King-Chavez Academy of Excellence (King-Chavez Public Schools) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit charter school network operator.  Our mission is simple, We Seek Excellence and Equality in Education from the Foundation of Love.  King-Chavez is committed to promoting social justice through educational reform. We do this through developing and operating high-quality public charter schools.  We believe that school spirit is primary, inner strength drives high achievement and everyone is created equal.  We view all programs, initiatives and methods in the greater context of Love.  Cultivating caring relationships in a supportive environment where heart-centered exchange between teacher and student can thrive is our highest calling.

In 2000, the original King-Chavez Academy of Excellence was born out of community need.  The local public schools were abjectly failing.  In the shadow of the Coronado Bridge, next to Chicano Park, the original school started with 75 students.  By the third year, we had over 300 students and the school was the most improved school in San Diego County.  In addition to academic performance, this school was strong financially staff morale was high and community engagement was authentic. 

In 2005, King-Chavez opened three new schools, the King-Chavez Primary, Arts and Athletics Academies.  These schools were constituted as the response of a community in crisis.  Through a grassroots movement, the local failed public elementary school was restructured under No Child Left Behind, as three smaller King-Chavez Academies.  Two years later the results are phenomenal.  The schools inherited an API score of 559 now the three schools have API scores 810, 641 and 739. These gains are among the greatest in the county and have received national recognition.

In August 2006, the King-Chavez Preparatory Academy was opened to serve as a middle school to serve the advancing King-Chavez Arts and Athletics Academy fifth-graders.  This school will eventually serve approximately 375 sixth through eighth grade students.  In April 2008 the charter was approved for our Community High School that will serve 600 students and open in August of 2009.

At the core of our system is a belief that leadership development is key to systemic reform.  Following this belief we have founded the King-Chavez leadership institute.  The purpose of the institute is to develop educational leaders within the organization in the philosophical, political and practical aspects of leadership.  The visions of these emerging leaders will drive the growth , expansion, dissemination and replication of the King-Chavez movement!