Purposeful engagement.

LA's BEST engages children at a crucial time in their lives.

Our model has been proven to drive the development of self-confident and motivated learners, curious thinkers, and active contributors to their classrooms, schools and communities.

Every school day, from the time the school bell rings until 6pm, each LA’s BEST student receives a nutritious meal, help with their homework and the opportunity to participate in a wide array of enrichment activities. In collaboration with students, staff develop these activities to reflect students’ voice and choice. Programming includes: science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the arts, literacy, sports, nutrition and so much more. Social-emotional learning — helping students gain confidence, show empathy and develop positive relationships — are at the core of every activity.

“As a school leader I know we cannot go it alone. We count on LA's BEST every school day to provide a rich variety of experiences after the bell to meet children's needs in a vast number of areas. During LA's BEST our students are engaged in a rich variety of activities which add much to their lives socially, academically and socio-emotionally. I am ever grateful to LA's BEST.”
– Brad Rumble, Principal Esperanza Elementary School, Recipient of the 2016 Motif Award for Advanced Studies
Empowering students with the agency to choose, explore and discover.

To build community and showcase students' accomplishments, we organize culminating events bringing together thousands of students, families, school personnel, community leaders, elected officials and donors from across Los Angeles.

Often these events are held on college campuses like USC and Cal State LA, further inspiring students to feel that college can be part of their goals. Join us at culminating event.

LA’s BEST also offers a Summer Learning Program at select school sites throughout LA to decrease the summer learning gap. We are grateful Mayor Eric Garcetti enabled LA’s BEST to expand our summer program to reach an additional 1,200 students in 2017. Learn more about our Summer Learning Program.

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“We both work long hours and it’s really nice to have a relationship with the people who care for Ethan after school...if LA’s BEST didn’t exist our lives would be very stressful. I know this is the same for a lot of other families too – it’s nice to have a community.”
– The Valadez Family