Almond Elementary School
550 Almond Ave.
Los Altos, CA 94022
Almond School is one of six elementary schools in the Los Altos School District, and it is located just a mile from the downtown center of the City of Los Altos. Twenty-five self-contained classrooms house 550 students. The student population is predominantly white (74%) and Asian (18%) with Hispanic (5%), Black (2%), and Pacific Islander (1%), showing an increase in a diverse population over the past several years.
Students' Needs:
One of Almond's goals is to meet the unique learning and social needs of each student. Although students are assigned to self-contained classrooms, they are regrouped within and across classrooms to assure appropriate classroom instruction. Because Almond has a school based collaborative site plan, a full time Resource Specialist and an RS aide are available to work with students needing additional support makes early intervention possible for all students.
A school psychologist is available two days a week for testing, conferencing with parents and for helping classroom teachers identify effective instructional practices for students with special needs. The principal, psychologist, Resource Specialist Teacher, and three staff members comprise the Almond Child Study Team. The Team helps to determine the best educational plan for children with special needs. A school wide discipline plan, written by parents, staff and students is implemented uniformly.
Services for children with limited English proficiency are available at Almond. Students receive instruction in English Language Learner program until their academic skills and English vocabulary are adequate for them to achieve success in the regular academic program.
Instruction for children identified as Gifted and Talented is provided in after school seminars, through enrichment projects in the regular classroom program and, most importantly, through a challenging and rigorous curriculum.
Almond's Scores on California Standardized Tests
| Reading | Math | Language | Spelling | |
| 2nd Grade | 99 | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 3rd Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 4th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 5th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 6th Grade | 98 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
Scores range from 1-99. A score of 99 indicates that the school scored higher than 99 percent of the other public schools in California. All scores are from "McCormack's Guides '99."
Learning Environment:
In 1996-97, Almond School implemented the State mandated class size reduction in grades one, two, and three and in 1997-98, classes were reduced in Kindergarten. This program gives Almond's primary classes (K-3rd grades) a twenty to one student-teacher ratio. Almond's average class size for the 1999-2000 school year was 22.5 students. Classroom aides, funded by the School Improvement Program, assist teachers with small group instruction. Computer aides, science aides, physical education specialists, vocal and instrumental music teachers offer special classes for students each week and are funded by the Los Altos Educational Foundation. A mathematics specialist is assigned to Almond School for one hour per day to instruct accelerated sixth grade students in math.
Almond School's library, staffed by library aides and parent volunteers, has been upgraded as a result of Measure A funding. A professional librarian oversees district library services with special attention to computerizing all school libraries and updating book collections. Almond school's collection of books continues to grow and expand supporting all curriculum areas at every grade level.
Almond School features two Computer Labs, one which houses ten Macintosh computers and two color printers exclusively for use by first and second graders. Students in those grades use a software program called "Read, Write, and Type" to learn keyboarding skills and to develop individual writing skills. The second Computer Lab houses 30 Apple I-Mac computers and several color printers. Students in grades 3-6 visit this lab on a weekly basis and use the various applications of Claris Works to create and enhance classroom curriculum projects. Funds from the Los Altos Educational Foundation provide for instructional aides to staff both of the labs.
Almond School is fully networked with internet access into all classrooms, the office, the library, and the computer labs. Some individual classrooms have established classroom web pages. Teachers also develop lessons which integrate technology and the internet into the curriculum.
All district teachers participate in district inservice training programs. Teachers new to the district are provided with help form principals, mini mentors, BTSA support providers and grade level peers. Specific after-school classes and sharing sessions have been designed for new teachers.
Almond Elementary School's Mission Statement:
"At Almond School we believe out primary mission is to provide a learning environment that stresses the joy of learning and motivates each child always to try his/her best. We envision our school as a learning place where each student develops the knowledge, skills, and self-esteem to understand, create, and communicate meaningful ideas and feelings.
We believe that many of the great ideas and emotional events of human history are the result of the creative powers of individuals who always gave their personal best. Almond students must respect the individuality of others and accept their own uniqueness. The must develop self-reliance and a sense of personal responsibility.
We also believe in the value of individuals working together in groups guided by collective wisdom and cooperative learning. It is the power of people working effectively in groups which makes great ideas meaningful and useful to others. Each person has the responsibility to care for others, and each of us is responsible to family and a greater community. Almond students must also develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural and social worlds around them and acquire the skills necessary to become successful, contributing members of our democratic society."