Esperanza Academy Charter High School was founded in 2000, to respond to the need for high quality educational institutions in our community. Our Hunting Park community alone has 9 public, private, and charter schools, and many more schools throughout the city are serving our Hispanic community, but the rates of success with students are historically inadequate. Currently, the state of Pennsylvania has a 78% graduation rate and a 1.5% dropout rate, and the city of Philadelphia has a 57% graduation rate and 4.09% dropout rate. Our youth suffer from even higher dropout rates, and face disproportionately low levels of educational attainment. Esperanza Academy (EA) was created to offer an alternative to low-income, minority students, so they can access a quality education and the long-term education and career opportunities it affords.