A charter high school in Watts operated by Green Dot Public Schools is facing a potential closure as Los Angeles Unified School District officials argue the school has not demonstrated adequate academic progress over 17 years. The dispute centers on Locke High School, which was transferred from district to charter management in 2008—a landmark move for L.A. Unified as the first instance of turning over a comprehensive public high school and its entire student body to an outside organization.

Supporters of the charter emphasize significant improvements since Green Dot assumed control, citing rises in student proficiency, graduation rates, and campus safety. In the final year before the takeover, only about 12% of Locke students tested proficient in English Language Arts and roughly 3% in math, alongside incidents of campus violence. Most recently, those numbers have climbed to 28.1% proficient in English and 9.5% in math.

Green Dot and its advocates highlight the challenges of serving a particularly vulnerable student population that includes more than 25% English learners, over 8% experiencing homelessness, more than 20% with disabilities, and over 90% classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged. Additionally, the school annually enrolls a large number of transient students, with more than 30% not attending for a full school year. According to Green Dot, these factors complicate traditional metrics of academic achievement, especially since many students entering Locke arrive significantly behind grade level after attending district-run schools.

Advocates maintain that while absolute proficiency scores remain low, students who stay enrolled at Locke show measurable academic gains, often achieving more than a year’s expected growth in a school year. They point to personal testimonials from students and families, including accounts of supportive programs, challenging coursework, and enhanced opportunities that have fostered student development and sense of community.

However, the Los Angeles Unified staff and county education analysts have concluded that Locke has not met the necessary standards to justify renewal. The district’s assessment argued the school failed to produce "clear and convincing evidence" of sufficient improvement and suggested that students currently enrolled would be better served at higher-performing schools. County officials emphasized that state testing, predominantly focused on 11th-grade performance, shows surrounding schools have improved at a faster rate than Locke in recent years.

Tensions between traditional public schools and charter operators underscore this debate, magnified by district concerns about declining enrollment and funding, as well as an anti-charter majority on the school board seeking to limit charter presence on district campuses. While Green Dot founder Steve Barr committed from the outset to unionized staff at Locke, some critics remain skeptical of charter schools benefiting from large donor support and nonunion staffing models elsewhere.

Local leaders who represent Watts have voiced opposition to closing Locke. School Board member Jackie Goldberg, whose district includes the campus, pointed to the charter’s comprehensive instructional programs, extracurricular activities, strong alumni network, and mental health services. In a letter supporting renewal, she concluded that Green Dot’s management has achieved sufficient academic progress to warrant keeping the school open.

The Los Angeles County Board of Education is scheduled to decide on the charter renewal, weighing divergent evaluations amid competing views on accountability, community impact, and the future of public education in Watts.