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Mount Madonna School

491 Summit Road, Watsonville, CA, 95076-0950 -

School Notes Overview:

At Mount Madonna School, our primary mission is to integrate intellectual, social and creative learning within the context of supportive human relationships. We are dedicated to helping our students become aware of the range of their creative talents and how those talents can be applied in developing a life of positive meaning and purpose. To fulfill this mission our school is committed to giving individual attention to each student as we pursue our program of: academic excellence, creative self-expression, and positive character development. Our program integrates intellectual inquiry, academic skills, and creative arts with the awareness that development in each of these areas is complementary and enhances human potential. We believe academic disciplines should be cultivated and refined side by side with creativity, responsibility, and self-esteem. We encourage the development of critical thinking and writing skills, thoughtful self-expression, and honest reflection as part of the learning process. We strive to make sure our students are both academically and emotionally prepared to meet each new level of educational challenge with confidence and enthusiasm....

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School Overview:

	Mount Madonna School
School Membership(s)	National Association of Independent Schools Western States Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Religious Affiliation	Nonsectarian
Grades Offered	Grades Prekindergarten - 12
Year Founded	31
County	Santa Cruz County, CA
Student Body
Total Students	209 students
Student Body Type	Co-ed
	This School	(CA) School Avg.
% Students of Color	10%	37%
Students by Grade
	Pre-K - 11 students
	Kind - 12 students
	Grade 1 - 12 students
	Grade 2 - 12 students
	Grade 3 - 12 students
	Grade 4 - 18 students
	Grade 5 - 16 students
	Grade 6 - 15 students
	Grade 7 - 22 students
	Grade 8 - 17 students
	Grade 9 - 15 students
	Grade 10 - 17 students
	Grade 11 - 15 students
	Grade 12 - 15 students
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers	35 teachers
% Faculty with Advance Degree	65%
Average Class Size	15
Classroom dress code	Casual
	This School	(CA) School Avg.
Teacher : Student Ratio	1:4	* Ntl. Public School Avg. » 1:16
School Days in Calendar Year	179 days	180 days
Hours in School Day for Students	7 hours	6 hours
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline	Dec. 8 / Feb. 23 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost	$12,000
Tuition Notes	Tuition varies by grade.
% on Financial Aid	35%
Admissions Director	Lara Kilpatrick
Sport
Total Sports Offered	2
	Sports
	Cross Country	Volley Ball

School Notes:

Mount Madonna School Mission, Values and Philosophy

Mount Madonna School Mission
We are a community of learners. We support our students to become caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. We believe that a meaningful life is characterized by personal achievement and the ability to work effectively with others in service to society.

We Value:
• Academic achievement made visible by a personal commitment to learning that balances both comprehensive understanding and in-depth inquiry in multiple disciplines.
• The integration of intellectual, emotional, social and creative learning.
• A learning environment that encourages meaningful relationships based on self-acceptance, empathy, respectful and honest communication.
• The transformative power of immersion in the creative process that includes cognitive learning, teamwork, direct experience, reflection and mutual appreciation.
• A close relationship with nature that inspires experiential learning, a commitment to environmental stewardship and a sense of well-being.

Mount Madonna School Philosophy
We pursue our mission and values through the integration of Academic Excellence, Creative Self-Expression and Positive Character Development. This integration brings depth, meaning and enthusiasm to learning.

Academic Excellence
We offer a well-rounded academic program that meets the highest standards of college preparedness. Our multi-faceted curriculum is based on the development of:
• Cognitive learning including critical reading, writing and speaking skills, scientific and mathematical investigation, research and problem solving.
• Experiential learning including outdoor education, performances, life labs, service learning, interviews, domestic and international travel.
• Reflective learning including self-inquiry, journaling, dialogue, presentations, collective problem solving and creative projects.
• These learning processes engage students, encouraging curiosity, building self-confidence and supporting the discovery of their gifts and talents.

Creative Self-Expression
We integrate creative arts and academic pursuits with the belief that each enriches the other. Creative self-expression is part of all academic coursework. Experiencing the creative process allows students to overcome perceived limitations and opens the possibility for intuitive intelligence to emerge.

All students study acting, voice, dance, fine arts, creative writing, and participate in performing arts. Our productions illuminate the value of the collaborative process where individual effort and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater whole result in an inspiring and fulfilling experience. The personal benefits of this creative process extend far beyond school into almost every facet of adult life.

Positive Character Development
We recognize that each student's character is influenced both by the explicit curriculum in our course offerings and the implicit curriculum expressed in the daily life and experience of our school community. In all that we do, we encourage our students to take responsibility, to practice self-discipline, exercise leadership, and to serve and care for one another.

We focus on learning that brings forth thinking and discussions of ethical relevance. We strive to create opportunities for students to engage in open and honest communication through such programs as service learning, student governance, life skills classes and student guidance. We work closely with families and access a variety of professional resources to encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas around the many issues that confront youth in our modern society. We encourage older students to mentor and care for younger students through school wide activities such as theater productions, buddy programs and athletic events. Our faculty and families are dedicated to positive values such as empathy, honesty, cooperation, fairness and kindness.

Our Environment
Mount Madonna School is located on 355 acres of forested mountaintop property overlooking the Monterey Bay. We are hosted by Mount Madonna Center, a community founded on the principles of yoga and dedicated to non-harming, self-development and service to society. The values of the Center and the beauty of the natural environment provide a supportive and inspirational context in which our learning community thrives.
Profile last updated: 07/24/2009

In the News:

A refugee's tale: High school students hear story of survival, selflessness (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
posted on November 13, 2009 at 09:36:51 am
WATSONVILLE -- Lovetta Conto visited Mount Madonna School on Thursday to share with a class of high school juniors and seniors her story of civil war, growing up in a refugee camp and coming to the U.
Education Digest: Nov. 8, 2009 (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
posted on November 8, 2009 at 02:36:00 pm
Watsonville Monte Vista take on the Grimm Monte Vista Christian High School's advanced drama production class will perform "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" next weekend.
Local roundup: SCCAL volleyball and water polo tournaments begin today (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
posted on November 3, 2009 at 09:32:57 am
The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League girls volleyball playoffs get underway today, featuring four first-round matches.
Firefighters make progress on Loma blaze (Morgan Hill Times)
posted on October 28, 2009 at 12:59:21 am
Firefighters say a blaze in the mountains west of Morgan Hill is 75 percent contained and they hope to have full containment by Wednesday morning. The Loma fire initially estimated to have consumed 600 acres, has charred 485 acres, including a mobile home and two outbuildings on Summit Road in northern Santa Cruz County. The blaze continues to burn in the Maymens Flat Road area near Highland ...
Firefighters make progress on Loma blaze (The Gilroy Dispatch)
posted on October 28, 2009 at 12:54:04 am
Firefighters say a blaze in the mountains northwest of Gilroy is 75 percent contained and they hope to have full containment by Wednesday morning. The Loma fire initially estimated to have consumed 600 acres, has charred 485 acres, including a mobile home and two outbuildings on Summit Road in northern Santa Cruz County. The blaze continues to burn in the Maymens Flat Road area near Highland ...

View all past news stories

School Zip Statistics:

About This Zipcode (95076)	School Zip (95076)	(CA) State Average
Population (Approximate)	81,136 people	33,864,644 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree	20%	32%
Population Average Age	30 years old	33 years old
Average Household size	3.7 persons	2.8 persons
Median Household Income	$45,354	$51,306
Avg. # of Rooms in Household	4.7 rooms	4.8 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure	37 years old	41 years old
	View housing listings in 95076
Median Value of Housing Unit Zipcode (95076) What's a Zindex? Subject to Zillow Terms of Use
% Owning / % Renting	59% / 41%	55% / 45%