The school has been ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 100 high schools in the nation. For the third year in a row, it is among the top 100 Gold Medal Schools, ranking in the 23rd place (2010).[1]
The U.S. News & World Report also ranked Ánimo Leadership as the fifth best charter high school in the nation[2] and the 5th best high school in state of California.[3]
History
After spending more than 10 years in a temporary facility (leased from the University of West Los Angeles Law), Ánimo Leadership has moved to Lennox, CA, near South Freeman Avenue.[4]
On October 28, 2002, President Bill Clinton and former California GovernorGray Davis visited Ánimo Leadership Charter High School while rallying. President Clinton stated "We should have more schools like Ánimo".[5]
The Ánimo Leadership Charter High School boy's varsity soccer program won its first CIF Division 6 Championship in 2007 led by Coach Sergio Medrano. A notable player from that year's championship team is Rafael Baca, who now has played on the collegiate level and the professional level.[6][7]
In the 2012-2013 soccer season, Ánimo won its second CIF Division 6 Championship and its first ever Division 3 CIF Regional Championship.[8]
The success of the Ánimo Leadership soccer program continued in the 2013-2014 season when it obtained its third CIF Division 6 Championship, making it the first time in the program's history that Ánimo won back-to-back championships.[9]