EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY
EPAAF supports the students of East Palo Alto Academy through high school and postsecondary education.
“EPAA is a family-oriented school. I feel really close to everyone here. Teachers care about you personally – their doors are always open. My experience at EPAA and with my counselor has taught me about how to accept myself. I used to want to be someone else, but now I am happy being the person I am.”
2018 Kent Award recipient in recognition of EPAA’s College-Going Program as an outstanding and innovative school program in San Mateo County
2018 Civic Learning Award of Distinction for EPAA’s community-engaged learning and student community service
2020 ACSA Region 5 Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence in recognition of Principal Amika Guillaume’s outstanding leadership and significant contributions to education
2020 ACSA Region 5 Valuing Diversity Award in recognition of Principal Amika Guillaume’s commitment to celebrating and supporting children, parents, and staff
East Palo Alto Academy is a 360-student charter high school in the Sequoia Union High School District, dedicated to preparing students for college and life beyond school. Although we are a small neighborhood school, our impact is significant, as most EPAA graduates are not only the first in their families to attend college, but also the first to graduate from high school. Thanks to a partnership with the East Palo Alto Academy Foundation (EPAAF) and many community organizations, we provide extensive wraparound services, college-bound coursework, small class sizes, and a substantive advisory program.
At EPAA, every student benefits from a college-ready and career-ready curriculum. This program targets all types of students, including those who are highly motivated academically and those with emotional or social challenges holding them back. The small class sizes enable students to better access their teachers and receive personalized academic support. With support from teachers, tutors, and guidance counselors, students are encouraged to tackle essential coursework for college admission and success.
With this unique blend of personalized learning, early college access, and social-emotional curriculum, we provide a fundamentally different student experience. EPAA’s award-winning and exceptionally dedicated faculty and staff strive every day to achieve our mission of empowering students. Under our guidance, we hope to imbue them with the skills, knowledge, and passion to access higher education and create a positive impact on their communities.
““Being a first generation student makes it really hard to want to go to college because of the fear of it being difficult and not knowing. Therefore, taking early college classes benefitted me by helping me build those good college habits I can take with me as a first generation student.”
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