A Small Learning Community High School

As part of one of three secondary schools in Pajaro Valley Unified Schools, Pajaro Valley High is unique because we are comprised of five smaller learning communities. Each school has approximately 375 and students typically share the same teachers particularly at the lower grade levels. This allows for more opportunity for teachers to collaborate across content areas. It is a goal that personalizing learning for students in smaller settings can facilitate student success.

Each school is designated a "den" and operates under it’s own goals as a collective group while still maintaining the qualities of a larger comprehensive high school. Among these are district goals, WASC objectives, and adherence to state standards in all content areas.

Den 2

Our small learning community (SLC) has the chance to experiment with new technology through a grant from two foundations. The McCarthy Dressman Foundation has enabled teachers to spend time aligning curriculum across content areas. Electronically produced student work is the aim in hopes of students better understanding the work in all subject areas. Additionally, the National Environment Education Foundation is supporting our attempts to infuse environment awareness through alternate curriculum choices in language arts. Our aim is to ultimately make environment awareness an integral component in some way at each grade level.