Bullis-Purissima Elementary School
25890 Fremont Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Bullis-Purissima School is one of six elementary schools in the Los Altos School District. Located in Los Altos Hills, it is less than a mile from downtown Los Altos. Nineteen self-contained classrooms contain over 400 students. The student population is predominantly white (80%) and Asian (17%). Bullis-Purissima School was selected as a California Distinguished School in 1989. Bullis was selected as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1993. During a Program Quality Review in 1995-1996 the reviewers commended the learning environment at Bullis.
Bullis-Purissima School strives to be an excellent school in which every student learns to apply academic skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and creative expression.
The school is a cohesive "community of learners" in which the instructional program fosters the individual potential and continuous progress of each child. Staff members provide models of life-long learning through their enthusiasm, teamwork, and commitment to professional growth. Parents learn about their child's education through frequent communication and active support of the school program. In a school climate which revolves around the joy of learning and promotes caring, mutual respect, and responsibility, Bullis students develop positive self-esteem and the ability to work with others. They develop a foundation for their future as responsible, productive citizens in a rapidly changing, global environment.
Students' Needs:
One of Bullis School'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. A full time Resource Specialist and an RS aide are available to work with students needing additional assistance both in and out of the classroom. This additional support makes early intervention possible for all students. A school psychologist is available for testing, conferencing with parents and staff members, and for helping classroom teachers identify effective instructional practices for students with special needs..
A Student Study Team helps to determine the best placement 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 Bullis. Students remain in the program, receiving instruction in the English Language Learners program and help with their academic needs, until their academic skills and English vocabulary are adequate for them to be successful in the regular classroom.
Instruction for children identified as Gifted and Talented is provided by an afterschool program for students in grades 3-5, accelerated grouping, and by modifications to the regular classroom program. Assistance to any students with learning challenges is also available through the district's Multi Sensory Approach or math summer school program for students in grades one and two; and for students in grades three through six (both enrichment and remediation) is offered.
Bullis Purrissima's Scores on California Standardized Tests
| Reading | Math | Language | Spelling | |
| 2nd Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 3rd Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 4th Grade | 99 | 99 | 98 | 99 |
| 5th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 6th 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:
Student behavior at Bullis-Purissima School reflects the positive school culture.
The Bullis school library, staffed by library aides and parent volunteers, has been upgraded with Measure A and PTA funding. A professional librarian oversees district library services, with special attention to updating the book collection at each school.
Bullis-Purissima School's Mission Statement:
"It is the goal of Bullis-Purissima School to have every student experience a positive school culture which reflects a strong, student-centered educational philosophy."