Los Altos School District

Los Altos School District
Location
California
Santa Clara County
United States
District information
Type Public School District
Grades K-8
Established 1909
Superintendent Jeffrey C. Baier
Budget $40,270,195 USD [1]
Students and staff
Students 4,161 (2007-2008)
Colors Blue
Other information
# of Schools 9
Website http://www.losaltos.k12.ca.us

Los Altos School District (LASD) serves the elementary and intermediate educational needs of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View and Palo Alto, United States. The current Superintendent is Jeffrey C. Baier,[2] and the current Assistant Superintendent is Alyssa Gallagher.[3]

Mission statement

The Los Altos School District inspires a passion for learning and prepares all K-8 students to thrive in our rapidly changing global community. It is considered one of the top school districts in California.[4]

History

The desire of the local residents to have a free public education for their children led to the formation of the Los Altos School District in February 1909. During this time, 4.5 acres (18,000 m2) of land along San Antonio Road was purchased and the construction of the first school in the region, San Antonio School, was built. It catered to students in grades K through 8, and was the only academic institution until the ending of World War II.

In the years 1948 through 1961, the city was faced with an increasing student population and state mandates against having single schools with greater than 800 students. In 1948, the district annexed lands and purchased the old Purissima School site (in Los Altos Hills) from the neighboring Palo Alto School District. During this time of expansion, the district included sixteen different schools.

However, during the decline of the early 1970s, the original San Antonio School was demolished and sold, while the number of facilities dwindled. The district currently consists of nine open regular schools (seven elementary and two intermediates), and one closed school (Eastbrook).[5]

API Scores

Los Altos School District students' test scores were among the highest in California, with an average Academic Performance Index (API) score of 966 for elementary schools and 975 for intermediate schools in 2011.

Los Altos School District* consistently scores high on the state examinations; four Elementary Schools score in the top 25 in the state, while both Egan and Blach Junior Highs score within the top 15 middle schools. Although this success can be partially contributed to favorable demographics, the San Jose Mercury News states that "Los Altos elementary schools do well even against schools with similar demographics".[6]

API Scores 2005-2013

SCHOOL 2013 API 2012 API2011 API2010 API2009 API2008 API2007 API2006 API2005 API
Almond Elementary 955 954966962962964964971967
Covington Elementary 974 981983980946950928938963
Gardner Bullis Elementary 947 958964957968n/an/an/an/a
Loyola Elementary 954 965964963966970972965965
Oak Avenue Elementary 987 983983980983978969982964
Santa Rita Elementary 941 956957964966956952957939
Springer Elementary 955 961946954963956948961960
Georgina P. Blach Junior High 958 968971964944931950952952
Ardis G. Egan Junior High 976 979978968954958958961947
AVERAGE 961 968969965959956954960949

Elementary schools (K-6)

Bullis Charter School is not chartered by LASD, but through the Santa Clara County Office of Education. LASD provides facilities to Bullis Charter School in accordance with California law.

Intermediate schools (7-8)

Charter School Controversy

The District has been sued several times in the past several years by Bullis Charter School (BCS). After winning the two previous cases, the District lost its most recent case in the appellate court of California. The court found the District to have violated Proposition 39 in regard to providing "reasonably equivalent" facilities for BCS and cited for having undercounted by over 1,000,000 square feet.[7] BCS was founded as a reaction to the LASD board's decision on 10 February 2003 to close Bullis-Purissima Elementary School and has been at odds with LASD administration since the school's inception.

Bullis Charter School and LASD currently have come to a 5-year "cease-fire" agreement over facilities.

References

  1. ↑ LASD Financial Report, 2007
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  5. ↑ LASD History
  6. ↑ Noguchi, Sharon (2008-06-29). "Public, private schools among state's best". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  7. ↑ Acuff, Kathleen (2011-11-02). "Bullis wins latest legal fight with LASD". Los Altos Online. Los Altos Town Crier. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
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