Walker Williams, Superintendent of Palos Verdes Unified School District, spoke this morning at our Remax meeting. Our schools are one of the reasons that Palos Verdes real estate is so desirable. Here are some interesting facts from his presentation:
- There are approximately 12,000 students in our district (30 less than last year)
- 80% of our funding comes from the State which is why the State budget situation will impact us. The school district budget is balanced for the next school year.
- Early indications are that our students performed well in recent state testing and “a little better than last year”
- 99% of our high school graduates go on to college - 80% to a 4-year college and 19% to a 2-year college
- U.S. News & World Report named both Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School in the “Top 100 High Schools in the Nation”
- A new language program (Chinese or Spanish) will be introduced at the K-5 levels this Fall which is paid for by the Education Foundation
- Palos Verdes High School will get a new pool, track and field and currently has 1800-1900 students on the block system
- Peninsula High School will get a new Practice Gymnasium and currently has 2400 students
- Malaga Cove School (photo above) will get a $8.5 million construction/modernization and will eventually house the District Offices
- Valmonte School (with no district offices) will probably be reopened as a K-5 elementary school or a Preschool through Kindergarten facility
- Currently Valmonte and Miraleste Elementary Schools house a paid Preschool program which brings income to the district
- Kindergarten programs district wide will be full day programs with 20 to 1 student/teacher ratio
