The
School Report
School Districts
Lucia Mar Unified School
District, CA
·
Welcome to the School Report
·
Public School Information
·
District Size
·
Elementary & Middle School Programs
·
Upper School Programs
·
Extracurricular Programs (grades 9 - 12)
·
Interscholastic Sports
·
Statistical Information
·
School Directories
·
Bulletins From the Schools
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Lucia Mar Unified School District, CA
|
Large Schools
Benefits
Often offer more
courses, sports programs, and extracurricular programs.
May have more
specialized classes and more competitive sports and
activities due to the larger pool of students.
May have larger
professional staff, including psychologists, guidance
counselors, speech therapists, and nurses.
May have more
extensive facilities, including science, language, or
computer labs; art and photography studios; swimming pools,
athletic fields, and outdoor play equipment.
Drawbacks
May have larger
classes and less personal attention for students.
|
Small Schools
Benefits
Students may feel more secure in a
smaller school setting where they know most of the children.
May wait longer
to track children (place them in high, middle, or low skill
or ability groups), giving children who are slower to
develop academically a chance to show what they can
accomplish.
May offer more
opportunity for each child to succeed individually in class
and as a member of sports teams and clubs.
Drawbacks
May have fewer choices in courses,
extracurricular activities, and sports programs
May have fewer
classes and resources geared towards children with
specialized needs (e.g., gifted children, children with
disabilities) |
As a parent, you'll
need to consider how the differing characteristics of a large or
small school district could affect your child. Remember
that many large schools offer the same personalized attention as
smaller ones, and many small schools have extensive facilities
and a commitment to offering a wide variety of classes and
activities. It may be more significant to look at class
size in each grade level and make sure the school has the
classes, activities, and facilities your child needs, rather
than assets that your child may not need to use.
While moving from a
large to a small district, or vice versa, requires a period of
adjustment, this is a good time to reassess what your child
needs, and help him/her make a successful transition to a new
school.
|
DISTRICT |
Lucia Mar |
|
|
|
|
Lowest Grade Level |
K |
|
Highest Grade Level *
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
Student Population |
10877 |
|
Teacher Population |
528 |
|
Professional Staff ** |
576 |
|
Student/Teacher Ratio |
20 |
|
Median Years of Teaching
Experience
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
# Elementary Schools |
10 |
|
Average Elementary School
Population |
573 |
|
# Middle/Junior High Schools |
3 |
|
Average Middle School Population |
663 |
|
Primary High School Population
|
2976 |
|
|
|
|
Average Class Size *** |
|
|
Grade 1 |
20 |
|
Grade 8 |
28 |
|
High School English |
24 |
|
High School Math |
26 |
|
High School Science |
26 |
|
|
|
*
Districts with only elementary schools include information on
the high school most students attend.
**
Includes guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers,
librarians, medical/dental staff, teachers.
*** Does not
include special classes or targeted small group classes.
By talking with your
child's current teacher or child care provider, you can gain a
sharper focus about your child's academic needs. Discuss
areas in which your child may be having trouble. Inquire
about opportunities that might allow your child to fulfill
his/her potential. In this way, you can begin to create a
list of the characteristics that the right school for your child
would possess. Whenever possible, involve your child in
the decision-making process. Ask him/her what s/he likes
most and least about his/her current school. Ask him/her
to describe the ideal teacher or the perfect school day.
When comparing
elementary schools, the most readily available data are
achievement scores, class sizes, and the grade level at which
various programs are offered. These data can provide vital
clues to the quality of the education, but they are not whole
pictures. For example, small class sizes usually benefit
children in the primary grades, but a school with larger classes
may offer just as much individualized attention by employing
well-trained teachers' aides and skillful teachers. Be sure you
visit the schools and ask deeper questions to find out what
statistics actually mean on the classroom level.
One concern of many
parents is the grade level when schools introduce subjects and
programs. It's easy to assume that earlier is always
better, but that's not always the case. When you consider
the age at which programs are introduced, think about your
child's own skills and development, and your goals for him/her.
If you want your child to receive concentrated art, music, or
language instruction in an academic setting, look for schools
that offer these programs at an early age. If these
programs aren't offered at a school you're considering, but you
feel that your child is ready, consider supplemental lessons
from a music teacher, art center, or language instructor.
It is always a good
idea to call the schools and verify any program that is
important to you or your child. Schools are constantly changing
or adding programs based on student interest, budget
constraints, or school improvement plans.
|
DISTRICT |
Lucia Mar |
|
|
|
|
Academic Programs |
|
|
Formal Study
of a Foreign Language |
7 |
|
Use of an
Equipped Science Lab |
6 |
|
Formal
Computer Training |
K |
|
Use of an
Equipped Computer Lab |
K |
|
In-classroom
Computers |
K |
|
Technology/Industrial Arts |
7 |
|
Home Economics |
7 |
|
English as a
Second Language |
K |
|
|
|
|
Fine Arts Programs |
|
|
Band
Instrument Lessons |
5 |
|
Orchestra
Instrument Lessons |
|
|
Organized Band |
5 |
|
Organized
Orchestra |
|
|
Organized
Chorus |
6 |
|
Drama
Productions |
7 |
|
Radio/TV
Production |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Gifted and Talented Pull Out Programs |
|
|
Fine Arts |
|
|
Mathematics |
|
|
Science |
|
|
General |
3 |
|
Magnet Program |
|
|
In-classroom
Enrichment |
|
|
|
|
|
Academic Interschool Competitions |
|
|
Odyssey of the
Mind |
3 |
|
Reading
Incentive |
|
|
Science Fair |
|
|
General
Academic |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Other Programs |
|
|
Before School
Day Care |
Y |
|
After School
Day Care |
Y |
|
After School
Busing |
|
|
Overnight
Field Trips |
Y |
|
|
|
* The
earliest grade level each program is available does not include
magnet or special programs
As you prepare your child to enter high
school, s/he may be beginning to identify and define his/her own
interests. It's likely that your child has some understanding of
his/her strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes.
Whether your child has a definite career path in mind or s/he is
still solidifying and refining interests, skills, and
preferences, s/he continues to need a liberal arts education
At the high school level, your child has a
greater voice in deciding what subjects s/he will study.
Your input and that of teachers, guidance counselors, and even
peers influence the decisions your child makes about which
courses to choose, and which to avoid. When contemplating
this new freedom and control, many students are eager to drop
less favored or more difficult subjects. A budding
musician may want to pass on mathematics, a future scientist may
think foreign language is useless, or an aspiring electrician
may decide all humanities are a waste of time. This
strategy can backfire.
As a general rule, students should take the
most challenging academic program that they can handle. If
your child is college - bound, it's advisable that s/he
continues to study English, mathematics, history, foreign
language, science, and social studies. Even if your child
plans on a specialized major like graphic arts or engineering,
most colleges prefer students with a solid, well-rounded
academic background. If your child does not anticipate
attending college, it's still a good idea to continue with a
core academic program. English and mathematics skills are
essential in all walks of life, and basic high school course
work will be essential if your student changes his/her mind
about college some day.
When you're considering high schools,
remember that for most students, quality course offerings in key
subjects are more important than a wide array of electives.
Look for classes that match your child's needs and interests.
If advanced placement courses, vocational/technical education,
studio art classes, business skills courses, or classical
languages are important to your student, look for schools that
offer them. Larger school districts are more likely than smaller
ones to offer many choices, but if your student needs a class
that isn't offered in the school district you're considering
(e.g., advanced calculus or Russian), ask the principal if it
would be possible to take the course for credit at a nearby
college or high school that offers it.
Upper School Curriculum (9 - 12)
|
DISTRICT |
Lucia Mar |
|
|
|
|
Language Courses |
|
|
French |
Y |
|
Spanish |
Y |
|
Italian |
|
|
Latin |
|
|
German |
Y |
|
Russian |
|
|
Japanese |
|
|
Chinese |
|
|
Signing |
|
|
English as 2nd
Language |
Y |
|
Other
Languages
|
|
|
|
|
|
# Advanced Placement & College Credit
Courses |
|
|
Mathematics |
1 |
|
Science |
2 |
|
English |
2 |
|
Foreign
Language |
2 |
|
Social Studies |
5 |
|
Computer
Science |
|
|
Music |
|
|
Art
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
# Fine Arts Courses |
|
|
Art |
10 |
|
Music
(Non-performing) |
|
|
Dance |
3 |
|
Band/Ensembles |
1 |
|
Marching Band |
1 |
|
Orchestra |
|
|
Chorus/Choir |
2 |
|
Drama |
2 |
|
Media (TV,
Radio) |
1 |
|
|
|
Extracurricular
Programs (grades 9 to 12)
Whether your student is headed for college or the job
market, participation in extracurricular activities indicates
the initiative, leadership, and interests that admissions
directors and employers look for. Extracurricular activities
include marching bands, orchestras, choral groups, drama clubs,
school newspapers, yearbooks, student government, special
interest clubs, community service projects, athletic teams, and
honor societies.
Extracurricular activities benefit students
by:
Boosting self-esteem. Extracurricular
activities provide opportunities for personal initiative,
decision-making, and creativity. For average or indifferent
students, activities give the opportunity to explore and succeed
in nonacademic subjects
Cultivating new interests and skills.
Extracurricular activities give students the opportunity to
expand their knowledge in academic and nonacademic areas that
aren't covered by the basic curriculum.
Expanding social relationships.
Extracurriculars give students a chance to meet outside the
classroom. By encouraging teamwork among like-minded students
from a wider cross-section of age and academic abilities,
extracurricular activities allow students to overstep existing
social divisions to develop new friendships. The social aspects
of extracurriculars are especially beneficial for new and shy
students.
When you're comparing school districts, check
to see if the school offers activities, which interest your
student. A school that offers a wide array of activities may
seem impressive, but your student will only benefit if s/he is
motivated (and able) to participate. Let your student take the
lead in choosing extracurricular activities.
It's difficult to compare the quality of
extracurriculars from one school to another, but if there is an
activity that is very important to your student, you may want to
investigate. Ask the school principal about it, or find out who
the faculty advisor is and ask him/her. Keep the following
questions in mind:
How many members/participants does this
activity attract? Is membership competitive, or can all
interested students join?
How many hours per week does participation in
this activity entail? What happens at a typical meeting?
Are there opportunities for leadership within
the group? How are leadership roles assigned? Is this activity
funded by the school district? Are there costs to the student?
Do participants hold fund-raisers?
If your student is interested in performance
groups like band, chorus, or drama, attend a production, if
possible. If the group competes with other schools (e.g.,
marching band, debate team), inquire about how they fare. If the
activity involves a publication like a literary magazine or
yearbook, ask to see a recent copy.
If your teen is looking for an activity that
isn't offered by a specific school, don't rule the school out.
Most high schools encourage students to found new interest
groups, which can be an unsurpassed opportunity for your child
to develop leadership skills. Remember activities need not be
limited to school; your student can look for opportunities
within the community for performance, volunteerism, fitness, and
employment.
|
DISTRICT |
Lucia Mar |
|
|
|
|
School Publications |
|
|
School
Newspaper |
Y |
|
Literary
Magazine |
|
|
Yearbook
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
Academic Clubs |
|
|
Student
Government |
Y |
|
Foreign
Language |
Y |
|
Gifted and
Talented |
Y |
|
Debating Team
/ Mock Trial |
Y |
|
Public
Speaking / Forensics |
Y |
|
Science |
|
|
Computer |
|
|
Mathematics
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fine Arts Programs |
|
|
Drama |
Y |
|
Audio-Visual /
Media |
Y |
|
Art |
Y |
|
Photography
|
