Loyola Elementary School
770 Berry Ave.
Los Altos, CA 94024
Located approximately two miles from the downtown center of the City of Los Altos, Loyola School is one of six elementary schools in the Los Altos School District. There are 23 self-contained classrooms. Loyola is also home to the district Transitional Kindergarten class and two Special Day Classes. The student population is predominantly white (80%) and Asian (14%).
Students' Needs:
One of Loyola'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 instruction. A full time Resource Specialist directs a team of three resource aides. Together, the resource team supports students needing additional assistance both in and out of the classroom. This additional support makes early intervention possible for all students.
A Student Study Tam helps to determine the best placement for children with special needs. A schoolwide discipline plan, written by parents, staff, and students, is implemented uniformly.
Special education services are available to all eligible students in the district. Services include all-day special classes, small group instruction from learning disability specialists and speech and language instruction. Students with severe handicaps are served in other districts or in non-public schools.
Services for children with limited English proficiency are available at Loyola. Students receive instruction in an English Language Learners program and with their academic needs, until their academic skills and English vocabulary are adequate for them to be successful in the regular program. A special ELL Summer Academy provides support for exiting kindergarteners needing assistance prior to entering first grade.
Additional reading assistance for pupils exiting grades 1-2 is available through the district MSA Summer School at Santa Rita. The "Los Altos Academy" summer program offers "at risk" students an opportunity to hone their basic skills in preparation for the move from primary to upper grades.
Instruction for children in grades 3-5 who are identified as Gifted and Talented is provided in after school classes and by enrichment to the regular classroom program.
Loyola also houses the two district Special Day classes for students in grades 2-6, and these students are mainstreamed when appropriate throughout the day.
Loyola's Scores on California Standardized Tests
| Reading | Math | Language | Spelling | |
| 2nd Grade | 98 | 96 | 99 | 99 |
| 3rd Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 98 |
| 4th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 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:
Loyola has 27 full time, credentialed teachers. All classroom teachers are assigned to grade levels within the scope of their teaching credentials. Teachers serve as members of the Site Council, work on district-level committees, and lead classes for other teachers.
The Loyola 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; first and second year teachers are evaluated every year.
All district teachers participate in district training programs. Teachers new to the district are provided with help from principals, mini-mentors, BTSA support providers, and grade level peers. Specific after-school classes and sharing sessions have been designed for new teachers.
Loyola School's library, staffed by library aides and parent volunteers, has been upgraded with Measure A funding. A professional librarian oversees district library services, giving special attention to computerizing all school libraries and updating book collections. The Loyola library is fully automated and contains over 10,000 volumes, enabling students to investigate, in dpth, a large array of topics. Children are scheduled for weekly visits to the library where they learn basic library skills, enjoy "book talks" and similar activities, and check out books for their personal use.
Loyola's Macintosh computer lab is staffed by 2 skilled technology aides. Open daily, the lab is available to all students with grades one through six scheduled for weekly instructional time. In the lab students have access to over 3 computers as well as a flatbed color scanner and Quick Take camera. Classrooms are equipped with Macintosh Power PC technology. The installation of a school wide local area network (LAN) provides Internet access from all classrooms, the library, the computer lab, and the school office.
Loyola School's Mission Statement:
"The vision of Loyola School is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and self-esteem to live in our complex society. Loyola School strives to create an environment where every student learns and integrates academic skills with critical thinking, problem solving, and creative expression. Students develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural and social worlds around them and the skills to become successful, contributing members of our democratic society. Above all, the climate of the school fosters a lifelong love of learning."