The Los Altos School District is considering moving sixth graders to a dedicated middle school model at Blach and Egan campuses, citing benefits for students’ social, emotional and academic growth. District staff presented a preliminary facilities study at the Feb. 9 Board of Trustees meeting, reviewing classrooms, portables, outdoor spaces, traffic and costs, while parents voiced both support and concerns.
The plan includes a “village” concept, giving sixth graders their own classrooms, electives, daily physical education and block scheduling to ease the transition from elementary school to junior high.
“Sixth graders can really benefit from a space for early adolescence where they have social opportunities, emotional support, great academics and opportunities for independence,” said Superintendent Sandra McGonagle. “It’s not just creating a seventh-grade program for sixth graders, but really creating a transition program that eases kids in.”
Architects assessed what Blach and Egan would need to accommodate sixth graders by fall 2028, when the new San Antonio campus is scheduled to open. Assistant Superintendent Erik Walukiewicz said many portables are more than 20 years old and need to be removed.
Blach currently enrolls 424 students and has 22 portables costing $288,000 annually. Enrollment could reach 594 by 2028, requiring six additional classrooms. Expansion is limited by floodplain and foundation issues, though moving students could ease traffic along Covington Road. Egan enrolls 444 students and has 53 portables costing $691,000 annually, with projected enrollment of 614.
Three scenarios were reviewed for reconfiguring portables to accommodate sixth graders, with scenario 1A emerging as the most practical and cost-effective. The new San Antonio campus is expected to house more than 600 students and relieve pressure on existing schools.
The plan has sparked debate over charter school enrollment. Out-of-district Bullis Charter School (BCS) students have grown from 96 last year to 173 this year. “Enrolling out-of-district BCS students imposes a significant financial cost on LASD … over $10,000 per student per year, close to $2 million annually,” said former board president Sangeeth Peruri.
Peruri urged that BCS fully compensate the district for non-resident students, including land, portables and operating costs.
During public comment, a parent questioned the need for additional sites, saying, “If you add sixth grade to Blach and Egan…you still have room to spare. You do not need the 10th site. This would not be fiscally responsible.”
Other parents expressed support for the transition.
“With sixth graders at Egan and Blach, they would have access to expanded programming that is age appropriate, like electives and sports,” said parent Peipei Yu. Yu also noted the “village” model provides “the needed safety nets of elementary school with the age-appropriate independence and resources of junior high.”
Board members leaned toward scenario 1A, citing a balance of capacity, cost and traffic improvements. They discussed alternative uses for Blach’s raised platforms and clarified that PE locker room expansion may not be necessary due to staggered schedules. Detailed walkthroughs of portables and outdoor spaces are planned ahead of March and April board meetings.
While officials say the educational case for sixth-grade middle schools is strong, final decisions will hinge on funding, facility limitations and legal obligations to in-district students.
Correction, Feb. 18: A previous version of this article misattributed a quote about the need for additional sites to former board president Sangeeth Peruri. The speaker was a parent during public comment. The article has been updated.
