus, Green Dot parent, Isela Castro, knew she had found some place different. She felt comfortable, and even before her son started school there, the educators were accepting of him and his needs.

Creating Real Community Change, One Green Dot Vote at a Time

Mar 31, 2016

Voter participation in the communities we serve is historically low. To address the need for more civic engagement among Green Dot families, the Green Dot Votes initiative seeks to register to vote individuals in the community and create a greater understanding of the link between civic engagement and policy change.

The Future of Charter Schools in 140 Characters or Less

Mar 28, 2016

Green Dot Public Schools, along with Third Way, the Century Foundation, and the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, discussed the future of charter schools in a Twitter Chat back on March 9.

Robot vs Robot: The Battle to Build the Best

Mar 24, 2016

This year, almost 150 students are designing and building their own robots to compete against each other on Thursday, April 28th at an annual competition—hosted this year by Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School.

5 Capitals Needed for a Healthy Community

Mar 10, 2016

A healthy community must possess five different kinds of capital:
1. Human; 2. Social; 3. Political; 4. Intellectual, and, 5. Financial.
No single form of capital can be dominant; unrestrained by the others, each can create its own types of imbalance, and accompanying problems.

From South LA to Ivy League: The Official SXSWedu Panel by Green Dot Public Schools

Mar 4, 2016

For Ánimo Pat Brown alumni Alvaro Quintero and Jose Rodriguez, the SXSWedu panel serves as an opportunity to share their story of transition from high school in South LA to the Ivy League.