Blach Intermediate School
1120 Covington Rd.
Los Altos, CA 94024
Blach Intermediate School is one of two intermediate schools in the Los Altos School District, both of which have been designated as California Distinguished Schools. Located on Covington Road in South Los Altos, Blach receives the majority of its students from Oak, Loyola, and Springer elementary schools. About thirteen percent of the students attend Blach from outside the geographic enrollment area.
Students' Needs:
Students with formally identified learning problems are served either through the Resource Program, staffed by a Resource Specialist Teacher and an instructional aide, or through placement in a similarly-staffed Special Day Class. Resource students are fully mainstreamed in regular classes; special day students participate in regular science and elective classes per their Individualized Education Plans. Teachers work with the Resource Specialist and the SDC teacher in a collaborative mode to modify assignments and teaching strategies as necessary. Students with more extensive limitations receive services in other districts or in non-public schools as appropriate.
Blach meets the needs of advanced students through the Gifted And Talented Education program, which supports special activities and materials throughout the curriculum.
Requirements for Physical Education are adjusted individually for students with physical limitations, allowing each child to participate as fully as possible in the program.
Blach's Psychologist/Counselor oversees the testing and placement process for students with special needs, and coordinates counseling services, including individual and group sessions with personnel provided by the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC). The Counselor also participates in the classroom Health and Guidance program.
Blach's Scores on California Standardized Tests
| Reading | Math | Language | Spelling | |
| 7th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 8th Grade | 99 | 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:
The Blach Library is staffed by two library aides, and is accessible to students during brunch and lunch as well as during regular class times.
Equipment in both computer labs has been significantly upgraded. All classrooms are equipped with computers which access the Internet, and classes in all subject areas regularly use the computer labs for both research and word processing. Students have access to both Macintosh and PC platforms, with appropriate software for each. Labs are maintained with help from a District Network Support Technician funded by LAEF and countless hours of dedicated parent volunteer time.
The Blach principal monitors effective classroom instructional practices through classroom observation and evaluation. Teachers are expected to meet both individual goals and district standards for effective teaching. Tenured teachers are evaluated formally every two years, and first and second year teachers are evaluated every year.