• EVERY STUDENT, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY •
Dr. David E. Cash, Superintendent • 720 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 • (805) 963-4338
La Colina Junior High School was constructed on a 29-acre site and opened in September 1959. Originally operated as a three-year school, La Colina became a two-year junior high in 1981. La Colina is set back from Foothill Road, near the San Marcos Pass highway, with views of the mountains and the ocean.
La Colina Junior High has many recognition programs designed to encourage hard work, good study habits, and academic achievement. The student recognition program is comprehensive and serves to acknowledge the special accomplishments of a wide variety of students. La Colina strives to promote all students to high school by the end of the eighth grade. Those who fail to meet District requirements must complete courses in summer school before they can transfer.
About 20% of La Colina students are enrolled in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. Advanced classes are available for qualified students in all academic areas: science, math, English, and social studies. Other program highlights include a state-of-the-art industrial technology classroom; an English Language Learner program; courses in Spanish, French, and Latin; comprehensive performing arts and music programs. All programs, including the Gifted and Talented Education program and special education, are continually evaluated to assure they are meeting student needs.
California Distinguished School (1999)
La Colina Junior High School feeds primarily into San Marcos High School (some students attend Santa Barbara High School and Dos Pueblos High School).
California’s testing program seeks ways to create a cohesive system that is fair to all students, provides reliable comparisons, and measures what students are expected to know. The Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program is the centerpiece of state testing. STAR has three basic components, all of which are multiple-choice tests: California Standards Test (CST), which is an achievement test based on California's content standards, California Modified Assessment (CMA), for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and designed to address the student's individual needs, California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA), for students with severe cognitive disabilities, and Standards-based in Spanish (STS) for newly enrolled Spanish-speaking English learners. These “on demand” assessments are administered to all students in the grade level that is being tested. In addition to the “on demand” assessments, student achievement is continuously monitored by the classroom teacher(s).
The Academic Performance Index is a system of measuring each school’s academic performance and progress in reaching established goals.
La Colina Junior High School maintains a closed campus during the school day. Students are required to remain on campus under the supervision of the school staff throughout the school day unless they have parental permission to leave campus.
All schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District periodically conduct fire and earthquake drills. Each school has a disaster preparedness plan and works in coordination with local law enforcement and other public safety organizations.
School custodians address daily cleaning and maintenance needs. The District’s maintenance team visits each campus regularly, according to a defined rotation schedule, and addresses specialized needs (e.g., painting, carpentry, etc.). In the event of a facility emergency at the school site, the District maintenance team responds on an immediate basis.
Enrollment and ethnicity information is gathered from the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). CALPADS information is updated each October as a California Department of Education reporting requirement. Comprehensive and comparative CALPADS data for all Santa Barbara County schools is available at: www.sbceo.org