Los Altos School District
Encyclopedia
Los Altos School District (LASD) serves the elementary and intermediate educational needs of Los Altos, California
, United States, led by Superintendent
Jeffrey C. Baier.
The local high school, Los Altos High School
, is not part of the Los Altos School District.
.
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 eight open regular schools (six elementary and two intermediates), Bullis School (which houses a full day kindergarten program), and one closed school (Eastbrook).
(API) score of 959 in 2007.
Los Altos School District* consistently scores successfully 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".
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.
Los Altos, California
Los Altos is a city at the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 28,976 according to the 2010 census....
, United States, led by Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
Jeffrey C. Baier.
The local high school, Los Altos High School
Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)
Los Altos High School, established in 1954, is a public school located in the affluent Silicon Valley suburb of Los Altos, California. It has generally demonstrated a high level of academic achievement...
, is not part of the Los Altos School District.
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 (18,210.9 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 IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
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
Los Altos Hills, California
Los Altos Hills is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 7,922 at the 2010 census. Located in Silicon Valley, Los Altos Hills is one of the wealthiest cities in the nation.-Strictly residential:...
) from the neighboring Palo Alto School District
Palo Alto Unified School District
- Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School :Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School is a middle school located at 480 East Meadow Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94306. 2007 STAR test results showed an attendance of 870 students, in grades 6 through 8. It was originally named Ray Lyman Wilbur Junior High School after...
. 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 eight open regular schools (six elementary and two intermediates), Bullis School (which houses a full day kindergarten program), and one closed school (Eastbrook).
API Scores
Los Altos School District students' test scores were among the highest in California, with an average Academic Performance IndexAcademic Performance Index
The Academic Performance Index is a measurement of academic performance and progress of individual schools in California, United States. It is one of the main components of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999...
(API) score of 959 in 2007.
Los Altos School District* consistently scores successfully 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
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
, the San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
states that "Los Altos elementary schools do well even against schools with similar demographics".
| School | 2008 API | 2007 API | 2006 API | 2005 API |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almond Elementary | 968 | 964 | 971 | 967 |
| Covington Elementary | 954 | 928 | 938 | 963 |
| Loyola Elementary | 974 | 972 | 965 | 965 |
| Oak Avenue Elementary | 982 | 969 | 982 | 964 |
| Santa Rita Elementary Santa Rita Elementary School Santa Rita School is an elementary school located on the north side of the district, approximately one mile from the downtown center of the City of Los Altos.Santa Rita generally students feed into Egan Intermediate School for 7th and 8th grades.-History:... |
959 | 952 | 957 | 939 |
| Springer Elementary | 959 | 948 | 961 | 960 |
| Blach Intermediate Blach Intermediate School Blach Intermediate School is a middle school serving grades 7–8 in Los Altos, California, United States. It is part of the Los Altos School District. Founded in 1958, Blach was named after Georgina P. Blach in a dedication ceremony on December 11 of the same year. Blach Intermediate School is a... |
937 | 950 | 952 | 952 |
| Egan Junior High Egan Junior High School Ardis G. Egan Junior High School is a middle school for seventh and eighth graders in Los Altos, California. A lot of people go here. It is part of the Los Altos School District. Most of Egan's five hundred students live in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, though a few live in Mountain View. Egan is... |
962 | 958 | 961 | 947 |
| Average | 959 | 954 | 960 | 949 |
Elementary schools (K-6)
- Almond Elementary
- Gardner Bullis Elementary School (formerly Bullis-Purissima Elementary School)
- Closed as a K-6 school in 2003, Bullis-Purissima operated as a district-wide full-day kindergarten program from Fall 2005 through Spring 2008. It reopened as a K-5 school in August 2008 following extensive renovations. It will become a K-6 school in the fall of 2009.
- Covington Elementary School
- The ethnic makeup of those who attend is 64% Caucasian, 27% Asian, 3% Hispanic, 1% African-American, and 1% Filipino.
- Loyola Elementary School
- Less than 1% of students who attend this school are eligible for the free lunch program, in stark contrast to the state average of 39.4%. The ethnic makeup of those who attend is 72% Caucasian, 26% Asian, 1% Hispanic and 1% African American. There are approximately 600 students in the school.
- Oak Avenue School
- Santa Rita Elementary SchoolSanta Rita Elementary SchoolSanta Rita School is an elementary school located on the north side of the district, approximately one mile from the downtown center of the City of Los Altos.Santa Rita generally students feed into Egan Intermediate School for 7th and 8th grades.-History:...
- Springer Elementary School
Bullis Charter School
Bullis Charter School
Bullis Charter School is a public charter school located in Los Altos, California, USA, for grades kindergarten through eighth. As the Santa Clara County Office of Education charters the school, BCS operates independently of the Los Altos School District...
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.
External links
- Los Altos School District
- List of Schools in LASD from the API database