In an attempt to raise academic standards in California, a 40-member committee met last month to formulate a state incentive proposal that will punish or reward educators depending upon student performances.
Despite the dwindling test scores and academic failure many districts are facing, the Los Altos School District has continued to rank among the top 1 percent in the state.
All eight of the district’s schools are ranked among the top 100 out of California’s 7,000 campuses. Its 3,614 students scored 88 percent higher than all students tested nationally on the California Achievement Test this year, two of its schools have been named National Blue Ribbon schools by the U.S. Department of Education and the district was named number one in the Bay Area.
According to the 1990 state census, approximately 66 percent of the community has attained a college degree, something which studies indicate promotes educational values among children. In addition, many families in Los Altos have the financial flexibility to donate more money and time to schools.
Superintendent Marge Gratiot said the Los Altos School District is more successful in test scores than other districts located within communities similar to Los Altos.
Gratiot, who won state superintendent of the year in 1995, said she believes the district’s success is related to the community’s support, the interest parents have in education and the district’s strong emphasis on curriculum.
“A successful school district breeds success,” Gratiot said. “If a school district is successful, families who want that sort of education for their children move in and reinforce support for the district and education with their children. All of those things keep the district staying successful.”
Through the support of community members, student education has not suffered during times of budget cuts, she said. Parent Teacher Associations raised $643,390 for the district last year and the Los Altos Educational Foundation raised more than $40,000 to help keep class sizes down and fund science, music and art classes, programs that are typically cut from other schools during budget crunches. In addition, the Rotary Club of Los Altos initiated a program in the district two years ago to help children with learning difficulties.
Los Altos also demonstrated it support as a community when it approved the parcel tax, something which has provided “amazing strength” to the district, Gratiot said. The district is only the second in the state to pass a consecutive parcel tax increase.
Los Altos resident Carol Malnick, who transferred her daughter from a private school to Santa Rita School in Los Altos, said she was surprised to find such strong community support in a public school system.
“The district is a small enough community for the schools to effectively utilize resources and exchange ideas. What works in one school is tried at another school,” Malnick said.
Malnick said sometimes there are more volunteer parents in the classrooms than there are students. Many of the computer labs and school programs are run solely by volunteers, she said.
Dick Liewer, assistant superintendent of curriculum, said the district is careful not to “jump into every educational hoop that comes out from the state and national level.” While other districts failed while experimenting with various reading programs, Los Altos maintained a successful phonics program, he said.
The district groups children in math, a practice Liewer calls “controversial.” But he said half the children exit the eighth grade having completed algebra, something few districts are able to claim. He said the program enables students to progress at their own pace with a transitional math teacher who rotates throughout all of the schools to provide additional student support.
Liewer said the district also employs dedicated teachers, many who stay in the district for their entire career. The district has less than 10 percent teacher turn over each year.
Liewer said through hard work, the teachers and district administration have maintained a stable working relationship.
“Negative union management labor relations can really poison a district,” he said.
Liewer described the district as a community where the teachers know the names of every student in the school.
He said the district has maintained small classes even at the junior high school level, which averages 23 students per class.
“We strive to keep that small school feeling,” Liewer said. “There’s something magic about that.”
