Environmental Charter Schools
Environmental Charter Schools is a nonprofit public charter network in Southern California operating four middle and high schools serving 1,000+ predominantly low-income Latino students with environmental sustainability integrated into a college-preparatory curriculum.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersRedondo Beach, California, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Environmental Charter Schools does
Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charter school network headquartered in Redondo Beach, California, founded in 2000 by Alison Suffet Diaz. The network operates four schools — two middle schools and two high schools — serving grades 6 through 12 across the South Bay and Inglewood areas, with an enrolled population exceeding 1,000 students. Approximately 75% of students identify as Latino and the majority come from low-income households, positioning the organization explicitly as a public education alternative for underserved communities of color. The core product is a grade 6–12 education in which environmental sustainability and project-based learning are integrated into the standard curriculum, alongside college preparatory coursework.
The business model is anchored in California public charter school per-pupil funding (Local Control Funding Formula), supplemented by philanthropic grants, corporate partnerships, and one-time facility financing structures such as the 2013 New Market Tax Credit transaction of $8.5M that funded the ECMS-Gardena property acquisition. ECS employs 154 staff across its campuses, uses PowerSchool for student information management and SchoolMint for enrollment, and runs operational programs including a Teacher Residency in partnership with Alder Graduate School of Education. Distribution is effectively local and pull-based: waiting lists exist at every grade level, indicating demand exceeds supply at current capacity. The strategic posture is that of a stable, mission-driven operator focused on incremental quality and partnership expansion rather than aggressive multi-campus scaling.
Environmental Charter Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Environmental Charter Schools
- Legal name
- Environmental Charter Schools
- Website
- https://ecsonline.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Environmental Charter Schools is a nonprofit public charter network in Southern California operating four middle and high schools serving 1,000+ predominantly low-income Latino students with environmental sustainability integrated into a college-preparatory curriculum.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Environmental Charter Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)
Keywords
Where Environmental Charter Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redondo Beach, California
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Environmental Charter Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Funding: Public charter schools receive per-pupil funding from the state based on student attendance. Monthly lease payments of $32,000 are made to the Menlo Charter Property foundation from state revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Environmental Charter Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) operates a network of four public charter schools—two high schools (ECHS Lawndale and ECHS Gardena) and two middle schools (ECMS Inglewood and ECMS Gardena)—serving grades 6-12 in Los Angeles' South LA and South Bay communities. The schools deliver an environmental sustainability-focused, college-preparatory curriculum with a 1:25 teacher-student ratio, integrated STEM and civic skills, and a college-first culture requiring all students to apply to four-year universities. ECS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by per-pupil state funding, grants, and donations, and also offers a Teacher Residency Program in partnership with Alder GSE.
Product overview
Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) is a network of four public charter schools operating as a unified educational organization: two high schools (ECHS Lawndale and ECHS Gardena) serving grades 9-12, and two middle schools (ECMS Inglewood and ECMS Gardena) serving grades 6-8. The organization also offers a Teacher Residency Program in partnership with Alder GSE. All schools share a common mission focused on environmental education, college preparation, and preparing students to become conscious critical thinkers equipped to create a more equitable and sustainable world. The schools utilize digital tools including PowerSchool for student information management and SchoolMint for enrollment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Green Ambassadors: Environmental education and sustainability program at ECMS schools
- EmpowHer
- Teacher Residency Program
- Solar Cup
Products and services
- Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) – Lawndale
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% of ECHS graduates complete A-G requirements (vs 35% statewide for Hispanic students)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Environmental Charter Schools
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Environmental Charter Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Environmental Charter Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Menlo Charter PropertycoreECS foundation that owns the ECMS Gardena property. The school leases from its own foundation at $32,000/month from state per-pupil funding.
- El Dorado Charter SELPAcoreECS operates within the El Dorado Charter Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) for compliance with IDEA and special education services.
- AAA Flag & BannerminorSustainability partnership since 2013. Students consulted with management to encourage sustainable practices. AAA expanded eco-conscious product offerings as a result of the partnership.
- EmpowHer InstituteminorPartnership to deliver the Empowered Girls Program curriculum at ECMS Inglewood, providing life skills, financial literacy, and leadership development for middle school girls.
- Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD)coreAuthorizing agency for Environmental Charter High School charter. May designate a Director to serve on the ECS Board of Directors.
- California Credit UnionminorCareer Day sponsor supporting student career development activities at ECHS.
- U.S. Green Building Council – Los Angeles ChapterminorCareer Day sponsor and community partner supporting environmental education initiatives.
- In True FashionminorCareer Day sponsor supporting student career exploration.
- Barbara Bishop Public RelationsminorCareer Day sponsor providing public relations support.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Environmental Charter Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Green Dot Public Schools: One of the largest charter management organizations in Los Angeles serving predominantly low-income students of color with a college-preparatory focus. Closely comparable as a multi-campus LA charter network targeting similar demographics and outcomes.
- Camino Nuevo Charter Academy: Los Angeles-based charter network serving predominantly low-income Latino students with a college-prep curriculum. Comparable in target community, grade span, and educational equity mission.
- Alliance College-Ready Public Schools: LA-based charter network operating 20+ middle and high schools serving primarily low-income Latino and African-American students with a college-prep mission. Highly comparable in target population, grade bands, and college-readiness outcomes.
- Aspire Public Schools: California charter management organization operating public charter schools with a college-preparatory focus in underserved communities. Comparable in operating model, college-readiness culture, and California geographic footprint.
- Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF): LA-based charter network operating multiple middle and high schools serving South LA communities with a college-preparatory focus. Directly comparable in geography and student demographics.
- Magnolia Public Schools: California charter management organization operating college-prep charter schools with a STEM-focused mission. Comparable as a multi-campus California charter network with similar performance-oriented outcomes culture.
- BrightStar Schools: Los Angeles charter management organization operating schools serving underserved communities with a college-prep focus. Comparable in operating model, target demographics, and LA footprint.
- Alta Public Schools: Small LA-based charter network operating a handful of schools with a college-prep and social-emotional mission serving low-income families of color. Comparable in scale, geography, and mission alignment.
Broad incumbents
- KIPP Public Schools (Los Angeles): National charter network with significant LA presence serving grades K-12 in low-income communities with a college-prep focus. Highly comparable mission and outcomes orientation, though KIPP operates at far greater scale.
Others
- U.S. Green Building Council (Center for Green Schools): National organization that administers the Green Ribbon Schools and Best of Green Schools awards. Relevant as the awarding body for ECS's flagship recognition, making it an ecosystem/thematic peer rather than a direct operator.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Environmental Charter Schools social profiles
Digital presenceEnvironmental Charter Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Environmental Charter Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Environmental Charter Schools subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Environmental Charter Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Environmental Charter Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Environmental Charter Schools
What does Environmental Charter Schools do?
Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) operates a network of four public charter schools—two high schools (ECHS Lawndale and ECHS Gardena) and two middle schools (ECMS Inglewood and ECMS Gardena)—serving grades 6-12 in Los Angeles' South LA and South Bay communities. The schools deliver an environmental sustainability-focused, college-preparatory curriculum with a 1:25 teacher-student ratio, integrated STEM and civic skills, and a college-first culture requiring all students to apply to four-year universities. ECS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by per-pupil state funding, grants, and donations, and also offers a Teacher Residency Program in partnership with Alder GSE.
Is Environmental Charter Schools a public or private company?
Environmental Charter Schools is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Environmental Charter Schools founded?
Environmental Charter Schools was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Environmental Charter Schools based?
Environmental Charter Schools is headquartered in Redondo Beach, California, United States, in the North America region.
How does Environmental Charter Schools make money?
One revenue line is on record: per-Pupil State Funding.
Who are Environmental Charter Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Green Dot Public Schools, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, Aspire Public Schools, Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF), Magnolia Public Schools, BrightStar Schools and Alta Public Schools. KIPP Public Schools (Los Angeles) is listed as a broad incumbent. U.S. Green Building Council (Center for Green Schools) is listed as an others.
Does Environmental Charter Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Environmental Charter Schools.
What industry is Environmental Charter Schools in?
Environmental Charter Schools's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAB, Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site), with a secondary code of EDACAIAB, In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.