This year, Aspire opened four new schools, adding nearly 700 new students to the Aspire network - a growth of over 20 percent. Aspire now has 14 schools serving over 4,000 students, many who will be the first in their families to attend college.

In Oakland, Aspire opened two new schools on the Oakland-Berkeley border, chartered by the Oakland Unified School District. Berkley-Maynard Academy, named after Oakland civic leaders and regional publishers Thomas Berkeley and Thomas Maynard, opened with 236 K-5 students. Principal Kristyn Klei, former principal at Aspire's East Palo Alto Charter School, is leading the school of eager youngsters.

California College Preparatory Academy (CAL Prep), an early college secondary school opened in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley, opened with 96 students in grades 6-7. CAL Prep is designed to immerse students in a culture of high academic expectations, improve their preparation for college, and develop a model teaching curricula for college readiness.

Dwayne, a sixth grader at CAL Prep, said he wants someday to go to Stanford University, and that his mother advised him that working hard at CAL Prep will help make that happen.

In Stockton, Aspire opened another elementary school with veteran Aspire principal Mary Welch at the helm. The South Stockton School has 176 students in grades K-5. The new school is currently located in a former parochial school and next year will be moving to a new school funded by Proposition 47. "We are thrilled to bring an Aspire educational opportunity to the children in the Stockton Unified School District," said Mary Welch. This school is the first independent charter in the district and will expand choice to more families in urban Stockton. So far, we're off to the start of a great new year!"

And just after Labor Day, Aspire expanded into a new region, opening its first school in the Huntington Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The new school, located in the historic city of Huntington Park about six and a half miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles, will offer Aspire's rigorous and thoughtful education program to 176 students. The new LA school is currently in a former parochial school, and next year students will move to another facility that is currently under construction. Parents, students, educators, and administrative personnel were involved in developing the plans for the new K-5 elementary school. Parents have volunteered their time to assist in the office, students have participated in lesson demonstrations, and teachers have collaborated to plan for their classes to kickoff the inaugural year.

Principal Maribel Galan, a native of Huntington Park, is the school's principal. "I am so proud to come back to the community where I was raised to make a difference for the next generation of young people," said Maribel Galan. "The Huntington Park community is seeking a better alternative in public education and Aspire Public Schools is the perfect choice to answer their needs. Parents and students are excited about school and the idea of having a goal to one day attend the college of their choice. We're going to help them meet that dream."