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Social Justice Humanitas Academy (SJ Humanitas) — a public high school located in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley — was designed and founded by teachers as a community school in 2011. As such, they designed a school that would bring together community resources, incorporate collaborative structures, and support students on their pathways to postsecondary success and self-actualization.

SJ Humanitas serves 521 students, 96% of whom are Latino/a and 7% of whom are identified as English learners. Ninety-three percent of its students are identified as economically disadvantaged. Despite serving a more disadvantaged population, SJ Humanitas outperforms its counterparts in LAUSD on a number of academic performance measures.

In addition, survey data suggest that SJ Humanitas students hold a range of important mindsets and habits, such as holding a growth mindset, feeling connected to school, and being socially aware and self-efficacious, at higher rates than their peers in other district schools.

This case study illustrates how SJ Humanitas has implemented a range of whole child education practices to advance outcomes and support student well-being.