When educators arrive for the ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show, March 17–19 at the Anaheim Convention Center, they will be smack in the middle of the ACSD—the Anaheim City School District.
Schools
P4eAnaheim City's 23 elementary schools serve 22,426 students in grades K–6. The average class size for ACSD schools is 23 students, with about 21 students per teacher and 4.5 students per computer. The district operates on a four-season calendar. Following 2006 assessments, 57 percent of district schools were reported making adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the definitions of the No Child Left Behind Act.
ACSD is led by Superintendent Sandra Barry, who manages the district's annual budget of $155 million. The majority of families live at or below the poverty level; approximately 63 percent of students are English language learners.
Most Anaheim City students go on to attend secondary school in the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD), although parts of the elementary school system feed into six other school districts at the secondary level. The AUHSD serves approximately 37,000 students and includes 10 high schools, 8 junior high schools, and 1 magnet school. Average class sizes hover around 29 students, with about 25 students to a teacher and 4 students to a computer. Although 58 percent of district schools made AYP in 2006, the district boasts a 95 percent graduation rate. Superintendent Joseph Farley took charge of the AUHSD and its general fund budget of $302,590,322 in July 2005.
Fifty-seven percent of AUHSD students are English language learners; more than 56 languages are represented in the school district.
Notable alumni of the AUHSD include No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and golf superstar Tiger Woods.
Staffing
The ACSD has 1,043 classroom teachers, 98.6 percent of whom are fully credentialed. Current ACSD teachers have an average of 11 years of teaching experience, with 9.5 years in the district. First-year teachers make up 5.6 percent of the ACSD professional force; second-year teachers make up 7.7 percent. The average teacher salary is $68,402; the lowest salary offered is $46,238.
The AUHSD has 1,270 teachers, and 95.6 percent of them are fully credentialed. Current AUHSD teachers have an average of 11.9 years of teaching experience, with 9.9 years in the district. First-year teachers make up 1.1 percent of the AUHSD faculty; second-year teachers make up 3.2 percent. The average teacher salary is $70,578; the lowest salary offered is $40,035.
