The Learning Community Charter School was one of the first charter schools in the state of New Jersey.

Founded in 1997-1998 by parents who wanted to take a chance on a new trend in education, LCCS has grown from a small Downtown Jersey City school of about 100 students to nearly six times the size.

Now located on Kennedy Boulevard near Lincoln Park, LCCS is celebrating its 20th anniversary of serving the community of Jersey City.

"The school has grown in every way possible," said Colin Hogan, the current principal at LCCS. "It's able to serve more students but it's also been critical in forming an alliance of charter schools with the Jersey City and Hoboken community."

To get into the school, students must enter a lottery system. LCCS, which has grown to an enrollment of 585 students in pre-K through 8, was recently granted state permission to hold a "weighted lottery" that makes it more likely that economically disadvantaged students are accepted into the school.

To celebrate its 20th year, LCCS unearthed a time capsule that was sealed at the school's 10th anniversary. Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, Hudson County Freeholder Bill O'Dea, Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro, and Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey were all in attendance.

The contents of the capsule contained classwork from past students as well as artwork and letters to students of the future.

"I never imagined that the school would grow in the way that it has," said LaToya Young, an LCCS alumna and assistant teacher/journalism advisor at the school. "I didn't really understand what the school was at a young age. I was originally from Ohio, and coming from a huge public school to something small like the LCCS, it was hard to see what this school was supposed to be."

As part of its year-long celebration, the LCCS community is marking its anniversary in a number of ways, including 20 Community Service Projects for 20 years, some of which included LCCS's fifth grade students working with McKnight in her annual Thanksgiving Drive to package meals for local senior citizens. Students in several classes also made Christmas cards for a young boy in Maine who has cancer.

The school will also recognize founding teachers at its March Gala, where it will also honor Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who was a previous board member. There will also be an alumni picnic at the school's June-a-Palooza festival.

"I remember running into students at the time capsule ceremony that I knew in third grade and was just like 'Oh I remember you!" said Young. "It's a community, but more than that, it's a family."