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: 2019, 2023
Designated 2016
Walnut Valley Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Matthew Brummett, Principal
20671 Larkstone Drive, Walnut, CA 91789
(909) 595-8171
School Characteristics
Community: Suburban; Enrollment: 1000; Grades: 6-7-8; School Schedule: Six-period rotating schedule with 29 minute homeroom and optional zero period. Late start on Thursdays gives staff 65 minutes of weekly collaboration time.
School Demographics
0.5% American Indian/Native American; 62% Asian/Asian American; 4% Black/African American; 5.4% Filipino/ Filipino American; 16.4% Hispanic/Latino; 0.2% Pacific Islander; 12.4% White; 28% Free/Reduced Lunch; 31% English Learners
Replicable Practices
6th grade students are housed in teams and share the same four content area teachers. Teachers have a common prep period to plan instruction and evaluate student needs.
Students in the Project Lead the Way pathway have the same class, which combines math, science, and technology, for three periods per day.
Television and video production classes are recognized for integrating arts throughout the curriculum.
Teachers collaboratively design common formative and summative assessments.
Intervention is offered through leveled ELD, “double dose” math and language arts, after-school study skills program, an informal homework center, and an after-school program for students seeking extra help.
Leaders of Learning program allows staff to visit one another’s classroom to observe promising practices.
Every student is assigned a Student-Staff Resource Advisor who follows them for three years serving as their counselor, home school liaison, mentor, and advocate.
Zero period classes are offered to allow students access to the elective program and intervention/ enrichment classes.
Shared decision making is empowered through teacher leadership teams who use learning rounds to calibrate instruction through the lens of the students and who advise on the development of the master schedule.
The school integrates the Project Lead the Way biomedical program into life science courses to enrich the curriculum and increase engagement.