The Charles W. Eliot Middle School was founded in 1931. It maintains departments of English/language arts, mathematics, science, art, English learners, physical education and art. The school is participating in a number of educational initiatives including a science lab program that is run with the support of Caltech. Eliot also has nine teachers on staff from the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, which provides opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving students.
The Firehouse School offers an educational program for kids age two through kindergarten. Children learn basic concepts at age-appropriate levels, such as the alphabet, sounds, numbers and pre-reading skills. The School has operated in Altadena since 1987 in a converted firehouse.
The School offers study time for computers, dance and gymnastics. The program is enhanced with outdoor playtime and learning, story time, music, videos, cooking and field trips.
Events for parents include back to school night, a holiday family potluck dinner, an open house and a year-end program, which includes a kindergarten graduation ceremony.
Sahag-Mesrob is a Christian school that also aims to teach children about Armenian heritage. The school offers classes in Armenian as a second language. The school encourages students to participate in after school activities. The same organization runs a high school in Pasadena.
Altadena Christian Children's Center was founded in 1982 under the auspices of Altadena Baptist Church. Today, ACCC serves more than 100 children ages two to five. The program prides itself on providing quality child care services to children from diverse backgrounds. ACCC also partners with Early Head Start to provide services to infants and toddlers.
SC Painting & Drywall Industry is a vocational school for aspiring contractors and construction workers. SC is located in Altadena, California, roughly three blocks north of Altadena Hospital.
Fair Oaks Academy offers a traditional curriculum but also features a heavy emphasis on the arts. Students are offered a variety of music and dance programs to build on their artistic skills.
The school also offers plenty of field trip opportunities for students, and a summer program with lots of swimming and outdoor activities. The academy owns a rustic six-acre Santa Ana River retreat in the San Bernardino mountains, where students can enjoy activities such as hiking, harvesting apples and cherries, nature studies, American Indian studies, snow play and summer camping trips.
Students at the academy will spend more time in class than their public-school counterparts, with a seven-hour class day and a 220-day-a-year schedule.
Soledad Enrichment Action in Altadena is an independent charter school. Its programs are available to high school students who have been unsuccessful in traditional academic settings. Soledad provides education, job training and counseling services to educationally disadvantaged teens and adolescents. It is a great alternative learning facility.
Altadena Elementary has a long history of educating local students, dating back to its founding in 1903. The Mount Lowe tram used to stop at the school's front door on the way to Mount Wilson. The school highlights multicultural literacy by emphasizing reading, writing and performance of literature, poetry and drama. It also offers English immersion classes.
Opportunities for staff, parent and community involvement include PTA, Instructional Leadership Team, School Site Council, School Advisory Committee, Bilingual Advisory Committee, parent education workshops, English as a Second Language classes, classroom volunteering and Spanish language translation at meetings.
Zoeller & Associates is an educational institute located in Altadena, where Lake Avenue meets East Mariposa Street. Zoeller gives one-on-one education to students. Educational therapy is integrated into the curriculum to reduce test anxiety, increase focus and attention and even improve their students' social skills. Zoeller also provides home-school support.
Altadena Boys and Girls Academy is a private school for children ages 2 to 15. This small nonsectarian school currently serves 25 students. Its programs are designed to promote a direct, self-paced learning experience. The academy is co-ed, with a ratio of four students per instructor. The diverse school welcomes and encourages all learners.
Progressive Montessori is a pre-school and kindergarten for children ages two to six who live in Altadena, Pasadena, Glendale, Arcadia and La Canada. The school follows the Montessori methodby accommodating the unique needs of each child. The school understands that children learn at different speeds, and gives them the opportunity to develop at their own pace. Progressive Montessori is located in a spacious building with a playground outside.
Aveson is a new charter school that was founded two years ago and aims to reach students with personalized lesson plans that integrate real-life skills like nutrition and social responsibility.
The school offers multi-age classrooms that allow students to interact with other students of different ages.
The school's emphasis on nutrition means a policy that no student will come to school with, or consume, soda, chips, cookies, candy or french fries as part of their snacks or lunches on campus. The school provides suggested recipes for children to encourage healthy eating.
Aveson also has a Pasadena campus where grade 6 - 12 are taught.