Enroll at Environmental Charter Middle School Gardena
A free public charter middle school for grades 6 through 8 in Gardena, part of the Environmental Charter Schools network.
Escuela secundaria chárter pública y gratuita para los grados 6 a 8. Información en español
Choosing a school year in SchoolMint? Pick 2026-27 to join this year’s waitlist, or 2027-28 for next school year. Applying early gives no advantage. See the deadline and lottery
Why families choose ECMS-Gardena
Por qué las familias eligen ECMS-Gardena
Learning that goes outside
Green Ambassadors, our environmental stewardship class, is part of the schedule, along with hands-on environmental projects. Every student goes on an overnight outdoor education trip every year.
Small on purpose
About 30 students per class. Because we are small, decisions are made here at the school, and we can respond quickly when families give us feedback.
Support for every learner
- Full-time counselor and social worker
- Inclusion department that supports students with IEPs
- English Language Development teacher, paraeducator, and coordinator
- Intervention time and tutoring built into the school day
Free after-school program
In partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, every school day from 3:15 to 6:15 p.m., with dinner served. Tutoring, STEM, arts, sports, gardening, and more, at no cost to families.
How to enroll
Cómo inscribirse
Apply online
Submit your application first. In SchoolMint, choose 2026-27 to join this year’s waitlist, or 2027-28 for next school year. The 2027-28 deadline is March 7.
Apply Now for 26-27Watch the info session
Hear how our school works and what makes ECMS-Gardena different. Available in English and Spanish.
Watch nowExplore our website
See our teams, outdoor education trips, student expectations, and family resources.
Visit ECMS-GardenaVisit our campus
See classrooms, meet students, and ask your questions in person at our next campus tour.
Reserve a spotApplication deadline and lottery
Fecha límite y lotería
Time left to apply for 2027-28
Counting down to the application deadline: Sunday, March 7, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. The lottery follows on March 10.
Applications open
Friday, October 2, 2026
Application deadline
Sunday, March 7, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.
Lottery
Wednesday, March 10, 2027 at 9:00 a.m., held virtually. We will share the link before the lottery.
Choose the right school year
In SchoolMint, you pick the school year yourself, and both years may be open at the same time in October.
- 2026-27: this school year. Your child joins the waitlist for their grade.
- 2027-28: next school year, starting fall 2027. Your application goes into the March lottery.
Apply for the grade your child will be in during that school year.
Applying early is not an advantage
An application submitted on the first day and one submitted on the last day have exactly the same chance. Every application received by the deadline goes into the same lottery.
- Free. No tuition and no application fee.
- No test, no documents, and no required tour to apply.
- Open to all California students. Where you live does not affect admission.
- No required parent volunteer hours.
How the lottery works
- Current ECMS-G students keep their seat for next year when they return their Intent to Continue Enrollment form. They do not go through the lottery.
- If a grade has more on-time applications than open seats, a public random drawing decides who is offered a seat. If a grade has enough seats for everyone, every on-time applicant is offered a seat.
- The drawing is held grade by grade, starting with 8th grade, then 7th, then 6th. Admission preferences are applied in this order:
- Children of ECS employees, limited to no more than 10% of total offers.
- Siblings of students admitted to or attending ECMS-G, and siblings of ECMS-G graduates from the last two years, limited to no more than 20% of open seats. If more siblings apply than that, a separate sibling drawing is held, with siblings of current students first.
- All other applicants.
- Once seats are filled, the remaining applicants are placed on the waitlist in the order they were drawn. Applications received after the deadline are added to the waitlist in the order received.
- Families offered a seat receive an offer letter within two weeks of the lottery and must respond by the date on the letter.
Source: ECMS-G charter, Element 8, Admission Policies and Procedures.
Campus tours
Visitas al plantel
Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 a.m.
Tour the campus, hear from our students, and meet our team. Tell us your preferred language when you reserve.
Can’t make this date? We post one tour date at a time. Check back here after October 10 for the next one.
Watch our information session
Presentación informativa para familias
Recorded information session
Presentación grabada en español
Information session slides
Read at your own pace. Opens in a new tab.
Diapositivas en español
Léalas a su propio ritmo. Se abre en una pestaña nueva.
Life at ECMS-Gardena
La vida en ECMS-Gardena
Students making their community more beautiful
Student reflections on camping
Every student goes on an overnight outdoor education trip each year. Open video
Swipe or use the arrows to see more photos
Información en español
Todavía aceptamos solicitudes para el año escolar 2026-27. Todos los grados tienen lista de espera, y las nuevas solicitudes se agregan a ella. La inscripción para 2027-28 comienza el 2 de octubre de 2026.
- Visita al plantel: sábado, 10 de octubre a las 10:00 a.m. Publicamos una fecha a la vez. Si no puede asistir, vuelva a esta página después del 10 de octubre para ver la próxima fecha.
- 2027-28: la fecha límite es el domingo, 7 de marzo de 2027, a las 11:59 p.m. La lotería será el miércoles, 10 de marzo de 2027, a las 9:00 a.m., en línea.
- Elija el año correcto en SchoolMint: 2026-27 es para la lista de espera de este año escolar. 2027-28 es para el próximo año escolar.
- No hay ventaja por solicitar temprano: todas las solicitudes recibidas antes de la fecha límite tienen la misma oportunidad en la lotería.
- Presentación grabada: disponible en español en la sección de arriba.
- ¿Preguntas? Llame al (310) 425-1605.
Cómo ver toda esta página en español
- En una computadora: haga clic en ¿Quiere ver la página en español? en la parte superior derecha de la página.
- En un teléfono o tableta: use el botón Ver toda la página en español aquí abajo.
La página completa se abrirá traducida al español.
Talk to a real person
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