Avalon K-12 School

Avalon School is unique, with both teachers and parents wearing many hats in order to inspire and teach the children in our community. Everyone works together for the good of the children!!!
--Submitted by a teacher

We live on a small Island off the Coast of Los Angeles. We are fortunate to have a small school community with teachers that care for their students as if they were part of their families. It is difficult for our teachers with the State and District budget cuts. But they seem to pull from their own pool of money to make their classroom a fun and successful learning environnment. Thankfully many business people in our town have chosen to adopt a classroom to make ends meet a little easier. We are a California distinguished school. We have to fight a little harder get our kids to college and to participate in off Island sporting events. The cost to our school to make normal things happen is a lot more because of our location. The boat tickets, hotel rooms, bus transpotation, food and chaperones are all challenges we face to be a part of the bigger district wide picture. Our school is small but mighty, full of smart children from a unique environment and teachers who give everything for them. Come visit our school on our beautiful and historical Island. We welcome you!!!
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers at Avalon School have amazing spirit. I love this school. I am a graduate of Avalon School.
--Submitted by a parent

We failed our kids by letting them go to this school. Now we are desperately trying to play "catch up" at our new public school. The Spanish speaking kids far outnumber the English speakers and this slows down the learning and limits the friendships. The teachers mostly commute and are not avalible for afterschool activities. Drug abuse is rampant and the pricipal seems unwilling to involve the sheriff so it seems to be tolerated.
--Submitted by a parent

The caring teachers! Teacher-student relationships!
--Submitted by a parent

unlike many schools, the level of education and the personal attention of the teachers and staff are more in tune with the community and student. due to a tight knit community, the familiarity factor makes everyone feel like they are family.
--Submitted by a parent

I love Avalon Schools because it is a small school, and all the students like one another, and help them, too. The Senior Class is the one 'setting standards' for the younger students. They do such a good job each year. I am proud of Avalon Schools!

My 3 children have attended this school since kindergarten. Percentage of students from this school that become college grads is low--kids find it hard to adjust to mainland life. We have some TERRIFIC teachers, but most of them are mediocre. Field trips are pretty much non-existent. The only foreign language offered is Spanish. Electives are limited for middle and high school although there are several AP classes now available. About 6-10 teachers commute from the mainland daily, this means they are rarely available for after-school conferences or to answer their students additional questions. Parent involvement is low as has been mentioned in previous reviews.
--Submitted by a parent

Avalon School is small and unique. Being a K-12 school, the staff gets to know the children and their families well. The majority of the teachers at Avalon are great and really caring. The library/media center is high-quality. Even though the total enrollment is under 700, Avalon offers many electives like music, art, shop, yearbook, journalism, and computers. Extracurricular programs include tons of sports (baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, golf, football, cheerleading, basketball, soccer, cross-country), art club, Spanish club, after school reading, tutorials, Island Scholars, Building Bridges, Camp High-Hill (5th grade), and Healthy Choices. I am sure there are more! Location is another great part of Avalon! On the down-side, parent involvement is very low, and the PTA struggles to stay in existence. Overall, Avalon is a great school!
--Submitted by a staff

I go to Avalon School. I am in the eigth grade and I think the school is good. The accedemic programs are fairly well they could be better though. The parent involvement is very low. Sports and music are offered but art is limited.
--Submitted by Stan Atchison, a student