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St. HOPE Facility Grand Opening
January 1992
7,000 square foot facility opening at 4101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. HOPE Academy Founded by Kevin Johnson
July 1989
St. HOPE began in 1989 as an afterschool program in a portable classroom at Sacramento High School
After 13 years, St. HOPE realized that an after school program simply wasn’t enough to dramatically improve the academic outcomes of children, that it would be necessary to establish and run our own schools.
In 2003, St. HOPE Public Schools was founded as a preK-12 independent charter school district that provides high-quality education to nearly 2,000 students.
40 acres Art & Cultural Center Grand Opening
May 2003
St. HOPE’s largest economic development project opened with Underground Books, Uncle Jed’s Cut Hut, Starbucks and the Guild Theater.
40 Acres is the jewel of the SHDC efforts in the Oak Park community. The building was the historic Woodruff Hotel which was build in 1922 and was renovated by St. HOPE Development company in 2003.
The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use facility includes:
- Guild Theater
- Underground Books
- Old Soul Coffee House
- Coopers Wine Bar
- Upper Room Apartments
Senior Signing Day
Each Spring at Sacramento Charter High School we celebrate out scholars and their amazing achievements with a Senior Signing Day where they share their final college decision with our community. This year, given social distancing parameters, scholars were honored with a Senior Signing Day video. Watch the video here.
Sac High’s 2020 Graduation Ceremony
Congratulations to Sacramento Charter High School’s Class of 2020! We are so proud of these scholars and hope you will join us in celebrating their achievements. This year’s graduation ceremony was pre-recorded at the Guild Theater in Oak Park and all social distance rules were followed. Click here to watch the ceremony.
St. HOPE Schools Will Start on Time This Fall
In a time of uncertainty, one thing remains certain: St. HOPE Public Schools will start on time this fall. Dedicated to our mission of sending our scholars to and through college, we know that now more than ever our scholars need to be learning. We are planning for three different scenarios that include distance learning, in person/on campus learning, or a hybrid model of the two. We will continue to seek input and guidance from the state and county to ensure students, teachers and staff will be operating in a safe learning environment.
St. HOPE’s Unique Approach to Distance Learning
St. HOPE’s distance learning program is truly about continued learning. The classes look different, and the methods are new and creative, but goals are the same as they’ve always been. Distance learning at PS7 Elementary, PS7 Middle, and Sacramento Charter High School is not a mere assignment of busywork or simple worksheet packets that have kids treading water.
Oak Park Restaurants are Still Open for Business
We are so thankful that Fixins, Old Soul, La Venadita, and Oak Park Brewery are still open for take out! Support your favorite local restaurants by placing a to go order and making it a picnic meal at the park or special night with the family. Check out their Instagram pages for the latest news and discounts!
Creative Distance Learning Happening at SHPS
It was a tough transition to distance learning for students – so some St. HOPE teachers aimed to help ease the way through video introductions to their “virtual classrooms” helping their students understand expectations, how the new process will work, and to get excited about their new way of learning.
Scholar Spotlight: Jazmine Spears
See below for a brief but encouraging interview with Sacramento High School’s 12th grade scholar, Jazmine Spears!
Q: Tell us a little bit about your high school experience.
A: These last four year years at Sac High have been so busy! I have been involved in so many different activities like step team, basketball, cheerleading, College Track, working at Underground Books and so much more! This year I was one of the team captains for cheer and last summer I got the experience of going to East Africa for 2 weeks with College Track. Being involved has been so important to me as it allows me to bond with my fellow classmates, be a part of a team, and gain different responsibilities.
St. HOPE Public Schools 2020-2021 Virtual Admissions Lottery
It’s that time of the year again where our St.HOPE team gets to welcome new scholars and families to the network! We are eager to invite all applicants to attend this free, public event. Prospective families will be able to enjoy a fun filled evening with their new St. HOPE family. Our teams from PS7 Elementary, PS7 Middle, and Sac High will be ready to meet our new scholars and share a bit more about what’s to be expected at SHPS.
Sac High Teacher Domina Stamas Selected for a NASA Training Program
Sac High teacher Domina Stamas, is one of only 29 teachers from across the country selected for NASA’s “Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors” Training Program. She will fly with the SOFIA Telescope and receive training to bring a new space science curriculum to her 11th grade students.
Check out the full story on KFBK here!
Wehrly: What’s the Secret to Closing the Achievement Gap? Aligning Curriculum, Teacher and Student Expectations, and Whole-Child Support
What’s the secret sauce for academic success? A great teacher? More school funding? At-home support? This is a subject that generates impassioned debate in the halls of government as well as around kitchen tables across the country. Parents often think the key to their child’s academic success lies in which teacher they are assigned to and whether that person can identify children’s abilities, work to strengthen their core competencies and push them to be the best students they can be.
More Improvements at 40 Acres
40 Acres, formerly known as the 1922 Woodruff Hotel, was once known as one of the most dangerous spaces of Oak Park. The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use property was acquired and renovated by St. HOPE nearly 17 years ago. Today, 40 Acres is the jewel of the neighborhood and home to The Guild Theater, Underground Books, Old Soul Coffee Co., World Class Faders, Fixins Soul Kitchen, and the Upper Room Apartments. This year, 40 Acres will undergo a second set of improvements including paint, awnings, signage, window plant boxes, and more! At St.
World Class Faders Now Open!
We are very excited to announce the opening of World Class Faders, a barbershop at 40 Acres. See below for an interview with owner Lonnie Horne.
1. Where’d you get the name World Class Faders?
I wanted a name my team, myself, and the community would be proud of. I wanted our name to give the impression that the highest level of service could be expected for anyone who walks into our business.
At Underground Books in Sacramento, youth find their freedom
1.31.2020
Author’s note: The following story was originally written for Comstock’s magazine as part of my recurring “Media File” column, a monthly examination at media-related businesses in the Sacramento region. Comstock’s declined to publish this story.
Walk into Underground Books along Broadway in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood and the first thing you’re likely to notice is that it isn’t your typical bookstore.
St. HOPE Public Schools is Now Enrolling!
St. HOPE Public Schools is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Admissions Lottery for all grades TK – 12th! Apply now to secure your scholar’s spot in the Admissions Lottery on April 2, 2020. Please visit our website for more information on how to enroll your scholar in one of Sacramento’s top performing charter school networks!
St. HOPE Puts Data To The Test, And Aces It
November 14, 2019
After a difficult past, the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento has been undergoing a revitalization. One longtime force in this renewal has been a nonprofit, St. HOPE, that has spent 30 years energizing public education and economic development aimed at helping resident families thrive.
Staff Spotlight: Alli Kauffroath
There is no denying that Ms. Kauffroath is one of the most dedicated champions to PS7, her scholars, and our families. Ms. Kauffroath is often seen on campus from the early hours of the morning to the late hours of the evening, as well as on weekends, holidays, and breaks. When she is not planning or beautifying her classroom, Ms. Kauffroath continues to build relationships with her scholars and families by putting in #MoreTime with them at football games, during extra tutoring, supporting with lunches, dismissals, and truly in any other way possible. Ms.
California test scores inched up last year – with wide gaps. See how capital area schools did
SAC BEE ARTICLE BY SAWSAN MORRAR AND PHILLIP REESE OCTOBER 11, 2019 05:30 AM
Test scores rose only slightly for public school students in the Sacramento area and statewide last year, and a wide achievement gap remains between the haves and the have-nots, according to new data from the California Department of Education.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond expressed “deep concern” that the improvements weren’t consistent across grade levels and students of color.
Which high school grads go to college? These Sacramento schools send the most students
SAC BEE ARTICLE BY PHILLIP REESE SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 05:20 AM
About two thirds of students who finish high school in the Sacramento region attend a two- or four-year college within a year of graduation, but college-going rates vary dramatically by school, according to California Department of Education data.
Among the roughly 17,700 graduates in the four-county area who quickly went to college after the 2017-18 school year, almost 60 percent went to a community college, nearly 20 percent went to a CSU campus, and 8 percent went to a UC campus. The rest went to a private or out-of-state college.
First Look at the Brand New PS7 Elementary School
In the winter of 2018, PS7 Elementary was awarded a $25 million dollar grant for a new facility. Over the past year we have hired key members of the team (construction manager, architect, civil engineer) and have developed the preliminary design. Our goal is to create one of the finest school facilities in the Sacramento area!
1st Annual Back to School BBQ and Backpack Giveaway with Diamond Autosport
We are super thankful to have partnered with Diamond Autosport this year for a community barbecue and backpack giveaway that was held at McClatchy Park on August 9th. Hundreds of families came out for free delicious grub, backpacks, and school supplies. Children also participated in a basketball tournament and Diamond Autosport even brought a few of their most decked out vehicles for the kids to enjoy. Overall the event was a win for our community and we send a huge thank you out to Diamond Autosport for their partnership!