Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, August 26, 2017

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 26, 2017 EDUCATION & YOUTH 7 Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 26, 2017 EDUCATION & YOUTH 7 
ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT RANKED AS 
BEST PLACE TO TEACH IN LOS ANGELES 

-AUSD Ranked 15th Best School District in California-

Arcadia Unified announced its new teachers this year with an NFL draft style news conference. 


ARCADIA-- The Arcadia Unified School District 
ranks as the best place to teach in the Los AngelesArea according to Niche.com. Niche also ratedArcadia Unified at the top of the class in several othercategories, naming the district as the #4 best place toteach in California, the #15 best school district in the 
state, and gave Arcadia Unified A+ ratings in overallschool district, academics, teachers, and collegeprep, according to its 2018 rankings list.

“We are delighted and proud that Arcadia UnifiedSchool District has been recognized as the bestplace to teach in our area,” said Arcadia TeachersAssociation (ATA) President and Arcadia HighSchool teacher Kevin Fox. “This speaks volumesabout the working relationship ATA has with thedistrict. It takes a lot of hard work by all members ofour Arcadia Unified community to get to this level,
including cooperation and collaboration within andamong teachers as well as between the teachers andthe district, our students, and their families.” 
Arcadia Unified Niche Distinctions: 

#1 Best Place to Teach in the Los Angeles Area#4 Best Place to Teach in California 
#5 Best School District in Los Angeles County#6 District with the Best Teachers in California 
#15 Best School District in California 

A+ overall grade from NicheA+ in academics 
A+ in teachers and college prep 

Considering there are over 1,000 school districts 
in California, receiving these recognitions are 
extremely rare. In compiling its annual rankings, 

Niche, an influential school and neighborhoodreview website, performs a comprehensive dataanalysis of information collected from the U.S.
Department of Education and from millions ofreviews from students and parents. Niche alsoassigns grades to each school, with each ArcadiaUnified school receiving an overall A+ grade.

“We are very fortunate to be a destinationdistrict for students and staff,” said Arcadia Unified 
Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall. “Our teachersare among the finest educators you will find thatstrive every day to imagine, inquire, and inspire asthey challenge students to make a profound impacton their world.” 

In Niche’s February 2017 list results for best publichigh schools in California, Arcadia High School wasranked among the top 2% of public high schoolsin the state. Likewise, the home of the Apaches hasbeen named a U.S. News and World Report GoldMedal School three times, an honor bestowed on 
less than 3 percent of the more than 19,000 schoolsin the country. Most recently, and for the secondconsecutive year, Arcadia High’s 2017 graduatingclass had a student accepted into every Ivy Leagueschool in the country.

Arcadia Unified was also placed on the CollegeBoard’s 7th Annual AP® 

District Honor Roll last year. Only 22 districts inCalifornia made the prestigious list, with ArcadiaUnified being recognized for its outstandingAdvanced Placement and Honors curriculum. For 
more information about the Arcadia Unified School 
District, please visit www.ausd.net, and for moredetails on Niche ratings, you can visit www.niche. 
com. 

PASADENA EDUCATION NETWORK 



The Pasadena Education Network (PEN), a networkof more than 1,200 parents who send their childrento and support the Pasadena Unified School District(PUSD), announced their series of free programs tohelp parents understand their public school optionsin Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. As more 
families are considering their public school options,
the organization has expanded their offerings.

PEN offers programs for parents whose studentsare entering kindergarten through high school,
including tools for evaluating educational optionsand an opportunity to meet parents of students 
who attend schools across the district. The fall 
parent programs kick-off with “Choosing the RightElementary School” on Monday, September 18 at

6:30 p.m. at All Saints Church, Sweetland Hall, 132No. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena. Dr. Mikala Rahn, the 
president of Public Works, a non-profit organizationthat evaluates schools throughout the state, providesparents of pre-school aged children with valuableinformation about what to look for when evaluatingan elementary school for their children. Parents 
whose children attend schools throughout PUSDwill be on hand during a reception following thepresentation.
PEN’s other grade transition programs include 

“Myth vs. Reality: Middle School Parent Panel”
on October 11 at Norma Coombs School, and 
“High School Options” on October 12. Families 
residing in Altadena are also invited to meet withAltadena families whose students attend PUSD 
schools at Altadena Library on September 12 at 7 
pm. The series concludes on November 29 at the 
Pasadena Central Library with a program devotedto understanding the district’s Open Enrollmentprocess whereby families can apply to attend aschool other than their assigned neighborhoodschool. Complete program information and times,
school information, and school tour schedules are 
available at www.penfamilies.org

All programs are free. Spanish translation isavailable upon request. Please contact info@ 
penfamilies.org. 

The Pasadena Education Network (PEN) is anindependent, grassroots nonprofit organization that 
promotes family participation in public education 
to ensure a quality education for all students inPasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. PEN providesservices to help parents explore, evaluate, and engagewith our community’s public schools. For more 
information visit www.penfamilies.org . 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY 
ALVERNO HEIGHTS ACADEMY 
200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. FanaraE-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.org 
Arcadia High School180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forseebforsee@ausd.net 
Arroyo Pacific Academy41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,
(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil ClarkeE-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org 
Barnhart School 
240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007(626) 446-5588 Head of School: EthanWilliamson 
Kindergarten - 8th gradewebsite: www.barnhartschool.org 
Bethany Christian School93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024(626) 355-3527Preschool-TK-8th Grade 
Principal: Dr. William Walnerwebsite: www. bcslions.org 
Clairbourn School 
8400 Huntington DriveSan Gabriel, CA 91775Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172 
FAX: 626-286-1528 
E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org 
Foothill Oaks Academy822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010(626) 301-9809Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaberinfo@foothilloaksacademy.orgpreschool@foothilloaksacademy.org 
Frostig School971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107(626) 791-1255Head of School: Jenny Janetzke 
Email: jenny@frostig.org 
The Gooden School 
192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 
(626) 355-2410Head of School, Carl Parke 
website: www.goodenschool.org 
High Point Academy1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road Pasadena, Ca. 
91107 
Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989 
website: www.highpointacademy.org 
La Salle High School 
3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 
(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org 
Principal Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian 
Monrovia High School325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin JacksonEmail: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us 
Odyssey Charter School725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neillwebsite: www.odysseycharterschool.org 
Pasadena High School2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.
(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandezwebsite: http://phs.pusd.us 
St. Rita Catholic School 
322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028website: www.st-rita.org 
Sierra Madre Elementary School141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024(626) 355-1428 Principal: Esther SalinasE-mail address: salinas.esther@pusd.us 
Sierra Madre Middle School 
160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett NewsomE-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us 
Walden School 
74 S San Gabriel Blvd 
Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166www.waldenschool.net 
Weizmann Day School1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107(626) 797-0204Lisa Feldman: Head of School 
Wilson Middle School 
300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth EsselnE-mail address: resseln@pusd.us 
Pasadena Unified School District 
351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.usrcadia Unified School District 
234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007 
(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net 
Monrovia Unified School District 
325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016 
(626) 471-2000 Website: www.monroviaschools. 
net 
Duarte Unified School District 
1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010 
(626)599-5000 Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us 
Editor's Note: We apologize for not inserting the author's credit and column branding for Mr. Daniel Goldenin last week's edition of Mountain Views News... His Column was titled, "Inside The Petri Dish: Health and 
Wellness Tips for High School and College Students.

 ICYMI go to: http://mtnviewsnews.com/v11/htm/n33/p07.htm 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com