Ánimo Venice is part of the Greet Dot family of charter schools in Los Angeles. Green Dot's charter is based on the "Six Tenets of High Performing Schools," which calls for small schools, parent involvement and local control, among other things. As part of that philosophy, all Ánimo schools are open until 5 p.m., better accommodating the schedules of families and giving students a productive and safe place to stay.
The Venice branch opened in 2004, and was the fifth Ánimo Charter.
From the school's website: "One of our goals is to empower the community to stand against poverty and violence and, at the same time, preserve the community and its cultural heritage. Another goal is to re-create a sense of community by bringing together long-time Venice residents and affluent new-comers."