A 2005 California Distinguished School
February 06, 2007
West High School, located in Torrance, California, has been named a California Distinguished School three times-in 1984, 1994, 1999 and 2005. Torrance is a middle-income residential, industrial and commercial city 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles with a population of 141,000. We are one of four comprehensive four-year high schools in the Torrance Unified School District. Enrollment has increased by 15% from 1998-99 to 1005-06. Our certificated faculty includes 92 teachers, three administrators, six counselors, a site supervisor, and a librarian, with a pupil-teacher staffing ratio of 28.5 to 1.
The number of English Language Learners has increased from 6% in 1987 to 12% in 2006. Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish represent the major language groups, with the remainder reflecting thirty-three other languages. An additional 26% of students are fluent English proficient students who learned a language other than English first but now are fluent speakers of English. The majority of our students speak English only.
Cultural diversity is one of our school and community's most distinguishing characteristics and is the catalyst that spurred many of the changes since West High was named a national Excellence in Education School in 1984. To accommodate our dramatically changing student population in the last decade, we have made significant changes in curriculum and instruction through staff development and a focus on a rigorous, standards based education.
Our student population is 41% Asian, 39% Caucasian, 12% Latino, 4% Filipino, 3% African American and 1%other. Both students and parents are cross-culturally supportive of the school, and we enjoy a high level of community participation in campus activities. This is at least partially attributable to a staff that appreciates and celebrates diversity. On many developmental levels, West does an exceptional job preparing all students, including English Language Learners, handicapped, gifted and talented, at-risk, general education, and special education students, to enter college and to pursue career goals. Our vision is, however, continually expanding.
West's learning environment is based on a thinking, meaning-centered curriculum. Our vision is for all students to participate in powerful learning experiences with classroom instruction supported by practical application. To this end, the West High staff and business community, using performance-based criteria, jointly develop student outcomes and assessment criteria. We envision further collaboration with all stakeholders in further implementing interdisciplinary performance-based assessment strategies such as demonstrations and exhibitions, self-assessments, portfolios, observations and interviews, surveys, oral presentations, and extended problem-solving projects.
The faculty has consistently demonstrated an openness to exploring new ideas and a willingness to implement those ideas to provide an improved educational program for students. Members of the faculty serve on state advisory committees and on boards of various professional organizations. Faculty members continue to develop their own knowledge and skills through attendance at conferences, workshops and continuing education programs. There is a strong commitment to providing a meaningful and enjoyable educational experience for all students. We are committed to provide equal access to all courses and to mainstream students in an environment where instructional strategies are changing to ensure the involvement and success of all students and to foster tolerance and appreciation for the diversity represented on our campus. Our teachers are truly at the forefront of change in the continuous evaluation and improvement of teaching and learning at West High School.
