Lake Elsinore Unified School District
Encyclopedia
Lake Elsinore Unified School District was formed on July 1, 1989, when the Elsinore Union High School District merged with the Lake Elsinore School District (elementary). The Lake Elsinore Unified School District is a public school district located in Lake Elsinore
, California
, USA. It encompasses 131.78 square miles.
The Lake Elsinore Unififed School District is the 8th (out of 24) largest school district (in student population) in Riverside County.
Lake Elsinore Unified has recently seen a sharp increase in enrollment due to the fast growth of residential development. To match that growth, the district opened four new schools between 2005 through 2007: Lakeside High School (2005), Lakeland Village Middle School (2005), Ronald Reagan Elementary School (2006) and Earl Warren Elementary School (2007).
Jean Hayman Elementary was closed at the end of the 2008 school school year due to budget cuts. Built in 1984, Hayman was the district's fifth-oldest elementary school. Seismic findings will keep the school from reopening. In February, 2010 the school board voted to close Butterfield Elementary School
, the district's fourth oldest and fifth largest of 15 elementary schools, at the end of the 2009/2010 school year in order to save approximately $500,000 . $1,500,000 will be spent to remodel the local middle school, Lakeland Village Middle School, to accommodate the students from Butterfield, remaking the school into a K-8 facility. Another elementary campus, Luiseño Elementary, will also be converted into a K-6 (future to K-8) school at the cost of $12.5 million dollars.
While dealing with the rapid growth, it is also making strong gains when it comes to academic achievement. In August 2008, scores released by the California Department of Education
showed that Lake Elsinore Unified was the highest improving school district out of 23 districts in Riverside County. The district’s third-place showing (county-wide) in 2008 was a marked improvement from 11th place four years before. LEUSD had the fifth highest gain of all K-12 Districts in the State of California in 2008.
Three of Lake Elsinore's middle schools were in the top 15 middle schools in the California for API growth. They are: Lakeland Village Middle School (#1 middle school growth in California), Terra Cotta Middle School (#7 middle school growth in California), and Elsinore Middle School (#13 middle school growth in California). Four of Lake Elsinore's schools were among the top 50 schools in Riverside County for overall API score in 2008. They are: Tuscany Hills Elementary (#10), Withrow Elementary and Rice Canyon Elementary (tied at #32), and Luiseno Elementary (#38). Eight of the top 20 schools with the greatest API growth in Riverside County are from LEUSD. They are: Lakeland Village Middle (#2), Ortega High (#5), Machado Elementary (#6), Elsinore Elementary (#7), Butterfield Elementary (#11), Terra Cotta Middle (#13), Elsinore Middle (#18), and Jean Hayman Elementary (#19). Two of Lake Elsinore's schools were in the top 10 for API growth for comprehensive high schools in Riverside County. They are: Temescal Canyon High (#2),and Elsinore High (#6).
The district is beginning to receive recognition as one of Riverside County’s best and so too are some of its schools. In April 2007 only two high schools in Riverside County were given the prestigious California Distinguished School
designation by state education officials: Elsinore and Temescal Canyon high schools, both Lake Elsinore Unified schools. They joined Luiseno Elementary School, which received the honor when elementary schools were chosen in 2006, and Tuscany Hills Elementary School which was named a California Distinguished School in 2008, making it the fourth district school to receive this designation. Lakeland Village and Terra Cotta Middle Schools are now officially named California Distinguished Schools for 2009 and will be recognized by the California Department of Education during the month of May. With an API gain of 111 points, Lakeland Village Middle School was the highest-improving middle school in the state. With its 70-point gain, Terra Cotta was the seventh highest-improving middle school in the state.
Late in 2009 the district decided to experiment with a K-8 format for two of its schools. Administrators decided to close the distinguished Butterfield Elementary School
at the end of the 2009-2010 school year and move its entire student (700 students) and teacher population to the nearby (3 miles south) Lakeland Village Middle School. Half of the existing Lakeland Village Middle School students and teachers would be moved to other schools to make space for the incoming elementary students. $1.5 million would be spent on the four-year old Lakeland Village Middle School campus to adapt it for use by the kindergarten through fifth graders that would be added. 400 middle school students (Grades 6 - 8) would remain at the campus. This campus was renamed Lakeland Village School
. The Butterfield heritage was kept by renaming the theatre/MPR as the Butterfield Performing Arts Center. A new principal was named to head the combined campus. As a finale, in its closing year the Butterfield Elementary API tests scores increased to 853, a growth of 76 points, the second largest elementary increase in all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
At the same time a different approach was being tried at the former Luiseño Elementary School located in the Horsethief Canyon community. At this campus only sixth graders would be added for the first year (current fifth graders), followed by seventh and eighth grades the following two years. This facility was renamed Luiseño School. $12.5 million would be spent to adapt it for use by the sixth through eighth graders that would be added. This "growth" model would keep a continuity of students from the previous elementary grades, and not introduce younger students to an older population of existing middle school students as was implemented at Lakeland Village School.
Lake Elsinore, California
For the lake see Lake Elsinore.Lake Elsinore or LE is a city in western Riverside County, California. The population was 51,821 at the 2010 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. It encompasses 131.78 square miles.
The Lake Elsinore Unififed School District is the 8th (out of 24) largest school district (in student population) in Riverside County.
District profile
With roots going back to two schools built in 1884, Lake Elsinore's school system is one of the county’s oldest. The district now includes thirteen elementary schools, one K-6 school, one K-8 school, five middle schools, three comprehensive high schools and five alternative education schools.Lake Elsinore Unified has recently seen a sharp increase in enrollment due to the fast growth of residential development. To match that growth, the district opened four new schools between 2005 through 2007: Lakeside High School (2005), Lakeland Village Middle School (2005), Ronald Reagan Elementary School (2006) and Earl Warren Elementary School (2007).
Jean Hayman Elementary was closed at the end of the 2008 school school year due to budget cuts. Built in 1984, Hayman was the district's fifth-oldest elementary school. Seismic findings will keep the school from reopening. In February, 2010 the school board voted to close Butterfield Elementary School
Butterfield Elementary School (Lake Elsinore, California)
Butterfield Elementary School was a publicly funded grade school in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, in California. It was named after the old Butterfield Overland Stage route which runs in front of the school. It provided many innovative programs to its students...
, the district's fourth oldest and fifth largest of 15 elementary schools, at the end of the 2009/2010 school year in order to save approximately $500,000 . $1,500,000 will be spent to remodel the local middle school, Lakeland Village Middle School, to accommodate the students from Butterfield, remaking the school into a K-8 facility. Another elementary campus, Luiseño Elementary, will also be converted into a K-6 (future to K-8) school at the cost of $12.5 million dollars.
While dealing with the rapid growth, it is also making strong gains when it comes to academic achievement. In August 2008, scores released by the California Department of Education
California Department of Education
The California Department of Education is a California agency that oversees public education. The department oversees funding and testing, and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement...
showed that Lake Elsinore Unified was the highest improving school district out of 23 districts in Riverside County. The district’s third-place showing (county-wide) in 2008 was a marked improvement from 11th place four years before. LEUSD had the fifth highest gain of all K-12 Districts in the State of California in 2008.
Three of Lake Elsinore's middle schools were in the top 15 middle schools in the California for API growth. They are: Lakeland Village Middle School (#1 middle school growth in California), Terra Cotta Middle School (#7 middle school growth in California), and Elsinore Middle School (#13 middle school growth in California). Four of Lake Elsinore's schools were among the top 50 schools in Riverside County for overall API score in 2008. They are: Tuscany Hills Elementary (#10), Withrow Elementary and Rice Canyon Elementary (tied at #32), and Luiseno Elementary (#38). Eight of the top 20 schools with the greatest API growth in Riverside County are from LEUSD. They are: Lakeland Village Middle (#2), Ortega High (#5), Machado Elementary (#6), Elsinore Elementary (#7), Butterfield Elementary (#11), Terra Cotta Middle (#13), Elsinore Middle (#18), and Jean Hayman Elementary (#19). Two of Lake Elsinore's schools were in the top 10 for API growth for comprehensive high schools in Riverside County. They are: Temescal Canyon High (#2),and Elsinore High (#6).
The district is beginning to receive recognition as one of Riverside County’s best and so too are some of its schools. In April 2007 only two high schools in Riverside County were given the prestigious California Distinguished School
California Distinguished School
A California Distinguished School is an award given by the California State Board of Education to public schools within the state that best represent exemplary and quality educational programs. Approximately five percent of California schools are awarded this honor each year following a selection...
designation by state education officials: Elsinore and Temescal Canyon high schools, both Lake Elsinore Unified schools. They joined Luiseno Elementary School, which received the honor when elementary schools were chosen in 2006, and Tuscany Hills Elementary School which was named a California Distinguished School in 2008, making it the fourth district school to receive this designation. Lakeland Village and Terra Cotta Middle Schools are now officially named California Distinguished Schools for 2009 and will be recognized by the California Department of Education during the month of May. With an API gain of 111 points, Lakeland Village Middle School was the highest-improving middle school in the state. With its 70-point gain, Terra Cotta was the seventh highest-improving middle school in the state.
Late in 2009 the district decided to experiment with a K-8 format for two of its schools. Administrators decided to close the distinguished Butterfield Elementary School
Butterfield Elementary School (Lake Elsinore, California)
Butterfield Elementary School was a publicly funded grade school in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, in California. It was named after the old Butterfield Overland Stage route which runs in front of the school. It provided many innovative programs to its students...
at the end of the 2009-2010 school year and move its entire student (700 students) and teacher population to the nearby (3 miles south) Lakeland Village Middle School. Half of the existing Lakeland Village Middle School students and teachers would be moved to other schools to make space for the incoming elementary students. $1.5 million would be spent on the four-year old Lakeland Village Middle School campus to adapt it for use by the kindergarten through fifth graders that would be added. 400 middle school students (Grades 6 - 8) would remain at the campus. This campus was renamed Lakeland Village School
Lakeland Village School (Lake Elsinore, California)
Lakeland Village School is a publicly funded school in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, in California. It was opened in 2006 as the Lakeland Village Middle School with a student population of 900. It was built at a cost of $33 million...
. The Butterfield heritage was kept by renaming the theatre/MPR as the Butterfield Performing Arts Center. A new principal was named to head the combined campus. As a finale, in its closing year the Butterfield Elementary API tests scores increased to 853, a growth of 76 points, the second largest elementary increase in all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
At the same time a different approach was being tried at the former Luiseño Elementary School located in the Horsethief Canyon community. At this campus only sixth graders would be added for the first year (current fifth graders), followed by seventh and eighth grades the following two years. This facility was renamed Luiseño School. $12.5 million would be spent to adapt it for use by the sixth through eighth graders that would be added. This "growth" model would keep a continuity of students from the previous elementary grades, and not introduce younger students to an older population of existing middle school students as was implemented at Lakeland Village School.
Student ethnicity
The Lake Elsinore Unified School District's ethnicity, and comparison to State Averages, is as follows:| Response | District Percentage | State Average |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic: | 50% | 48% |
| White: | 38% | 29% |
| African American: | 5% | 8% |
| Asian: | 2% | 8% |
| Filipino: | 2% | 3% |
| Multiple/no response: | 2% | 3% |
| Pacific Islander: | <1% | <1% |
| American Indian: | <1% | <1% |
Superintendents over the years
The historical record is as follows:| Dates | Superintendents | Length of tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 to 1992 | Dr. Larry Maw | 3 years |
| 1992 to 1999 | Dr. David Long | 7 years |
| 1999 to 2005 | Dr. Sharron Lindsay | 7 years |
| 2006 to present | Dr. Frank Passarella | in 5th year |
Elementary
- Cottonwood Canyon Elementary School
- Donald Graham Elementary School
- Earl Warren Elementary School
- Elsinore Elementary School
- Machado Elementary School
- Railroad Canyon Elementary School
- Rice Canyon Elementary School
- Ronald Reagan Elementary School
- Tuscany Hills Elementary School
- Wildomar Elementary School
- William Collier Elementary School
- Withrow Elementary School
K-8 Schools
The Lake Elsinore Unified School District is converting two schools to K-8 (kindergarten through 8th grade schools) in the Fall of 2010.- Luiseno School (was Luiseño Elementary School until it becomes a K-6 school for the Fall of 2010. It will grow to K-8 during the next two years.)
- Lakeland Village SchoolLakeland Village School (Lake Elsinore, California)Lakeland Village School is a publicly funded school in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, in California. It was opened in 2006 as the Lakeland Village Middle School with a student population of 900. It was built at a cost of $33 million...
(was Lakeland Village Middle School until it becomes a K-8 school beginning in the Fall of 2010.)
Middle
- Canyon Lake Middle School
- David A. Brown Middle School
- Elsinore Middle School
- Terra Cotta Middle School
High
- Elsinore High School
- Lakeside High School
- Temescal Canyon High School
- Ortega Continuation High School
Alternative
- Gordon Kiefer Independent Study School
- Keith McCarthy Academy
- Ortega High School
- Tri-Valley Community Day School
- Valley Adult School
Closed Schools (on market to be sold)
- Butterfield Elementary SchoolButterfield Elementary School (Lake Elsinore, California)Butterfield Elementary School was a publicly funded grade school in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, in California. It was named after the old Butterfield Overland Stage route which runs in front of the school. It provided many innovative programs to its students...
(permanently closed in June, 2010, students moved to Lakeland Village School (K-8) - Jean Hayman Elementary School (2008, now permanently closed)