Mission and History
Esperanza Cyber Charter School (ECCS) prepares students in grades Kindergarten through 12 to meet the challenges of living creatively and productively in an increasingly technologically sophisticated and interconnected world.
ECCS will provide students with an academically rigorous, yet flexible, online learning program that tailors learning experiences to each child through a combination of curriculum choices and virtual and in-person tutoring and counseling. Students will explore career directions that coincide with their interests and strengths beginning at the earliest ages, and will begin “majors” in particular career areas starting with the middle grades. ECCS is targeted toward under served and at risk students who have not always found success in traditional schools. ECCS places students on a pathway to post-secondary success.
A History of Academic Excellence
In 1987, Esperanza, a community development organization located in North Philadelphia, was established with the purpose of strengthening Hispanic communities. At the core of its mission, both then and today is education – the key to empowering communities to improve their conditions. Esperanza believes that education positions individuals and families to become economically stable and lead healthy, productive lives. Esperanza’s passion and dedication to education has permeated the organization since its early years when Esperanza launched an aggressive program committed to the betterment of educational attainment for our community.
To achieve this commitment, Esperanza College was created in partnership with Eastern University. Esperanza College of Eastern University is a two year federally recognized Hispanic serving institution offering Associates Degrees in Accounting, Community and Human Sciences, Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, Criminal Justice and Middle Level Education: Math and Science. Today, Esperanza College has over 200 students and boasts a 68% graduation rate; with 64% of its graduates choosing pursue a Bachelors Degree.
Following the success of Esperanza College, Esperanza Academy Charter School, a four-year, comprehensive college preparatory high school, was established. Today, more than 750 students in grades 9-12 attend classes that are individualized, engaging, and culturally relevant. Additionally, Esperanza Academy prepares its students through 13 “majors” which include Visual Arts, Dance, Film, Instrumental Music, Voice, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Teacher Education, Journalism, Engineering and Health Sciences.
In 2011, Esperanza Academy was granted a class of 25, 6th grade students and during the summer of 2012 was awarded a full middle school. Esperanza Academy Middle school now enrolls a total of 1,435 students in grades 6-12.
However, even with the establishment and expansion of its educational offerings, Esperanza realizes that there is a distinct and pronounced need for additional, quality schools that offer students academically rigorous, yet flexible learning opportunities. In response to this ongoing need, Esperanza Cyber Charter School was established. Esperanza Cyber Charter School is a public charter that prepares students in grades K – 12 to meet the challenges of living creatively and productively in an increasingly technologically sophisticated and interconnected world. Esperanza Cyber Charter School offers a quality education that prepares critically thinking, socially capable, spiritually sensitive and culturally aware young adults who can use English and Spanish while providing an academically rigorous, yet flexible, online learning program that tailors learning experiences to each child.