ABOUT US

The Life Learning Academy Charter High School

Students rennovate the facility.

The Life Learning Academy (LLA) is a non-residential San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) charter school, based on the Delancey Street Foundation (DSF) principles such as “mutual restitution”: our students make “restitution” to society through community service and personal accountability, and society restores to these underclass youths genuine opportunities to enter mainstream society successfully and legitimately. LLA serves high-school aged youths that are involved in the juvenile justice system and/or have problems including serious school failure, family problems, gang involvement, poverty, abuse, and substance abuse. The key elements of LLA include: (1) the degree to which the students are involved in school management; and, (2) the project-based curriculum including actual in-school entrepreneurial and career development programs such as a public café and a junior police and fire cadet program. Rather than treat students as passive recipients of learning and discipline, the staff teaches all students to take responsibility for the school community. Students help cook the meals, tend the gardens and have groups to determine school policies. Students progress to become mentors to other students.

Life Learning is located on Treasure Island, a former Naval Base that sits in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Students under the guidance of the Delancey Street Construction Department renovated the school facility expanding it from 8,000 square feet to 24,000 square feet.

Students are provided transportation each morning to the school site. The school day begins with a school-wide Morning Meeting, which features poetry, new vocabulary, and a daily concept or quote that encourages community spirit. Class size is 6 - 8 students on average and extended school hours are offered for peer and teacher tutoring. Life Learning is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Click to read about our students and staff, and learn about our student governance model.

Related Media
"This School Teaches Hope" (Parade, 10/8/00)
"Second Chance for Young Thugs" (San Francisco Chronicle, 4/3/00)
"School's Main Subject: Life" (San Francisco Examiner, 5/30/99)
“Hands-On Learning,” Worth, (Dec/Jan 2001)