San Juan Elementary School, located directly across from the historic Mission San JuanCapistrano, reflects California’s diversity as well as its vibrant future. Over the last several years, our school has developed and implemented an innovative instructional program which has earned local, state and national recognition.
One of California’s 140 original restructuring schools, San Juan Elementary continues to offer a model instructional program for approximately 650 Kindergarten through fifth grade students. Our instruction emphasizes second-language acquisition, literacy and technology skills with two state-of-art computer labs. The Two Way Language Immersion program offers the unique opportunity for students to become biliterate in Spanish and English while learning the State curriculum standards.
Our staff recognizes the importance of working collaboratively and providing an atmosphere in which high academic and behavioral standards are expected. Recognition is given each trimester in schoolwide assemblies to students who excel academically. Our students exercise leadership through participation in the Student Council and our award-winning Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL) program. In collaboration with the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, students are also able to participate in hands-on science activities, marine experiments, and field trips. Students in grades 2-4 participate in the MIND Institute's ST Math program and music instruction is part of the curriculum at every grade level.
All students are held accountable for their own learning and are given support, as necessary, in before and after school language, reading, and math classes. At San Juan School, our students are preparing to be the leaders of the future!
All members of our school community share in the decision-making processes which directly impact the school. Members of the School Site Council and the English Language Advisory Committee provide leadership and help implement the vision. Our school offers a variety of involvement opportunities for both parents and members of the community. Visitors and volunteers are given guidance and support at the Center for Student Success where many projects are coordinated including an annual Read-A-Thon and School Volunteer Day. Parent participation and involvement are key to student success, and parents are encouraged to become decision makers within our school’s governance structure.
Our Center for Student Success, in collaboration with community resources, provides many services to our students and their families, including an on-campus parent information center for counseling, health academic interventions and student enrichment opportunities. San Juan School also hosts an on-campus state-funded preschool program, a YMCA daycare program center, and the Capistrano Unified Learning Link which is an interactive center for parents and their children ages 0-5.
