Our September 2024 Community Conversation topic was The Magic of the Los Al Unified School District. It’s not a secret that the Los Al School District is a very high performing district. In fact, it has been rates in the top 3 districts in Orange County on the state assessment tests for the past 20 years.
The question was what makes the magic of being so consistently good that the vast majority of people who move into the area will say it’s because of the schools? There has to be something that this district does that is different.
So, we asked Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver, 2nd Area Trustee, Chris Forehan, and Executive Director of LAEF, the foundation partner for the district, Carrie Logue to join us for an informal conversation about our Los Alamitos Unified School District.
The Los AL School District serves three distinct communities, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and Seal Beach with six elementary schools (TK-5th grade), two middle schools (6th-8th grade) and one high school (9th-12th grade). Combined, these three western Orange County communities have a population of just over 46,000.
While the District is one of the lowest funded districts in the county, spending about $15,000 per student (the county average is $18,000 per student, with the highest being about $30,000 per student), the District continues to perform exceptionally well due to the strong community and parental support it receives. About 30% of the residents in the District have children in the schools. While this was a surprisingly low number for the audience, Dr. Pulver said that this is about average for most school districts in the state.
Conversation Highlights
The conversation rotated between the three speakers and questions from the audience. Some of the key take aways from the evening were:
District Funding Sources and Allocation
The District has an annual budget of about $130 million of which more than 85% is invested in the people who make the schools the great places they are.
- State Funding: The state provides funding through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), based on student attendance rather than enrollment.
- Supplemental and Concentration Dollars: Additional funds are provided for English learners, low-income students, and foster youth.
- Basic Aid/Community Funding: Districts with high property values, like Newport Mesa and Laguna Beach, receive higher funding based on property taxes rather than state formulas.
- Federal Funding: The district receives about $3.4 million annually due to a significant portion of the District’s area being allocated for the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. However, this allocation must be requested from Congress each year.
- Community & Parental Involvement: the community and families in the District play a crucial role in bridging the funding gap. There are various “friends of,” parent groups (PTA, PTSA, etc.), and booster clubs that help fund technology, staffing positions, and other essential programs in our schools.
- LAEF: The Los Alamitos Education Foundation or LAEF raises funds and acquired grants that supplement programs and facilities throughout the
Community Involvement
The “people” came up multiple times thought out the evening. It’s the people in the community that help make the magic happen with their generosity, support and encouragement that contribute to the high standards of education and extracurricular activities. From passing bonds to volunteering to help on campus and at events, the community is always there with the District.
- Parents, families and community members actively partner with the District.
- Strong community support continues to be a hallmark of the residents in the District.
- Multi-generational ties to the communities and the schools with grandparents and parents taking their kids to the schools they attended.
- Community members, even those without children in the school system, remain engaged and supportive.
- Los Alamitos is well-known locally and has a strong reputation, attracting families for its educational quality.
Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF)
Over the years, LAEF has been one of the keys to the District’s ability to provide both technology and teachers to enhance the students’ ability to “keep up” with their educational needs. LAEF has evolved from addressing class size reduction to focusing on STEAM and mental health. The Foundation continues to evolve and find ways to help meet the District’s needs for our students.
Historical Background
- Establishment: Founded as Friends of the Seal Beach School District, predating the unification of Los Alamitos District.
- Fundraising Mechanism: Utilized for fundraising since its inception, with significant growth beginning in 2010.
Programs and Impact
- Summer Enrichment Institute and After-School Programs: Started in 2010, offering a variety of classes and activities.
- Current Offerings: 220 new classes running across the district for the fall after-school program, including karate, painting, battle robots, hip-hop dance, and sports camps.
- Community Feedback: Positive feedback from parents and community members, highlighting the uniqueness and high standards of the programs.
School District Structure and Benefits
Dr. Pulver explained the advantages of being a one high school district.
- All students from six elementary schools and two middle schools attend Los Alamitos High School.
- This structure fosters a unified community spirit.
- This enhances the concept of being a “future Griffin” in elementary schools, preparing students for high school from the very beginning.
Robust Programs & Focus on Career Readiness
The District’s comprehensive programs in academics, athletics, activities, and arts provide a distinct and wide verity of opportunities for all students. The district has shifted focus from solely advanced placement (AP) courses to include robust CTE pathways.
- Program Variety: The high school offers a wide range of programs, including drama, dance, robotics, and various career technical education (CTE) pathways.
- Pathways: The high school has pathways in engineering, manufacturing, fire tech, and medical fields.
- Unique Opportunities: The high school is the only one in the state where students can graduate as certified EMTs.
- Concurrent Enrollment: Students can be concurrently enrolled in programs like cybersecurity at Cypress College.
- State Support: The state of California has invested in providing these opportunities to ensure students are prepared for various career paths.
High-Quality Facilities and Student Pride
High-quality facilities impact student pride and show community support.
- The “well space” at Los Al High School, a therapeutic area for stressed students. LAEF invested over $250,000 in the well space. Students respect and maintain the space well.
- Track and field performance improved after new track installation.
- The new gym and pool facilities are making it easier for student athletes to excel.
Community Support and Funding
The community’s role in funding school facilities through bonds and taxes can not be ignored.
- State does not invest in school district facilities; community funding is crucial.
- Air conditioning became essential due to rising temperatures. The air conditioning installation at all nine schools was community funded by bond measures.
- Playground equipment was not compliant with current ADA and inclusion regulations and were replaced and updated with local bond money.
Mental Health and Wellness Initiatives
The District has adopted a strong focus on mental health and wellness.
- Investments in mental health counseling and full-time psychologists at all schools.
- LAEF supports wellness spaces on all nine campuses.
- Integration of mental health support within classrooms to help students thrive emotionally and academically.
- The District & LAEF support organic development of programs within schools to meet student needs. For example, at a Weaver PTA meeting sensory signs for special needs kids were discussed. Weaver put an experimental program in place for the sensory signs for special needs kids. That program is now expanding throughout the District.
As you can see, it was an eventful and information packed evening.
We want to thank Dr. Pulver, Chris Forehan, Carrie Logue and the friends and neighbors who attended and participate in the September Conversation.
Next Month’s Community Conversation
Our planned October Community Conversation will be with a team from the Orange County Planning Department to discuss the housing element and what impacts we might expect to see in Rossmoor. Plan to join us on Thursday, October 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the friendly confines of Bethlehem Lutheran Church at the corner of Katella and Wallingsford here in Rossmoor.
