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Published on 05/05/1999 All articles from this issue

Alta Vista named model, awaiting accreditation

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By Linda Taaffe

Town Crier Staff Writer

If someone had asked Dan Snyder a year ago if he planned to graduate from high school, he quickly would have said no. Snyder didn't like school. In fact he spent more time out of the classroom than in it while a student at Henry Gunn High School in Palo Alto.

Snyder said his life turned around in April 1998 when school officials transferred him to Alta Vista High School for missing too many classes.

Since transferring to the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District's continuation school, Snyder has maintained a perfect attendance record. He plays sports, likes school and plans to graduate.

"I wasn't performing to my capabilities," Snyder said. "I just wasn't interested. The classes were too slow for me. I can go faster here, and that keeps me interested."

Senior Bren Husher also had doubts about graduating until she transferred to Alta Vista three years ago. The 18-year-old is currently preparing for her graduation at the end of this academic year.

"This place made it possible for me to graduate. I've done a lot of work. I love it here," she said.

But Husher said the school wasn't always the place that she enthusiastically talks about today.

She can remember a time when the school was merely what she described as a "study hall" for students at risk of not graduating.

District officials began a major restructuring effort four years ago. They changed the school's name from Shoreline to Alta Vista, reorganized the staff, altered the curriculum and relocated the school from the Cubberley School site in Palo Alto to a site next to Mountain View High School.

"This is light years away from Shoreline," said Bill Pierce, who helped spearhead many of the changes when he became school principal three years ago. "The biggest change is that we keep raising the bar and expecting more. Every time we've done that, the kids have made the bar and gone over it."

The California Department of Education named Alta Vista a state model continuation school last month for its quality program. Of California's approximately 500 continuation schools, only 70 schools statewide have been recognized as model schools. About 10 percent of California's high school students attend continuation schools.

Alta Vista is also awaiting its accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which is concluding its review of the school this month.

Pierce said under the school's new program, more students are staying longer and opting to graduate. He said last year 12 students graduated, and this year he expects 28 to graduate.

He said campus violence has decreased, with no fights and expulsions this year. And for the first time, students have their own campus library and courtyard for horticultural studies.

The school has also established four sports teams - football, softball, basketball and volleyball - that play against other continuation schools. All four teams are undefeated, he added. He said the teams have added tremendous school spirit to the campus.

Previous to its relocation, Alta Vista was an alternative program intended to encourage students to take advantage of Foothill College's program, which shared its Cubberley site. The program proved unsuccessful. So in 1997 district officials changed the school into a mandatory continuation school, where students in Mountain View, Los Altos and Palo Alto high schools with attendance problems could make up their credit deficiencies.

Pierce said students come to Alta Vista on recommendation from their high school administrators. He said many students stay at the school for the remainder of their high school education, while others return to their initial high school after they make up needed credits. The school is almost at its 150-student capacity, Pierce said.

Pierce said he believes students respond well to the school's personalized setting.

"(Teachers) can personalize things to a much greater degree than they can at a traditional school. We have the luxury to make the connections and know each students' idiosyncrasies," Pierce said.

The school provides core academics as well as a growing number of alternative programs including community service programs, independent study and work programs. Through the alternative programs, students may serve as counselors at a local science camp for elementary children or earn school credits for working at their job.

Students earn credits through a point system, which is based on student productivity. He said 75 points are equivalent to five semester credits.

Students receive a report card twice a month, which tracks their progress. Once students earn 75 points, they enter into their next class. This allows students to make up deficient credits as quickly as possible.

He said the school also established a case management program, unique to the state, that coordinates with all of the state, county, city and community service agencies to address students' non-academic needs.

"We deal with health care, housing issues - anything that gets in the way of a kid or family- to keep students focused on school. That's what makes us so successful," Pierce said.

The school has five full-time teachers, a counselor and four counseling interns.

"For the most part, we have very bright kids," Pierce said. "We just give them the opportunity to do it differently and find success with that. "