Top 10 Reasons to Join Aveson Global Leadership Academy (Grades 6–12)
Middle school and high school are a big deal. Here are 10 reasons Aveson Global Leadership Academy (AGLA) might just be the best decision you make for your student.
1. It's 100% Free.
Aveson Global Leadership Academy is a tuition-free public charter school. That means every student, regardless of zip code or income, gets access. No tuition. No catch.
2. Your Student Gets to Go Places.
We mean Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands. The Navajo Nation. Peru. Italy. Our Rites of Passage trips take middle and high school students out of the classroom and into the world, building perspective, empathy, and leadership in ways a textbook simply can't. The destinations change every year. The impact lasts a lifetime!
3. Small Classes, Big Relationships.
At AGLA, your student isn't a number on a roster. Small class sizes and a dedicated advisor system mean every student is truly seen: their goals, interests, and challenges known by name. Advisors work alongside students to design learning that actually fits, because a one-size-fits-all education fits no one particularly well.
4. A College-Ready Curriculum That Opens Doors.
We meet UC and CSU A-G requirements, and we take the college admissions process seriously. Our Campus Road Trips take juniors on overnight visits to California colleges led by college staff and Aveson alumni. With a 90% graduation rate and acceptances to UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford, NYU, Howard, and the Parsons School of Design, AGLA graduates arrive at college ready, not just enrolled. Meet our 2025 Graduating Class.
5. Unique Electives Every Semester.
Stand-up comedy. Robotics. Graffiti art. Journalism. Film analysis. Gardening. Global leadership. At AGLA, electives aren't filler; they're how students discover what they're actually good at.
6. Real Work Experience Through Externships.
AGLA high school students have the chance to participate in a Friday Externship, spending time in a real workplace alongside real professionals and exploring real career paths. From electric car companies to early childhood education, students try on careers before they have to commit to one. Students consistently report feeling more confident, more curious, and more connected to their futures.
7. Every Student Is Seen Here
At AGLA, a student isn't just their GPA or their test scores. They're their passions, their struggles, their quirks, their potential. The advisor relationship is at the heart of how this school works. Advisors get to know students deeply over time, checking in not just on academics but on the whole person. Whether a student is thriving or going through something hard, there's an adult in their corner who actually knows their name, their story, and what they need next
8. Transformative Learning Puts Students in the Driver's Seat.
Our Transformative Learning means students have a voice in what they learn and how they learn. Advisors and students collaborate to design meaningful learning experiences, and students help determine when they're ready to demonstrate mastery.
9. A Community That Is Genuinely Inclusive.
AGLA is a democratic, welcoming community that celebrates difference. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and the school's culture reflects that. Whether your family is new to the Pasadena area or has been here for generations, there's a place for your student at AGLA.
10. Students Leave Here Ready for What Comes Next.
Leadership. Critical thinking. Resilience. Global perspective. A college acceptance letter. Since 2007, Aveson has been building students who are curious, confident, and ready to make a positive impact in their communities and in the world.