CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS TO WATCH
California Schools to Watch is a statewide program implemented by the California League
of Middle Schools, California Department of Education, California Middle Grades Alliance, National Forum, and the California Schools to Watch model schools.
Redesignated: 2016, 2019
Designated 2013
Scotts Valley Unified School District
Santa Cruz County
Michelle Menchaca, Principal
8 Bean Creek Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-0610
School Characteristics
Community: Suburb, Mid-Size City; Enrollment: 613; Grade Levels: 6-8; School Schedule: Seven periods with a flexible enrichment period, teamed core classes, and zero period.
School Demographics
74% White; 14% Hispanic; 8% Two or More Races; 1% Asian; 1% Filipino; 1% African American; 1% American Indian/Alaska Native; 0% Pacific Islander; 15% Free/Reduced Lunch; 1% English Learners.
Replicable Practices
Students are organized in academies or families and share common teachers with core classes and enrichment period. Teachers share common preparation period daily to plan for cross-curricular instructional activities, review student data, discuss student needs and work collaboratively toward common goals.
Enrichment Period gives students and teachers flexibility to meet individual or small group needs with any teacher, re-teach lessons, provide accommodated curriculum for special needs students ,provide extension activities, and facilitate peer mentoring and tutoring.
Activities like Makers’ Faire, County Science Fair and Math Challenge Groups provide opportunities for students to work collaboratively on high interest project-based lessons.
Parents are involved in governance groups such as SSC, Scotts Valley Education Foundation, and PTA. They also benefit from the Triple P Program (Positive Parenting Program) offering classes on a variety of topics related to adolescents, internet monitoring for students, and current brain research.
Twice monthly professional development faculty meeting, as well as daily team meeting time allow staff opportunities to refine the program and provide timely intervention to students experiencing difficulties.
Students are recognized for their successes in a variety of ways including: Student of the Month, Terrific Tickets, Honor Roll, Principal’s List and announcements.
Teacher shared leadership is seen in a variety of ways: department chairpersons, Power Users (technical experts), Curriculum Council, School Site Council, PTA, Silicon Valley Math Project Team Lead Teacher, site-based leadership committees (Safety, Technology, etc.) and teacher representation on community-based groups such as the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation.
As a member of the College and Career Initiative, seventh grade students participate in a yearly field trip to a local university.
Before/after school band and choir program allow access to all students.