Charter schools proving themselves

With the debate continuing over the value of charter schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, staff writer Naush Boghossian in today's Daily News looks at the results of their first graduating classes.

Charter schools, the independent campuses that mostly serve communities with sociological challenges, are touting their graduation successes, with the majority of their students going on to college.

Discovery Charter Preparatory School in Pacoima, one of two charter high schools in the San Fernando Valley, is sending almost two-thirds of its 70 seniors to four-year colleges.

Ninety-nine percent of Discovery's students are on free-and-reduced lunch, 59percent are English learners and 96percent are Latino, Executive Director Matthew Macarah said.

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