01Brand Authority 02Positioning & Strategy 03Content Pillars 04Enrollment Funnel 05Logo & Identity 06Color Palette 07Typography 08Imagery Direction 09Voice & Tone
Brand Guidelines 2026
Brand Identity System

La Cima
Charter School

A complete brand identity system built to unify every enrollment touchpoint for La Cima Charter School, a tuition-free K-5 public charter school in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Every asset, message, and visual decision flows from one goal: connecting the right families to a school where every child is truly known.

K-5
Grades Served
9:1
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
21pts
Above NYC Math Average
Scroll to explore
01
01Foundation

Why Brand Identity
Matters

Academic Achievement

La Cima Charter School students outperform their peers in mathematics by 21 percentage points above the New York City and state averages. That result does not happen by accident. It comes from a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio, small-group instruction, and an intentional model that meets every child where they are. A consistent brand communicates that distinction before a family ever walks through the door.

Culture & Community

Families choose La Cima because it is close to home, deeply rooted in Bed-Stuy, and built on real relationships. African drum and dance, theater, cooking, student council, and monthly field trips across New York City make this a place where children are challenged and celebrated. About 75% of multilingual learners improved their English proficiency levels last year. The culture here is warm, structured, and genuinely joyful.

Growth Opportunity

La Cima currently serves 149 students and has capacity for 400, with the greatest urgency in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Free after-school care until 6 PM, free bus transportation within a mile radius, and free meals every day remove the most common barriers families face. With a same-day enrollment response and a tour that fits any schedule, the path from discovery to enrollment has never been shorter.

02
02Strategy

Positioning &
Strategy

La Cima Charter School is the tuition-free K-5 public school for Bed-Stuy families who want their child to be known, challenged, and celebrated every day, supported by a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio, culturally rich programming including African drum and dance, and an academic model that consistently outperforms city and state math averages by 21 points.

Strategic Anchors

"Small School. Big Results."
"Every Child Known by Name"
"Free. Tuition-Free. Always."
"Rooted in Bed-Stuy"
"Whole Child. Real World."
"Change Makers Start Here"

Top Parent Objections — Addressed

1
"Charter schools charge tuition." La Cima is a free public school. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no cost to attend. Free breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided every day.
2
"I have to live in a specific zone to apply." La Cima is not a zoned district school. Any Brooklyn family can apply regardless of their assigned school zone. Free transportation is available within a mile radius.
3
"A small school means fewer opportunities." Being small is the advantage. Our size means every student has access to arts, African dance and drumming, theater, sports, cooking club, and monthly field trips, and teachers still know each child personally.
4
"My child is behind academically. La Cima might not be the right fit." Our job is to meet students where they are. We offer small-group instruction, individualized intervention, and a 9:1 ratio precisely because every child deserves the support to grow.
5
"La Cima is not equipped for students with disabilities." La Cima provides a 12:1:1 IEP setting along with specialized programming and dedicated support for students who need it. Serving students with a wide range of needs is part of who we are.
03
03Content Strategy

7-Day Content
Pillars

Mon
PILLAR 01
Scholar Spotlights
Highlight individual student growth moments, math wins, and personal milestones that show what learning looks like at La Cima.
Tue
PILLAR 02
Arts & Culture
Showcase African drum and dance, theater, visual arts, and music programming that make every school day rich and memorable.
Wed
PILLAR 03
Inside the Classroom
Candid moments from K-5 classrooms: small-group instruction, hands-on learning, and the real daily experience at La Cima.
Thu
PILLAR 04
NYC as Classroom
Feature the monthly field trips and experiential learning moments that turn New York City into an extension of the La Cima curriculum.
Fri
PILLAR 05
Team & Community
The staff, leaders, and community partners who make La Cima a place where families trust their children will be safe, known, and supported.
Sat
PILLAR 06
Family Voices
Testimonials and stories from La Cima families who share what it actually feels like to be part of this Bed-Stuy community school.
Sun
PILLAR 07
Enrollment Call to Action
Seats are open in K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. Tuition-free. Free after school until 6 PM. Free transportation. Apply today.
04
04Conversion

Enrollment
Funnel

1
Discover La Cima
Learn how a 9:1 ratio, math outcomes 21 points above the city average, and free enrichment programming set La Cima apart
2
Schedule a Tour
Tours are available at whatever time fits your schedule, led by the operations team, and typically 15 to 20 minutes with time for personal questions
3
Submit Your Application
Apply online through SchoolMint. Required documents include immunization records, proof of address, proof of birth, and IEP if applicable
4
Enroll & Get Started
Families are notified by phone call, typically within one day. Free transportation, free meals, and free after-school care begin on day one

9:1 Student-to-Teacher Ratio

Every student receives individualized attention in a small-group learning environment. No child at La Cima is anonymous. Teachers know every scholar personally and track progress closely throughout the school year.

Culturally Rich Programming for All Grades

African drum and dance, theater, cooking, soccer, dance, and student council are not extras. They are core parts of what makes La Cima a whole-child school where students develop leadership, creativity, and belonging alongside strong academics.

Completely Free to Attend

Tuition-free enrollment, free breakfast, lunch, and snack daily, free after-school care until 6 PM Monday through Friday, and free bus transportation within a mile radius. Families should never let cost be the reason they do not apply.

Special Education Support Built In

La Cima offers a 12:1:1 IEP setting, small-group intervention, and dedicated support for students with disabilities. Families of children with IEPs are actively welcomed and should know their child will receive real, personalized support here.

05
05Visual Mark

Logo &
Identity

La Cima Charter School logo on light background

Primary — Light Background

La Cima Charter School logo on dark background

Reversed — Dark Background (filter: invert)

Clear Space

Maintain a minimum clear space equal to the height of the logo mark on all four sides. Never allow other text, images, or graphic elements to crowd or overlap the mark in any application.

Minimum Size

Never reproduce the logo below 80px wide in digital contexts or below 1 inch wide in print. On dark or primary-colored backgrounds, always apply filter: brightness(0) invert(1) to render the logo in clean white.

Misuse

Do not stretch, rotate, recolor, outline, or add drop shadows or gradients to the logo. Never place it on a low-contrast background. Always use the approved source file provided by the school.

06
06Palette

Color
Palette

Copied!
HEX
#313b8e
La Cima Blue — Primary
Copied!
HEX
#3aa49d
La Cima Teal — Secondary
Copied!
HEX
#e8f7f6
Soft Teal Tint — Accent
Copied!
HEX
#FFFFFF
Clean White
07
07Type System

Typography

Aa
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
PoppinsDisplay / Headlines
Geometric Sans Serif — weight 700 · titles, h1, h2, card headers, hero
  • All page headlines and section titles set at weight 700
  • Conveys energy, approachability, and modern confidence
  • Minimum 18px digital. Letter-spacing tight at 0 to -0.01em for headings
  • Use weight 800 sparingly for maximum emphasis in hero displays
Aa
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t
PoppinsBody / UI Copy
Geometric Sans Serif — weight 300–500 · body, captions, labels, nav
  • All body text, captions, labels, and navigation at weight 400 or 500
  • Weight 600 for subheadings and call-to-action copy
  • Line-height 1.65 to 1.8 for comfortable reading at small sizes
  • Use weight 300 only for large-size pull quotes or decorative contexts
08
08Photography

Imagery
Direction

Learning in Action

Capture students genuinely engaged in K-5 academic work: small-group reading instruction, hands-on math, experiential science, and one-on-one teacher moments. Prioritize natural classroom light and candid concentration. Avoid staged or overly posed setups. Show the real progressive, whole-child model at work. Images should communicate that every child here is seen, supported, and doing meaningful work every day.

Community, Culture & Joy

Showcase the energy and diversity of the La Cima community: African drum and dance classes, theater rehearsals, field trips across New York City, after-school soccer, cooking club, and family engagement moments. Images should reflect belonging, cultural pride, and the genuine joy that comes from being part of a small school where relationships are real. Every photo should carry the dignity and warmth the La Cima community has earned.

09
09Communication

Voice &
Tone

01 — VOICE

Community-Rooted and Genuine

La Cima speaks as a neighbor, not an institution. Every message should feel like it comes from someone who knows your block, knows your child, and is genuinely invested in your family's future. The voice never talks down and never oversells. It simply tells the truth about what happens here every day.

02 — VOICE

Warm and Encouraging

La Cima believes every child can grow. That belief shows in every sentence. Copy should feel encouraging rather than urgent, inviting rather than pressuring. Families should feel welcomed and respected, whether they are reading a social media post or a direct message from the enrollment team.

03 — VOICE

Clear and Honest

La Cima does not inflate claims or use jargon. When we say students outperform the city by 21 points in math, we let that fact speak. When we describe our 9:1 ratio, we explain exactly why it matters for a child. Clear, honest, specific language builds more trust than any marketing tagline ever could.

04 — VOICE

Ambitious for Every Child

La Cima holds high expectations not as a threat but as an expression of belief. The voice reflects a school that sees each student as a future change-maker and communicates accordingly. Copy should inspire families to imagine what their child can become here, because the school already has.