Cupertino High School is a four-year comprehensive high school with an enrollment of about 1,580 students, grades 9-12. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the City of Cupertino is a blend of residential areas and high technology industry. Students come from homes where many parents have advanced educational degrees and are committed to academic excellence.
        Cupertino High School staff continually reassess programs to meet the needs of all students for life in the 21st century. In April 2003, Cupertino High received the highest possible recommendation and accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The WASC action plan includes three major goal areas: identify and support under-performing students, improve the academic achievement of all students, and promote the development of school ESLR’s (Expected Schoolwide Learning Results) in the lives of all students. Our school mission statement is to prepare students to be effective and productive members of society which include skills in communication, critical thinking, lifelong learning and self-discipline, and involved citizenship.
        In addition to the curriculum and instruction already in place, Cupertino High School has used two different staff development frameworks during the last four years. All staff were provided training in the “Dimensions of Learning” framework over the last three years to improve teaching and learning practices. Teachers were trained in aspects of learning (dimensions) that support the learning of all students. The school continues to run a partial block schedule and a tutorial period twice a week. Technology is integrated throughout the school in both the physical infrastructure and in the working experience of both teachers and students.
        An excellent co-curricular program complements the academic program at Cupertino High School. The visual-performing arts program is thriving in the areas of drama, choral, and instrumental music. The high school also offers a wide variety of other opportunities including athletics, clubs, student leadership activities, and community service. Students can also connect with school through peer tutoring, a ninth grade mentoring program (Tino Crew), a best buddies program linking regular and special education students, and a partnership where students mentor elementary students from a nearby school.
        Cupertino places a high premium on the value of good communication with families, using a mix of traditional and electronic means. Our school newsletter is mailed home four times each year and other special mailings are sent with information about guidance and school events. We use a phone auto-dialer to communicate attendance and school events to families. The school website is in a constant state of change and improvement as staff and students add more information each month. Last year we introduced SchoolLoop as a home and school communication system which provides information to students and parents about class work, assignments, attendance, grades, and general school information. Email continues to be an effective means of communication between the school and families and the addition of SchoolLoop helps facilitate such electronic communication.