# The New City School

> A bilingual, progressive K-8 charter school in downtown Long Beach, California (2000–2015).
> This website is an archival resource and memory-collection project.
> Founder Ted Hamory is writing a book about the school's 15-year history.

## About The New City School

The New City School was founded in August 2000 by Ted Hamory in downtown Long Beach, California.
It was a bilingual, constructivist charter school authorized by the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD).
The school opened with 80 students in grades K–3 at 1230 Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

By 2005 the school had grown to serve grades K–8. In 2008, LBUSD granted a companion high school charter,
Colegio New City. At its peak, the school served over 425 elementary students and more than 100 middle
and high school students. The New City School closed in June 2015 after fifteen years of operation.

## Educational Philosophy

The school's pedagogy was rooted in the work of Jean Piaget, Constance Kamii, Paulo Freire, and Stephen Krashen.

Core principles:
- Constructivist mathematics and literacy education
- Dual-language English-Spanish immersion from kindergarten
- Multi-age classrooms — students stayed with their teaching team for three years
- Student-led conferences — students presented their own academic progress to families
- Home visits — teachers visited students' homes to build genuine family partnerships
- Community councils — families worked alongside staff as true decision-making partners
- Small school culture — low student-teacher ratios, intimate learning environment

School mission statement:
"We provide a healthy and intimate learning environment in which community building is valued over
competition. Through a K–8 curriculum enriched by the natural environment and technology, we teach
logical reasoning, English and Spanish literacy, historical perspective, and creative expression."

## Key Facts

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Closed | 2015 |
| Location | 1230 Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA |
| Type | Charter school (authorized by LBUSD) |
| Grades | K–8 (plus companion high school Colegio New City) |
| Peak enrollment | ~550 students total |
| Founder | Ted Hamory |
| School type | Bilingual, progressive, constructivist |
| Languages | English and Spanish |

## About This Website

This site was created by founder Ted Hamory to preserve the history of The New City School and collect
community memories for an upcoming book. The book will draw on school records, source documents,
interviews with teachers and families, and memories from the wider community.

Former students, parents, teachers, and community members are invited to share memories via the
interview questionnaire at https://www.thenewcityschool.org/memories

## Pages and Resources

- **Home** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/) — School history overview and memory submission signup
- **Share Memories** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/memories) — Interview questionnaires for community members
- **Resources & Archives** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/resources) — Source documents and archival content
- **Founding Charter 2000** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/resources/charter-2000) — Excerpts from the original 1999 charter petition submitted to LBUSD
- **Charter 2011–2015** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/resources/charter-2011-2015) — The final district-approved charter (105 pages)
- **Strategic Plan 2006** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/resources/strategic-plan-2006) — Vision to expand to five bilingual schools along the Metro Blue Line in L.A. County
- **Website Archive** (https://www.thenewcityschool.org/resources/website-info) — Original website content from 2006–2008

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What was The New City School?**
A bilingual, progressive K-8 charter school in downtown Long Beach, California that operated from 2000 to 2015.

**Why did The New City School close?**
The school closed in 2015 after fifteen years of operation. The full story is being documented in an upcoming book by founder Ted Hamory.

**Who founded The New City School?**
Ted Hamory was the primary founder. The school was founded in partnership with families and community members in downtown Long Beach.

**Was the school bilingual?**
Yes. English and Spanish literacy were woven through every grade from kindergarten through 8th grade. The school honored the language and culture students brought from home.

**Is there a book about The New City School?**
Ted Hamory is writing a book about the school's history, people, and pedagogy. The website collects memories from the community to inform the book.

**How can I contribute memories?**
Visit https://www.thenewcityschool.org/memories to find interview questionnaires and instructions for sharing photos and audio recordings.

**Where can I find archival documents?**
Visit https://www.thenewcityschool.org/resources for founding charters, strategic plans, and archived website content.

## Contact

Website: https://www.thenewcityschool.org
Contact: Ted Hamory (founder and author)