FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2019
Contact: info@brightstarschools.org

BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS COMPLETES COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY TK-12 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL EDUCATION AND NEARLY 20 YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR LOS ANGELES STUDENTS

The organization opens Rise Kohyang Elementary School, its ninth school; a grand opening celebration will be held August 3

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Today, Bright Star Schools, a network of high-performing, tuition-free charter public schools across three communities in Los Angeles -- West Adams/Baldwin Village, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley -- announced that it is opening its ninth school, Rise Kohyang Elementary School in Koreatown in August 2019. The school’s opening completes Bright Star’s vision to provide families in the communities it serves with a seamless, transitional-kindergarten through higher education school model, which provides nearly two decades of support for students.

See an infographic of the organization's support for students.

A grand opening event for the school is scheduled for Saturday, August 3.

Event: Rise Kohyang Elementary School Grand Opening Celebration

• DATE: Saturday, August 3, 2019
• TIME: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• LOCATION: Rise Kohyang Elementary School, 600 S. La Fayette Park Place, Los Angeles, CA 90057
• RSVP

“We’re thrilled to open Rise Kohyang Elementary School and to complete Bright Star Schools’ educational model that enables us to support students from day one of their education through their higher education graduation,” said Hrag Hamalian, executive director for Bright Star Schools. “Since 2003, Bright Star Schools has provided families living in under-resourced communities in Los Angeles with access to rigorous academics, inclusive education, social-emotional support, and rich learning experiences beyond the classroom, and we’re thrilled to grow our offerings for families here in Koreatown.”

In Koreatown, Rise Kohyang Elementary School (RKES) joins two Bright Star schools, Rise Kohyang Middle School and Rise Kohyang High School.

RKES will open with a founding class of students in transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten in the 2019-2020 school year, and then grow one grade level each year. RKES anticipates serving over 560 students by 2025, when Bright Star’s TK through 12th grade continuum will be complete. At that point, Bright Star Schools will serve 4,500 students in nine schools in three communities.

“Every child deserves a physically, emotionally, and intellectually safe school, positive relationships with their teachers, a supportive and relevant curriculum, social-emotional learning, joy, and rigor,” said Kaitlin Curry Allen, the principal of Rise Kohyang Elementary School and a former assistant principal of instruction and teacher at Bright Star’s Valor Academy High School. “I am excited to lead Rise Kohyang Elementary School because I know how important it is for all students to build foundational academic, emotional, and social skills so that they can flourish in middle school, high school, higher education, and life,” she said.

In Koreatown, Bright Star’s Rise Kohyang Middle School has previously been named a gold ribbon school, a “Star” school, and been awarded honor roll and STEM honor roll recognition.

Bright Star’s Rise Kohyang High School offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes starting in the ninth grade, and over half of the school’s students participate in AP classes. In 2019, 72% of the high school’s students passed at least one AP exam. Rise Kohyang High School graduates its founding class in June 2020. Along with all Bright Star alumni, Rise Kohyang High School graduates will receive up to six years of individualized support from Bright Star to ensure they succeed in and graduate from higher education.

Bright Star Schools also operates three schools in the West Adams/Baldwin Village community of Los Angeles: Stella Elementary Charter Academy, Stella Middle Charter Academy, and Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy. In the San Fernando Valley, Bright Star operates Valor Academy Elementary School, Valor Academy Middle School, and Valor Academy High School.

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About Bright Star Schools

In nine, tuition-free public charter schools across three communities in Los Angeles (West Adams/Baldwin Village, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley), Bright Star Schools’ 3,000+ students experience rigorous academics, inclusive education, social-emotional support, and rich life opportunities beyond the classroom from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade and up to six years of higher education support.

More information is available at www.brightstarschools.org.

Bright Star Schools: How we Support Kindergarten through Higher Education Success