Los Altos Real Estate Blog

Bullis charter school in Los Altos has become the highest ranked school in the district, based on the most recent API scores.  They beat out Covington and Oak Elementary schools by a single point.  While the school is a charter, the best in the state, it stands outside the scope of the actual district.  It's not to be confused with Gardner Bullis Elementary located in Los Altos Hills.  One interesting fact is that the 7th grade class scored a perfect 1,000 API score.  This was not in any of the latest news reports.

Most of the other schools in the district also had small incremental improvements and continue to lead the state and area in scores.  Oak, Covington, Loyola, and Almond all improved.  Santa Rita and Springer saw small declines.  Overall, the district has an API rating of 969, a net gain of 4 points over their score in 2010.  This is a higher rating than either Cupertino or Palo Alto with ratings of 955 and 926 respectively.  Generally, with the exception of Hoover Elementary, Los Altos elementary schools outscore those in Palo Alto.

Do scores really matter?  As a REALTOR® I'm often asked about school scores and which schools are best.  Here's what I know from talking with local educators - Any school with a score of 900 or more is unlikely to have any material difference from one to the other.  A school with a score of 954 is not really inferior to a school with a score of 988.  It's not the curriculum that makes the difference, it's the students.  That's one thing people seem to miss with these scores.  With that said, choosing any school in Los Altos will give your children an excellent education.  My son attended Oak Elementary and the teachers were incredible.  Even if the scores drop a bit behind the leader, I know the quality hasn't dropped.  Keep that in mind when shopping for a home. 

As many local residents know, the local school board has had a rough time in recent years with statewide education budget cuts and the impact they have on Los Altos schools.  Many programs have had to be eliminated or cut back and those that have remained, have done so primarily due to the generous support of the Los Altos Educational Foundation.  LAEF has been an integral part of the overall education funding strategy of the school board for many years.  The board would be unable to deliver the programs and staffing it does without the contributions from LAEF.

You need to know about this before the school year starts because you'll be asked to donate $1000 to LAEF at the beginning of the school year.  This is done on a "per family" basis and more is always welcome.  With hundreds of families at each school, you can see how the funds quickly build up to support ongoing programs.

For the current year, they intend to raise $2.35 million to keep class sizes low and bring back 40 teachers.  Right now, it's an uphill battle to raise funds in a slow economy while keeping programs going instead of adding new ones.  That's the shift from years past - money was used to add extras whereas now it's used primarily to keep things as they've been.  The point is that as a parent, it's important on back-to-school night that you sign up to participate in LAEF.

Most of the schools have a sign-up process where you'll register to make contributions to the PTA and LAEF.  When the opportunity arises, please make the contribution.  Without LAEF, the class sizes would easily reach 30 or more and the high-ranking scores that Los Altos schools have gotten for many years will suffer.  This means a lower quality education for your kids and, ironically, lower property values.  Los Altos has always been a magnet for home buyers because of the quality schools.  Supporting LAEF will ensure that continues.

During the year, you'll be asked to discuss items that LAEF can do for the school board.  These surveys and discussions have an important impact on what LAEF will fund and how much the school board is able to deliver in terms of new programs, staff, or materials.  It's important to participate in these discussions because the feedback can have a lasting impact on what is offered at each school.  Keep in mind that LAEF funds are distributed evenly across the district and funds are granted to the school board each year so they can do what needs to be done.

Please support LAEF, the school board, and Los Altos schools.  Every dollar makes a brighter future for the kids.

The first few weeks back to school are really busy with all the orientation meetings, connecting with the PTA, meeting new teachers, and more.  You'll be called on to volunteer, help support LAEF (the Los Altos Educational Foundation), and renew ties with the parents and teachers that make Los Altos schools great.  It's important to note that while each school starts on the same day, the activities vary widely from school to school so don't count on consistency.  To make it easy on you, I'll compiled a list of the opening weeks events and times for each of the public schools in the area.  You'll want to check on the website for your school to make sure there haven't been any changes, especially to smaller events like kinder socials.  Many schools will ask you to register to receive emails and I highly recommend doing that.  They'll send reminders as new events come up and it's easier to get those updates via email rather than depending on the school websites.  Deadlines to sign up for many things are coming up on August 12th so stay on top of things.

Gardener Bullis

August 6th, Kindergarten play date ,10A-12P, at the Gardener Kinder Playground

August 12th, School-wide popcorn party, 3-4:30P (class lists posted as well)

August 17th, First Day of School - PTA Welcome Back Coffee and Volunteer Fair

August 19th, Community Flag Salute.  Back to school picnic at Gardner, bring your own dinner at 5:30

Santa Rita

August 16th, Kinder lemonade social 1-1:30

August 17th, First day of school

August 22nd, New family orientation at 6:30

August 27th, Bobcat chase and pancake breakfast at 8-11am

Almond

August 16th, Kinder lemonade social at 1pm at the school

August 17th, First day of school, welcome back coffee at 8:30a

August 19th, New family orientation at 5:45p followed by an ice cream social at 7pm

Loyola

August 12th, Supplies distribution at 10a

August 14th, Weed & Feed 10a-2p at the school

August 15th, new family orientation at 6pm

August 17th, Back to school and welcome back coffee at 8:30a

Covington

August 17th, First day of school

August 18th, New parent orientation

August 19th, Parent coffee after flag salute 8:30a

August 23rd, Back to school night

Springer

August 12th, Stop and Pop - welcome back party 4:30-6pm

August 17th, First day of school

August 20th, Weed & Feed (campus beautification)

Oak

August 14th, Back to school social at 3pm

August 17th, First day of school

August 23rd, Kindergarten back to school night 7pm

August 31st, Back to school night 6:30pm

Monteclaire

August 17th, Kinder welcoem back 1-3pm

August 18th, First day of school and welcome back coffee at 8:30

It's that time of year again - back to school!  As parents, we have to head off to buy all the supplies that our schools ask us to stock up on.  At least for younger kids, it's fun getting a whole new stash of pens, pencils, markers, and more.  When I was a kid the latest thing was the "Trapper Keeper" with all sorts of pockets and places to put your stuff.  It was one of the few perks of the end of summer and the start of the school year.

Below you'll find a list of all the elementary schools in Los Altos and links to the specific sites where they show what supplies are needed for each grade.  I've also made some recommendations on where to go to get them.

Santa Rita Elementary - No need to shop, read the link

Gardner Bullis Elementary - Paid for by PTA, no need to buy

Almond elementary - Supplies list

Covington Elementary - Supplies list

Springer Elementary - Supplies list

Loyola Elementary - Supplies are purchase by the school for a fee

Oak Elementary - Supplies list (see section at the bottom of the home page)

Monteclaire Elementary - Supplies list (all on the main webpage)

Places to get school supplies:

Target (in Mtn View) - Very good prices but a poor selection and they don't have everything on the list.

Office Depot (El Monte & El Camino) - Good prices and excellent selection.  You'll pay a little more but you can get it all in one trip.

Walgreens (downtown Los Altos) - Reasonable prices and decent selection but they don't have everything.

CVS (Homestead Rd) - Good prices but also a limited variety.  You'll need to go elsewhere to get everything.

Most home buyers look at buying a home in Los Altos because of the strength of our public schools, widely considered some of the best in the state.  However, we also have a wide range of high-quality private schools considered some of the best in the area.  The list below shows the full range of private schools available in Los Altos including specialty schools.  The cost a private school education varies widely and I suggest contacting each school to find out the latest prices.  Most of these are very reasonably priced, especially the preschools.

In general, you'll want to set up a meeting to talk to the admissions director at each school to discuss their available programs and educational approach.  During this initial discussion you'll hopefully get a tour of the school and see the students and teachers in action.  After that meeting, you'll be asked to come back with a completed application.  Upon review of that application, you'll be asked to schedule a time to meet with your child (or children) to have them evaluated.  If there is a fit, you'll be asked to complete admissions information and formally sign up for the school.  While this program varies a bit from school to school, most schools follow this same process.

Starting with preschools and ending with specialty schools, here are the private schools in Los Altos:

Stepping Stones Pre-School  (GRADES Pre-K only)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp

1122 Covington Road, Los Altos, CA  94024      650-960-1303

This school is located on the Blach Middle School campus in a well-designed and secure set of grounds since 2005.  They've been in business since 1983.

Montecito Pre-School   (GRADES Pre-K to K)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp

1468 Grant Road, Los Altos, CA  94024      650-968-5957

This small school with about 80 students has been in operation since 1960 and has a fun, playful learning environment for kids on their way to elementary school.  There is also a drop-in program for older kids.

Children's Creative Learning Center  (GRADES Pre-K only)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools 

2310 Homestead Road, Los Altos, CA 94024     408-736-7400

This school focuses on creating self-awareness and social skills while working to develop the unique aspects of each individual child.  They offer extended hours and work closely with parents to build a long-term relationship.

Los Altos Christian  (GRADES Pre-K-8)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp     PrivateSchoolReview

625 Magdalena Road, Los Altos, CA  94024     650-948-3738

This is a coed and Baptist-affiliated school has strong ties to many of the most highly regarded local private high-schools.  Along with a strong educational program, they have a very good athletics program and compete with other private schools in the area.

Canterbury Christian School  (GRADES K-6)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp     PrivateSchoolReview

101 N. El Monte Road, Los Altos, CA  94022     650-949-0909

This non-denominational Christian school has been in Los Altos since 1974 and continues a tradition of offering a Christian-centered education.  While open to anyone, they do require parents to agree with the Christian educational philosophy.  There has been substantial new construction on the site and they welcomed a new headmaster and principal in 2010.  While not the most well known of the private schools, it is one of the largest. 

Pinewood (GRADES K-8) (Two campuses)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp     PrivateSchoolReview

327 Fremont Avenue, Los Altos, CA  94024     650-949-5775

The Pinewood schools are located in three locations in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills with the K-2 and 3-8 schools located on Fremont Avenue in Los Altos.  The high school is located on West Fremont Ave in Los Altos Hills.  Pinewood has long been considered on of the best private schools in the area.

St. Simon School (GRADES Pre-K - 8)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp     PrivateSchoolReview

1840 Grant Road, Los Altos, CA  94024     650-968-9951

This Roman-Catholic school is open to all faiths and is located on the large St. Simons church site.  The curriculum is extremely well done and they have 49 years of service to the community.  One of the larger private schools, it has 542 students.  Their program is very well rounded covering a wide range of topics that compare very well to the highly rated public schools in nearby.  In addition, they have an excellent sports program and a gym with plenty of room for big events.

Entry is done by admissions review that includes an application and a brief interview/test session with the child.  The child meets with the teacher for their incoming grade and possibly other applicants and students.  The school is prompt in notifying parents about acceptance or denial.  If you'd like, they do offer tours of the school while it is in session to see how the students work and how the school operates.  Having personally been there, it appears very well run.

St. Nicholas School   (GRADES K-8)     REVIEWS FROM: Greatschools     Yelp     PrivateSchoolReview

12816 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA  94022     650-941-4056

This is another Catholic school but parents are not required to attend the church, although preferential pricing is offered to church members.  This school has long and strong community ties with about 230 students.

Specialty Schools - COMING SOON

I am really happy to see that the residents of Los Altos supported Measure E and voted to add another $193 to the existing parcel taxes.  This new tax will generate nearly $2.3 million to help Los Altos schools maintain their stature as some of the best schools in California.

There was some dissention in the community but that appears to have been driven by political concerns and personal interests rather than what is in the best interest of the community.  As I've said before, education in Los Altos is incredibly important.  One of the main reasons Los Altos is considered a prime community is the quality of education offered by the schools, especially the elementary schools.  While I feel there should have been no debate of the merits of a small tax, there was.  At least now, the community at large has spoken and the schools will continue to flourish with this new infusion of money.  With state budget cuts such as they are, now is a critical time to have this new revenue.

When combined with the existing $597 parcel tax for schools, residents (seniors get an exemption) will pay a total of $790 per parcel per year to support local schools.  Put into perspective of the cost of housing in Los Altos, this is a small sum to help keep Los Altos schools at the top of the list in California.

Having been a parent in Los Altos with a child attending Oak Elementary School in South Los Altos, I am well aware of the value teachers in this district have.  A recent article in the Los Altos Town Crier expands on this topic with insights into the potential impact.  The premise is that the Los Altos School District will lose a substantial number of teachers due to a $4.5 million budget shortfall.  This is in spite of efforts by local parents to raise money to keep teachers on the job.  There are two things about this situation that bother me; the impact on kids and the impact on the community.

The Impact On Kids - Los Altos schools have long been known to have low student to teacher ratios.  Those low ratios have enabled kids to get the attention they need to succeed and grow.  The teachers are able to work more effectively when they have 20-23 students per classroom, which is a typical classroom size within Los Altos elementary school classrooms.  That closer teacher/student bond has enabled the students to achieve consistently high scores on state API tests making Los Altos Elementary Schools among the best in the state.  It is because of the quality of the teachers that many parents get involved and stay involved further fostering the exceptional learning environment Los Altos schools have.

The loss of so many teachers will increase the number of students in each class.  That will in turn reduce the amount of time the remaining teachers have to work with individual kids and could impact the overall quality of education Los Altos kids get.  I say it "could" have an impact because with substantial parent involvement, it's possible that more parents will be asked and willing to help in the classroom.  This is common practice at the kindergarten level but seldom used at the 1st - 5th grade levels.  With the loss of so many teachers, this could mean much more parent involvement is needed to keep kids on track.

The Impact On The Community - Los Altos is often a priority location for local and relocation buyers alike because of how good the schools are.  The reputation has always been that the schools are excellent, well-rounded, and parents are actively involved.  This has been true for a long time and will continue to be true.  However, if the loss of teachers exceeds what the parents around Los Altos compensate for (in time, money or both) then we may be seen as a less attractive place to live.  This concerns me greatly.  There is only so much time parents can volunteer.  With so many teachers gone and the budget at risk, I hope the community and it's leading members can arrive at some solution to ensuring the ongoing quality of the education the kids receive.  Our reputation as a top community where children can attend some of the best schools in the state is at risk.

The Los Altos school board is discussing major cuts for the 2011-2012 school year in the face of a $3.6 million budget shortfall.  The potential cuts to the programs include physical education, computers, art and music, and advanced math.  These programs have been key elements of the educational value Los Altos schools offer.  When the district faced similar cuts in their budgets 2 years ago they were able to make up the gap with funds from LAEF (the Los Altos Educational Foundation) who gets donations from parents in the district and other sources.  There is no guarantee that the current gap can be made up in a similar fashion.

These programs are vital to the education of well-rounded children.  My son especially benefited from the music and arts program when he attended Oak Elementary School in South Los Altos.  The teachers in that program not only showed him several different dance styles, which he learned to do well and enjoyed, but he gained confidence and control in moving his body.  It's a great form of artistic expression that also helps in sports programs.  There are numerous dance studios in Los Altos where kids could go to learn, such as the San Juan School of Dance in downtown Los Altos.  However, not all kids want or need such formal training and the progams in the elementary schools meet the critical need of awareness and education.

The proposed $193 parcel tax will have some impact on the school budgets but not enough to make up the difference.  That new tax combined with assistance from LAEF might close the gap but Los Altos schools deserve better.  Our town consistantly ranks as one of the wealthiest towns in the state and the country.  It seems to me that the many wealthy citizens who live here could have a huge impact on the community by donating the funds necessary to ensure the survival of these programs.

I had reported last year that the Los Altos Parent Preschool was being kicked out of it's home on the campus of Los Altos High School and needed a new place to operate.  The good news is that they have a new home, on the campus of Convington Elementary School in central Los Altos.

The preschool has been in operation at various sites for 57 years and was at risk of closing last year.  Unlike a number of other preschools in the area, this is a parent-involvement preschool where parents help with teaching and other duties.  This is good for the kids and parents alike who benefit from learning more about their kids interest and being a larger role in their kids education.

The Los Altos Parent Preschool was given a 5-year lease with a 15-year option.  That means they'll be able to stay in their current location and continue the 3-year program signups they had been doing.  I'm really pleased with this outcome and hope the school finds even bigger success now that the whole town has heard about them so much in the press.

For more information on the Los Altos Parent Preschool visit their website at www.lapp.coop

Los Altos schools rank among the best in the state, especially the elementary schools.  Our top elementary schools even score above Palo Alto schools which most home buyers seem not to know.  So, where do we get all these fine students from?  Pre-schools!  Almost every incoming child has had at least a year of pre-school before they get into kindergarten.  My son had 3 years of pre-school so he was very well prepared going in.  So, I was shocked to learn that one of the oldest pre-schools in Los Altos is at risk of disappearing.

The Los Altos Parent Preschool lost its lease and is now looking for a new home.  They've been serving the community since 1954 and currently support almost 60 families.  As a co-op, parent participation is required and part of how it does so well.  They are currently looking for new space that is available at below market rates so that tuitions can be kept low.  If tuititions aren't kept low, the pre-school may not survive.  Take a look at this story in the San Jose Mercury News for more perspective.

I encourage any reader who knows of space in the area to contact the school so this part of the Los Altos educational legacy isn't lost.  I'll be on the look out as well.