This morning, Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Decathletes Celine Ta and Diego Rivera, Coach Spencer Wolf, and Executive Director Brian Bauer were hoisted up in a cherry-picker truck to unveil a street sign congratulating Granada Hills Charter High School (GHCHS) for winning the 2011 National Academic Decathlon.  Also in attendance were student and family members of the national winning Academic Decathlon Team, parents, teachers and community members.

“Granada Hills Charter could not be prouder of our National Champion Academic Decathletes and their three coaches,” said Bauer. “The Zelzah Avenue street sign fittingly placed near the entrance to our campus will serve as a permanent reminder of their achievement and the recognition they brought to Granada Hills Charter.”

“It’s a great day when we can unveil a sign telling the world that a school in our community is the best in America,” said Councilmember Englander. His 12th District includes Granada Hills and he is a long-time supporter of Granada Hills Charter High School. “I am so proud of this amazing achievement by the brilliant kids on the Granada Hills Charter Academic Decathlon Team. I want the sign that we are unveiling to be a message to every student, parent and teacher in my District that by working together, studying and persevering, kids can get a great education in Los Angeles and reach their dreams.”

On April 30, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Granada Hills Charter High School took first place in the National Academic Decathlon competition in a crowded field that included 35 state teams and past national champions J. Frank Dobie High School (Texas) and Waukesha High School (Wisconsin). Granada Hills Charter was the first charter school to capture the national title in the 30-year history of the United States Academic Decathlon competition. The team earned 52,113 points (out of 60,000), almost 1,700 points more than the 2nd place team.

Granada Hills Charter High School, the largest charter school in the nation, is an independent public school in the San Fernando Valley. GHCHS made history over eight (8) years ago when almost all of its employees – teachers, classified staff, and administrators – along with more than 2000 parents, signed its charter petition for independence from Los Angeles Unified. As a fiscally independent conversion charter school, GHCHS has a student enrollment this year of over 4200 and a wait list of over 2000. The school’s student body is considered one of the most diverse, with over 40 languages other than English spoken at home and over 60 nationalities represented.

GHCHS is a 2011 California Distinguished School with a 2011 API of 876, the top API of any comprehensive high school in Los Angeles.

For additional information about the school or this release, please visit our website at www.GHCHS.com or contact Maribel De La Torre at 818.360.2361 or mdelatorre@ghchs.com.