School Profile

     San Ardo Union Elementary School District is located in the small rural town of San Ardo, about 20 miles south of King City on Highway 101, in southern Monterey County.  Located in the agriculturally rich Salinas Valley, San Ardo’s primary industries are farming and ranching, and the town is the hub of Monterey County’s oil industry. San Ardo, which takes its name from the San Bernardo Ranch on which it was established in 1886, is a community of nearly 600 residents with culturally diverse backgrounds.

     San Ardo Elementary School is a Title One School Wide Program educating approximately one hundred twenty students, kindergarten through eighth grade.  Student population is composed of 9% Caucasian, 1% African American, and 90% Hispanic.  90% of students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.  We currently have 6% who qualify for Special Education and 83% are designated as English Language Learners.  We use multiple funds (general, SIP and Title One) to employ seven teachers, four paraprofessionals and a ½ time reading resource teacher. 

     Students at San Ardo School have access to more than 3,000 books in near by Monterey County Library.  In addition, a new on-site library has just been completed, providing over 5,000 titles directly relating to student reading levels, State Standards and adopted curriculum. 

     San Ardo School uses the Standards Based Report Card and offers 320 instructional minutes per day for students in grades K-8.  Every Wednesday is designated as an early release day for staff meetings, collaborations, and staff development.  In addition, there are 8 scheduled minimum days per year for grading and parent conferences.  The school year consists of 180 days.  We also offer an Extended Day Program offering additional academic help to those who are targeted for extra support.

     The current school facilities consist of a main building which houses a Kindergarten through Fourth Grade classrooms, a Library/Reading Specialist room, as well as a Computer Lab, Board Room/Teacher’s Lounge and District Offices.  A Separate building built in the late 1950s houses the Fifth/Sixth and Seventh/Eighth Grade Classrooms.  There is an attached Auditorium that was built in the 1960’s which contains the kitchen.  There is a bus barn, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a large playing field.  The District also owns 9 housing units that serve as residences for school employees.