Independent charter schools are dominating in City Section sports

Columnist

May 26, 2019 10:53 AM PT

Call it the rise of the independent charter schools.

At the highest level of City Section sports, charter schools Birmingham, Palisades, Granada Hills and El Camino Real have become so dominant with championships that it’s almost like they’re creating a private schools versus public schools dynamic found in the Southern Section.

Of the 13 team titles in boys this school year, charter schools won 11. Palisades had titles in tennis, volleyball, water polo, lacrosse, swimming and track.

Of the 12 team titles in girls, charter schools won nine. Palisades won in tennis, volleyball, water polo, lacrosse and swimming. Granada Hills won in basketball, cross-country and soccer.

And it’s not only winning championships. In boys, the runner-up was a charter school in nine of the 13 championships. In girls, the runner-up was a charter school in 10 of the 12 championships.

That’s a big problem for the Los Angeles Unified School District high schools seeking to attract students. There are 67 charters and 88 LAUSD high schools in the City Section.

Those successful independent charter schools have used financial freedom from the district to improve sports facilities and most importantly, hire coaches who are also full-time teachers.

It should be pointed out, though, that El Camino Real and Palisades were pretty successful before becoming charters.

This is a trend that’s not going away any time soon.

Boys upper division team champions

Baseball: Birmingham over Palisades

Basketball: Fairfax over Westchester

Football: Narbonne over Garfield

Golf: Granada Hills over Palisades

Tennis: Palisades over Granada Hills

Volleyball: Palisades over El Camino Real

Water polo: Palisades over Birmingham

Cross country: Granada Hills over El Camino Real

Lacrosse: Palisades over El Camino Real