Westside Neighborhood School Awarded $1.2 Million Multi-Year Grant to Fund Tuition Assistance Program and Supplemental Support
The Children’s Education Initiative (TCEI), a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education for socioeconomically disadvantaged children, has pledged a transformative financial award to Westside Neighborhood School (WNS), an independent preschool-8th grade school located in West Los Angeles’ Playa Vista neighborhood, in support of the school’s unwavering commitment to socioeconomic diversity.
TCEI has awarded WNS an unprecedented $1.2M multi-year grant to fortify the school’s tuition assistance program, to which WNS already budgets $3M annually. This funding will provide a life-changing educational experience to children who would otherwise not be able to access it.
Head of School, Brad Zacuto, says: “We are honored to partner with TCEI and incredibly grateful for what this opportunity affords us: the ability to continue our vital work of creating a rich tapestry of diversity within our school community that is reflective of the very city in which we live. Our goal at WNS is to create the next generation of changemakers, who go out into the world equipped to challenge, innovate and affect positive social change. TCEI’s confidence in WNS affirms the critical work that we are doing, and we look forward to continuing this valuable partnership”.
TCEI selects partner schools that demonstrate a clear and sustained commitment to advancing access for underrepresented populations within independent school education. With the support of TCEI’s grant, WNS is able to deepen its long-standing commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice in all forms - racial, cultural, socioeconomic, gender and geographical diversity and expand educational access to underrepresented students in West Los Angeles.
TCEI Director of Programs, AJ Yates expressed, “TCEI is excited to partner with WNS. Throughout the proposal process, WNS excelled in all criteria that TCEI values - strong leadership, curriculum, commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and commitment to financial assistance. Personally, it is exciting to work with a school that I have known from a distance for years. I’m encouraged to know that students, who otherwise couldn’t afford this opportunity, will be joining this great community.”
About Westside Neighborhood School:
WNS is an independent preschool-8th grade school located in Playa Vista, Los Angeles. WNS is committed to creating a deeply caring community of lifelong learners that nurtures students from diverse backgrounds to reach their full potential, develop cultural competency and inspire the world with their curiosity, innovation, compassion and stewardship.
WNS’s program is built on four pillars: academic excellence; character; diversity, equity, inclusion and justice; and community. Faculty members model what they teach: respect and responsibility, love of teaching and joy of learning, sense of humor, open communication and teamwork. Students are encouraged to be creative, independent and self-disciplined. At WNS, we believe in the importance of fostering resilience in our students, valuing perseverance, effort and learning from mistakes. Our students understand the importance of community while respecting individual differences. Our goal is to instill in our students a love of learning, cultural sensitivity and a deep understanding of the world both in and outside the classroom.
Westside Neighborhood School is an accredited member of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). For more information, visit wns-la.org.