Calli Ollin Schools

CPLC Community Schools is a non-profit charter holder for Hiaki High School and Toltecalli High School. CPLC Community Schools is an affiliate of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., (CPLC) a statewide non-profit Community Development Corporation. CPLC is a progressive community based organization that is recognized locally, nationally, and internationally as a model for unified human and economic development. CPLC, as the parent advocacy organization of CPLC Community Schools, builds proactive alliances, unifies borders, and empowers the community.

In 1995, the leadership of CPLC, under the direction of Lorraine Lee, Executive Vice President, had a vision of creating a high school to advance CPLC’s educational goal of increasing educational achievement and graduation rates, developing leadership, promoting civic participation, and increasing college entrance and graduation among Latino youth. A school model was then developed that integrated cultural education and community service into the core curricula to advance their goal. We have 2 high schools serving the Tucson area: Toltecalli High School (“House of Beauty”) and Hiaki High School, established in partnership with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

We value community focused education (CFE) that integrates the knowledge base of the local community to create a contextual perspective for new learning to occur. The elements of a community based education are:

1) Recognition and use of predominant language of the community to provide a lingustic context for instruction.

2) Pedagogy in which teaching strategies contextualize the learning experiences from the perspective of those served.

3) Curriculum which stresses the importance of the cultural context of the community served and values and celebrates the visual arts, legends, oral histories, and fundamental beliefs of the community.

6) A strong desire of all stakeholders to improve the outcomes of the community through problem solving and action research

Educational Goal - To graduate scholars who are committed to lifelong learning and to succeeding in post-secondary educational endeavors

Students are encouraged to further their education by offering opportunities on and off campus to interact with administrators, staff, and students of various institutions of higher learning. Students who show a desire to further their education are provided academic guidance, college entrance exam preparation, and dual/concurrent enrollment at Pima Community College.

Social Goal - To graduate community leaders who are able to act in the interest of people from diverse ethnic, social, political, and economic backgrounds

Through our leadership groups, students learn the art of cooperation and compromise, invaluable skills of a true leader. Together, the students learn that each person is both unique and equal, therefore breaking down barriers that often impede social progress, and creating a positive environment for pondering solutions to current issues.

Cultural Goal - To graduate people who are prepared to contribute and co-exist in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual world

Students accomplish this goal through our Mexican-American Studies (MAS) program. Students learn about various cultures and ethnicities, explore other historical, political, and economic perspectives, and develop an understanding of the dynamics that are involved in a diverse society. As a result, a student can more effectively create an environment that is free of discrimination or prejudice.

Career Goal - To graduate workers who have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to pursue their career goals

Through classroom career development curriculum, students learn important skills such as resume writing, interview preparation, and job searching, in addition to on-the-job skills and development of fundamental work ethics.

Personal Goal - To graduate individuals with self-confidence to face a life of challenges and opportunities

Every graduate leaves with an awareness of their worth, their ability to take on a challenge, and their responsibility to the future by becoming productive citizens of our society. With these in place, graduates can set out and feel confident that they will succeed in anything into which they put their hearts to.