Superintendent Newsletter

I am thrilled to announce that The Los Altos School District received one of the most prestigious honors in education this month. Six of our seven elementary schools–Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis, Loyola, Santa Rita and Springer–were awarded the 2023 California Distinguished School Award. Oak Elementary School already won the award in 2020, and was therefore ineligible to receive the award again in 2023. This means all of our elementary schools are recipients of this incredible award.

The California Distinguished Schools program recognizes schools for their excellent work in one of two categories: closing the achievement gap and achieving exceptional student performance by analyzing data reported through the 2022 CDE Dashboard. LASD’s student achievement scores reflected excellence in both categories. The award program is returning this year after the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily suspended reporting of state and local student data in 2020.

California Superintendent of Schools, Tony Thurmond, announced the awards on January 6, 2023, stating: “California Distinguished Schools represent examples of not just excellent teaching, learning, and collaboration, but also highly successful, data-driven school efforts ranging from professional development for educators to mental health and social-emotional wellness strategies to address the needs of students and families.”

I am so proud of our schools, staff, students, families and community. Together, we provide an excellent education for all children in a welcoming environment that helps them succeed to the highest levels.

You may have seen the article in the Los Altos Town Crier recently about innovation in our 8th grade mathematics classrooms.

Select Common Core eighth-grade classes at Blach and Egan are using a new virtual reality pilot program to enhance algebra lessons. Through the technology, students are immersed in a storyline where they encounter real-world problems they must solve by applying their mathematics skills and reasoning. The lessons are offered through Prisms of Reality, a San-Francisco-based educational technology company that develops virtual-reality games that align with Common Core standards in math.

If the pilot program is successful in boosting algebra competencies with our 8th grade students, LASD will consider expanding the program to other grade levels, as well as possibly expanding into science classes as well.

Read the full story here.

We know our schools are the best places for children to learn, grow and succeed to the highest levels. I am so proud of our schools, staff and students–and I know our families are too!

LASD is working to celebrate our students and teachers, sharing their success with our families and the broader community through social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram–and we need your help!

Want to stay up to date on all of the amazing learning happening in our classrooms?

Want to celebrate our students and teachers?

Want to know more about the amazing events and activities at our schools?

Want to help us spread the word about our wonderful school communities?

…Well, all you have to do is click below and follow along!

Registration for the 2023-34 school year is now open and priority registration runs through February 17th.

If you, your friends, or your neighbors haven't registered for our excellent neighborhood schools yet, now is the time! Registration is easy to complete online here.

To learn more about our schools visit our Media Gallery.

Last week, the LASD Board unanimously approved the calendar for the 2023-24 school year. To review the calendar, please click here.

Email: superintendent@lasdschools.org
Website: lasdschools.org
Location: 201 Covington Road, Los Altos, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 947-1150