Options For Youth (OFY) is a network of FREE non-profit public charter schools, serving students who have fallen behind in school, are looking to get ahead and graduate early, or simply desire a non-traditional learning environment.

OFY’s founders started the program in 1987 to provide at-promise and underserved students an alternative to traditional learning methods and environments. OFY saw the potential that struggling students couldn’t see in themselves. When California’s Charter School Law passed in 1993, Options For Youth became the first sanctioned charter school in California. For over 30 years, OFY and its founders have helped more than 135,000 students find their passion and pursue their dreams. OFY believes in fostering student dreams.

At OFY, inspiring students inspires us. We believe the student-teacher relationship is critical to the development of a young person’s social, emotional, and academic well-being. When you visit one of our centers, you’ll find students working one-on-one with highly qualified, passionate teachers and advisors. We take enormous pride in the quality of our staff and the deep connection that each of them share with every OFY student.

Today, OFY offers students the opportunity to engage in a variety of learning styles, creating what we call a ‘blended’ learning model. This innovative approach to education allows students to learn with great flexibility through:

• Independent study
• Small group (SGI) classes
• Online courses
• Night classes*
• Single-subject tutoring
• Hands-on experiential activities, trips, and cultural excursions – click here to learn more

Many OFY schools are Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners. From enrollment to graduation, these partnerships empower OFY students to prepare for success in today's economy through career exposure, networking events, college and career entry planning, critical skill building, and certificate and internship opportunities.

Ask any OFY Alum and they’ll likely tell you that their time at OFY taught them critical study and life skills and fostered a deep sense of pride and responsibility - click here for more from OFY Alumni. We welcome you to visit one of our centers so that you can witness the magic of true connection firsthand. For many students, OFY has been a beacon of hope after years of academic struggle, and we’re eternally grateful to have been a part of their success.