The Child Development Resource Center offers free referrals for child care programs all across Santa Cruz County. The switchboard provides information on free and low-cost care, day care licensing information, and descriptions of local programs. The center also offers classes and workshops for child care providers and families on early literacy, guidance and discipline, health and safety, business practices and infant and toddler development. The office is located on the second floor of the Santa Cruz Office of Education.
Mission Hill Middle School is located on the west side of Santa Cruz. The school is unique in that every day starts with an announcement on MHTV, the school's in-house student-run broadcast network. The school offers exploratory classes that allow students 18-week introductions to a variety of fields. Mission Hill also offers a free after-school program called Arts Academy, which teaches students everything from the basics of self-defense to how to draw a comic strip.
Live Oak Elementary School is located between Santa Cruz and Capitola in the unincorporated area. The school is for Live Oak residents in preschool through fifth grade. The school gives students a strong academic curriculum backed by a focus on the arts. At Live Oak, "Learning is viewed as a lifelong journey that is joyful and prepares students to become responsible and productive citizens of our world."
Gault Elementary is one of five public elementary schools in Santa Cruz. The student population is ethnically diverse, and bilingual teachers are available at most grade levels. Gault educators focus on developing individuals who are socially engaged in their community, while a school-wide art and science program gives students hand-on experience in different learning environments and nurtures the development of self-expression. For more information about Gault Elementary, visit the school's Web site.
Bosch Baha'i School is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, north of the city. The mission of the school is to "provide classes and seminars that assist with the education of the American Baha'í community." Classes focus on the history of the faith as well as Judaic spiritual principles.
DeLaveaga Elementary School sits in a residential neighborhood in the Santa Cruz hills. It serves more than 600 students and their families. The school has a large Life Lab garden that allows students to learn biology, botany and ecology through hands-on experience. A variety of music and arts programs also stand out at DeLaveaga. The school hosts a Dual Immersion Spanish-English program that allows students to learn to read, write and communicate well in both languages.
This accredited school is open to all high school-aged students in California. It offers a personalized teaching curriculum with small class sizes. Parents are required to volunteer and become involved in their children's activities.
Founded in 1865, Bay View Elementry is a Santa Cruz institution that has seen thousands of children pass through its doors. The original building was replaced in 1957. Renovations in recent years include a library with vaulted ceilings and skylights and open, airy classrooms throughout the school. The campus is located near the intersection of Mission and Bay streets.
The school also offers evening classes to adults who are learning English.
Boon Doon Elementary School is the only school in the Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District. It is located a few miles off of Empire Grade. Founded in 1947, the school offers small classes, including several multi-grade classes. Classes in art and music offer students a well-rounded education. Call 831-427-2144 for information about before- and after-school care.