The Los Alamitos Unified School District is looking to integrate the Laurel High School program into the Los Alamitos High curriculum.
The Los Alamitos Unified School District is looking to integrate the Laurel High School program into the Los Alamitos High curriculum.
A report presented at the recent LAUSD Board meeting laid out plans to begin moving the continuation school onto the Los Alamitos High campus and weaving the continuation school curriculum into the Los Alamitos High schedule.
Currently, Laurel High School is a continuation high school that provides alternative education for about 110 students in the Los Alamitos area in grades 11 through 13. The small staff and campus provide additional help for students who have fallen behind in their coursework and helps them back on the road to graduation.
According to the schools website, based on 2008-09 STAR test results, Laurel High School is one of the highest performing continuation schools in Orange County. The report was presented to the board by Dr. Mark Johnson, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services for LAUSD.
According to the report, a committee of staff from both Laurel High and Los Alamitos High met four times to map out a plan that looked at course and credit needs, staffing needs and facility needs for the two schools. The committee also discussed the social/emotional needs of students, as well as what the job duties would be for the Laurel High principal.
While the two schools would not be fully combined, the Laurel High students would have a classroom on the campus and a computer lab with up to 30 computers. The computer lab would serve both Laurel and Los Alamitos High students. Laurel High staff and administrators would also have an office on the Los Alamitos High campus.
Staffing for Laurel High would include one teacher to serve as the primary teacher on the Los Alamitos High campus, as well as a part-time campus supervisor who would also help serve Los Alamitos High. There would also be part-time clerical help and a possibly an instructional aide in the computer lab.
The committee report also recommended that the Laurel High students would have the same lunch hour as the Los Alamitos High students and that that they would be able to participate in Los Alamitos High activities.
Laurel High’s schedule would run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but students could have the option of taking Los Alamitos High classes. There will also be an opportunity to make up credits during seventh period. That credit recovery program would be available to both Laurel High and Los Alamitos High students. This give students the opportunity to make up failed classes.