Cahuenga Elementary
Details
Where: Los Angeles, California
Type: Urban
District: Los Angeles Unified School District
Grade Level: K-5
Demographics: 64% Hispanic, 35% Asian
70% English Language Learners
81% Free or Reduced-Price Lunch
(School Report Card, data from 2005-06 school year)
Contact: Lloyd Houske, Principal
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Highlights
Cahuenga provides structured English immersion and bilingual instruction in Spanish-English and Korean-English in a four-track, year-round school. Distinctive features of the school include:
- Strong core reading program
- Language-rich enrichment activities in culturally-based arts, music
- Emphasis on standards; ongoing cross-grade teacher collaboration and vertical integration of standards
- Regular formative assessment; database support
- Emphasis on vocabulary; use of visual strategies and graphic organizers
- Teaching writing, with use of rubrics, starting in K
- Multiple forms of peer interaction
- Stable leadership; strong learning community
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Summary of Approach
Practices covered:
- Teach Vocabulary
- Develop Academic English
- Schedule Peer Learning
Cahuenga’s approach to teaching academic English is grounded in the California content standards. Staff have participated in intensive and on-going professional development to understand what is required by standards, what proficient student work looks like, and how to make instructional decisions that will assist students having difficulty.
The school’s program model also helps to promote academic achievement. Having both bilingual education and structured English immersion tracks, Cahuenga is accustomed to deploying a full range of instructional strategies, from taking advantage of transfer of content taught in the native language to a full complement of sheltered instruction techniques. The school credits much of its success teaching academic English to widespread use of graphic organizers and to its emphasis on writing and grammar.
The basis in standards and professional development in effective instructional techniques help to explain Cahuenga’s success in teaching ELs academic content, reading, and language skills. School staff report that stable academic leadership, high expectations, and lots of enrichment activities that come together to form the school’s culture are critical ingredients in the school’s success.
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Achievement Data
Made AYP for all subgroups for the past three years, including 2006-07. Closing the gap between subgroups. (California Department of Education, data from 2006-07 AYP Report)