Golden State Today

Classes at Palisades Charter High School resumed in person at a temporary location in Santa Monica. This return to the classroom marks a significant step in recovery for the school community affected by the devastating Southern California fires earlier this year. The original school site in Pacific Palisades suffered severe damage during the fires that began in January, necessitating a move to a former Sears site now serving over 2,400 students.

Governor Gavin Newsom greeted students and faculty as they resumed face-to-face learning. "I’m happy to welcome the administrators, educators, and students of Palisades Charter High School back to in-person learning," Newsom said. "While this home is only temporary until we can get them back to their regular site, the partnership and collaboration between state and local officials to get this new site up and running shows the spirit of our recovery. This is an important step forward for the Palisades community as we rebuild and rise together."

Debris removal from the original campus was completed last month, facilitating the return to in-person education. Palisades Charter High School is among eight public schools that were damaged and have now reopened for in-person instruction. Governor Newsom emphasized the state's commitment to supporting schools and prioritizing rebuilding efforts. He previously signed an executive order to speed up the return of students to classrooms and prioritize school sites in debris removal.

The collaborative effort to restore educational facilities has been a vital part of the recovery process, with structural debris removal commencing in February, underscored by the Governor's directive to prioritize school sites.