Alta Vista High School

Alta Vista High School (AVHS) is an alternative high school in Mountain View serving the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District (MVLA) and the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). AVHS is recognized by the California State Department of Education as a Model Continuation High School. Alta Vista High School has been fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1999. 

 

 

AVHS serves students who prefer a small school setting, wish to graduate early, have not found success or comfort in a traditional large-school setting, and/or work best in flexible classrooms where students’ individual learning styles and needs are honored. 

 

AVHS also can meet the academic needs of college-preparatory and honors/advanced academics, as well as students wishing to graduate early from MVLA, or dual-enroll for 1+ course(s) directly on Foothill or De Anza College campus(es).

 

AVHS is designed to: enable students to graduate from high school prepared to attend college and career programs; allow students to complete required credits/courses to transition or return to a traditional high school; and encourage students to take courses at community or four-year college, adult education, or traditional schools.  Faculty can also provide flexibility in learning for those students with unique needs that may involve independent study, work-study, or a modified schedule due to extenuating circumstances, and can provide special education services for those students who qualify.

 

AVHS students must meet the same graduation requirements and 220 credit completion as students who attend the traditional schools; the AVHS diploma carries equal importance as MVHS and LAHS diplomas. AVHS offers college prep courses in math, science, English and history on site, as well as options for college prep and advanced placement courses online in all subjects. All courses required for high school graduation are offered on site.

 

The AVHS staff includes one principal, six teachers, two instructional aides as well as a program support specialist, community resources coordinator, mentor coordinator, college & career coordinator, and cafeteria services and custodial assistants.