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Vaughn Next Century Learning Center (VNCLC) is a public charter school that offers education from Kindergarten to grade 12 to students in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
The school initially started as Vaughn School Street under the leadership of Los Angeles Unified School District in 1950, serving around 600 students from kindergarten to 6th grade. However, in 1993, after the charter school legislation was passed by then-state Sen. Gary K. Hart of Santa Barbara, VNCLC became the first conversion charter school authorized by LAUSD.
As a result of this, the school has experienced tremendous growth and has expanded its student body from 600 to surveing close to 3000 students from diverse backgrounds.
Students attend one of the five campuses:
Pandaland (grades Pre-k - 1)
Operational 2003
13241 Vaughn Street, San Fernando, CA 91340
VISA (grades 9 - 12)
Operational 2008
11505 Herrick Avenue, Pacoima, CA 91331
G3 serving (grades 2 - 3)
Operational 2012
11200 Herrick Avenue, Pacoima, CA 91331
Mainland (grades 4 - 5)
Conversion VSS elementary
Operational 1993
13330 Vaughn Street, San Fernando, CA 91340
MIT grades (6 - 8)
Operational 2000
13247, Eustace Street, San Fernando, CA 91340
VNCLC is an important hub for community resources and opportunities for families through its community and family center. The center collaborates with various local agencies to provide an array of services, including parent workshops, helpful forms for parents, health and well-being services, and referrals to local non-profit resources. As a result, VNCLC can quickly adapt to support families in times of need, providing medical testing, food drives, and fundraisers to help alleviate the economic disparities faced by families in the area.
VNCLC is also committed to ensuring that its students receive the best possible education. To that end, the district invests in that 96% of are credentialed and qualified to provide a competent learning environment that adapts instruction to diverse learning styles and individual needs. This contributes to a more enriching and tailored educational experience for students, helping them achieve their full potential. Moreover, VNCLC takes pride in its graduates who return to serve the community in various capacities both in and out of the classroom. This speaks to the quality of education that VNCLC provides, as well as the sense of community that it fosters. In addition, VNCLC's operations staff, including custodians, yard supervisors, and cafeteria staff, are either current parents, former parents, or local community members. This demonstrates the district's commitment to involving the local community and ensuring that everyone is invested in the success of the students.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health has revealed that the Northeast San Fernando Valley has been one of the communities that has been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the virus has been so severe that 1 out of every 430 residents has lost their lives due to it. Moreover, the community has experienced a significant 12% job loss, which has led to a high level of instability and unemployment, making it challenging for many families to make ends meet. As a result, many families have been forced to leave the community during and after the pandemic due to the high cost of living and a lack of job opportunities. The situation has been so dire that, for the first time ever, VNCLC has seen a decline in enrollment. This has been a significant concern for the community, and many stakeholders have raised concerns about educational equity, as the remaining students may face resource shortages, larger class sizes, and a reduced range of educational opportunities. To address these equity and access issues, VNCLC is conducting a comprehensive needs assessment, engaging with the community, and reevaluating support systems.
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