The Foyer Gallery, between the Albany Community Center, route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show",…More :id=>"city-of-albany-recreation-community-services-community-center"} --> and the Albany Library, hosts several shows a year, which are curated by the <!-- name: Albany Arts Committee.</p> <p>The Arts Committee is accepting artist submissions to be considered for shows in 2012. The review process will be done at the September meeting. </p> <p>Learn more about the gallery and artist submission process <strong><a href="http://albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=242">here</a></strong>.</p>

The Albany Unified School District runs eight schools in Albany, including a pre-school, three elementary schools…More (Cornell, route: {:action=>"show", :controller=>"listings", :id=>"cornell-elementary-school"} -->, Marin and Ocean View), a middle school, two high schools (AHS and MacGregor) and an adult school.</p> <p>You can follow the school district <a href="http://twitter.com/AlbanyUnified">on Twitter</a>.</p> <p><!-- name: As of 2007-08, there were 1,433 children in the elementary schools, 849 students in the middle schools and 1,237 students in the high school.</p> <p>District offices moved in June 2010 from 904 Talbot Ave. to 1051 Monroe St. They are currently located in a modular building across from University Village. The district is working on an extensive <a href="http://ausd.ca.schoolloop.com/cms/nothing?d=x&group_id=1218845931169">pool project</a>, and also has an <a href="http://ausd.ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1218845931533">athletic field project on Cougar Field</a>.</p> <p>The Board of Education has five adult members and two student members. The board meets on the first and third Tuesdays each month. Agenda packets are available on the board's website.</p> <p>The district's graduation rate, 91 percent, is well above the county rate of 83 percent, and also much higher than the state average of 80 percent, according to 2007-08 data from the state <a href="http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest">Department of Education</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ausdk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=92420&type=d&pREC_ID=173242">School Accountability Report Cards</a> are available online for each campus.</p> <p>The district has a number of advisory committees:</p> <ul> <li>Modernization Bond Oversight Committee</li> <li>Pool Project (Measure E) Bond Oversight Committee</li> <li>Albany Pool Committee</li> <li>Albany Pool Sustainability Committee</li> <li>Budget Advisory Committee</li> <li>Community Fundraising Advisory Committee</li> <li>Curriculum Advisory Committee</li> <li>Wellness Committee</li> <li>Visual and Performing Arts Committee</li> <li>Green Albany Schools Advisory Committee</li> <li>Athletic Advisory Council</li> <li>English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC / DELAC)</li> <li>DELAC Agenda 5.14.09</li> <li>Youth Task Force</li> <li>Disaster Policy Advisory Group</li> </ul> <p><b>You can watch archived school board meetings </b><a href="http://albanyca.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3"><b>by clicking here</b></a><b>.</b></p> <ul> </ul>

Ocean View Park is the only developed park in the western part of Albany. This 3.61-acre park is located…More near the I-80 and I-580 freeway interchange, and is accessible from Buchanan Street, a busy four-lane street that leads from the freeway to San Pablo Avenue. Ocean View is partly owned by the Albany Unified School District, route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show", :id=>"albany-unified-school-district-3"} --> and partly by the City of Albany.</p> <p>The park encompasses sports fields, a redwood grove, <a href="http://albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=602">picnic facilities</a> and the city's <!-- name: Teen Center. The picnic area's barbecues and the sports fields may be rented out or reserved through the Recreation Department (<a href="http://albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=602">click here</a> to learn more about picnic table rentals or to fill out an application).</p> <p>The park recently underwent major renovations that upgraded the sports field and lighting, resurfaced the tennis courts and added new features including a children's play structure, path lighting, <a href="http://albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=602">new picnic areas</a>, restroom facilities and a community garden. The Albany Art Committee headed an Art in the Park Project that added the new sculptural entry sign reading "Wave Rose."</p> <p><b>History </b></p> <p>Ocean View Park sits on land originally occupied seasonally by hunter-gatherer American Indian tribes referred to generally as the Ohlone (the specific group in this area was probably the Huchiun). This property was later owned by the Gill Family, which operated a rose nursery. The U.S. Department of Agriculture/Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, which performs ecological and social science research on ecosystems, has occupied the adjacent property to the west since 1926. </p>

Ocean View Elementary School is one of three elementary schools in the Albany Unified School District. It…More received a distinguished Academic Performance Index ranking of 9 out of 10 for the 2008-09 school year.</p> <p>School Principal Terry Georgeson can be reached by phone at 510-558-4800 and by e-mail at tgeorgeson@ausdk12.org. <a href="http://www.oceanview-pta.org">Learn about the PTA here</a>.</p> <p>As of 2008-09, the school spent $6,654 per pupil (compared with $5,443 per pupil in the district and $5,512 in the state). However, $1,753 was supplemental.</p> <p>The average teacher salary was $57,071, compared with $64,086 in the district and $65,425 in the state. Download the <a href="http://www.ausdk12.org/pdf/sarc/2008-2009/2008-09%20English%20SARC_OceanView%20ES.pdf">Ocean View School Data PDF</a> for more information.</p> <p>The school was 26 percent white, 41 percent Asian and  14 percent Latino in 2008-09. Additionally, 30 percent of students were categorized as socioeconomically disadvantaged; 39 percent as English learners; and 6 percent as having disabilities.</p> <p>Opportunities for parent involvement include the School Site Council, PTA, Multicultural Committee, Music Boosters, <a href="http://www.albanymusic.org/">Albany Music Fund</a>, <a href="http://albanyeducation.org/">Albany Education Foundation</a>, English Language Learner Advisory Committee, <a href="http://www.albanyschoolcare.org/">SchoolCare</a> and as classroom volunteers.</p> <p>Communication between school and home is accomplished through parent committees, district and school website, principal and classroom newsletters, conferences and report cards.</p> <p>The teaching faculty includes 25 teachers. Average K-3 class size is about 20; grades 4-5 have 30. As of 2008-09, the school had one librarian and a part-time library staff member, psychologist and speech/language/hearing specialist.</p> <p>The school's mascot is the sea otter: "The sea otter lives in an ocean rich with many different life forms and works in harmony with the ocean. As a teaching staff we are committed to bringing this same philosophy to our school."</p> <p>With a student population of more than 550 students, 250 have a home language other then English. Every classroom includes several cultures and languages. The school's program "is based on the strength of a caring classroom combined with the rich experiences offered through field trips, performing arts, visual arts and music. We have a strong school spirit nurtured in the classroom as well through the games and activities offered to students at lunchtime. By providing an intellectual, social and emotionally rich experience for students, we are proud of our school and the traditionally high API score we achieve."</p> <p>To find out how you can get involved, call the school or talk to your child's teachers.</p>

Established in 1934, Albany High School serves grades nine through 12 in the Albany Unified School District. It…More received a distinguished Academic Performance Index ranking of 9 out of 10 for the 2008-09 school year.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://ahs.ausdk12.org/apps/bell_schedules/">Find the current bell schedule</a></li> <li><a href="http://ahs.ausdk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=92644&type=d">Connect with the PTSA</a></li> </ul> <p>School Principal Ted Barone can be reached by phone at 510-558-2510 and by e-mail at <a href="mailto:tbarone@ausdk12.org">tbarone@ausdk12.org</a>. The Parent Handbook is available online.</p> <p>As of 2008-09, the school spent $6,460 per pupil (compared with $5,443 per pupil in the district and $5,512 in the state). However, $2,162, was supplemental.</p> <p>The average teacher salary was $60,380, compared with $64,086 in the district and $65,425 in the state. Download the <a href="http://www.ausdk12.org/pdf/sarc/2008-2009/2008-09_AHS.pdf">Albany High School Data PDF</a> for more information.</p> <p>The school was 35 percent white, 36 percent Asian and 12 percent Latino in 2008-09. Additionally, 13 percent of students were categorized as socioeconomically disadvantaged; 13 percent as English learners; and 2 percent as having disabilities.</p> <p>Opportunities for parent involvement include the School Site Council, PTSA, <a href="http://www.albanymusic.org/">Albany Music Fund</a>, <a href="http://albanyeducation.org/">Albany Education Foundation</a>, English Language Learner Advisory Committee, <a href="http://www.albanyschoolcare.org/">SchoolCare</a> and by serving as classroom volunteers.</p> <p>The school's mission is to "provide an environment challenging to our students and to educate them to become happy, productive, and responsible citizens of a diverse society. Students will become self-directed learners, academically prepared individuals, healthy individuals, complex thinkers and consummate problem solvers, effective communicators, responsible citizens, navigators to the future, and citizens who appreciate the arts."</p> <p>According to the school's most recent SARC, 22 percent of its students were admitted by permit from other districts, primarily from Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond.</p> <p>Out of the school's 2006 graduating class, according to the district, 97 percent planned to attend college, 59 percent at four-year colleges and 38 percent at community colleges.</p> <p>According to the state <a href="http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/">Department of Education</a>, as of the 2007-08 school year, the district's four-year dropout rate was 2 percent. This number includes some students who transfer to other schools or move to other countries, said Superintendent Marla Stephenson. Sometimes the district is informed about where the student moves, when the new district requests the student's academic records. But if the district has no information about the student's new school, it must report him or her as a dropout. </p> <p>Albany High offers seven periods of instruction and two semesters per year. It is on a modified block schedule with all classes meeting on Monday for 52 minutes, odd periods meeting on Tuesday and Thursday, and even periods meeting on Wednesday and Friday. Block schedule periods are 95 minutes long, and the school has two 40-minute advisory periods per week. </p> <p>The school offers advanced placement, honors and advanced courses throughout each subject area, as well as fine arts classes and other special programs. The school offers four levels of English Language Development classes and a variety of sheltered content classes as needed.</p> <p>The teaching faculty includes 51 full-time and 11 part-time classroom teachers. The pupil-teacher ratio is 31 to 1. There are three administrators, four guidance counselors, a part-time career counselor, a part-time mental health coordinator and a school psychologist.</p> <p>Albany High School parents can sit on a variety of leadership and support committees. The Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) is the largest support organization. PTSA meetings focus on program issues and student needs, and it maintains a "Mini-grant" program that funds small one-time student and school site needs. Each parent officer in the PTSA mentors a student officer. Students do not participate as just school representatives, but rather as partners in running the meetings and setting goals.</p> <p>The School Site Council is a decision-making body that includes the principal, teachers, classified staff, parents and student representatives. It meets on the third Monday of each month to review school programs, write an annual report to the School Board and recommend ways to spend grant funds. Recommendations are based on the WASC Action Plan, student achievement data and on the annual Needs Assessment survey given to all staff, parents and student each spring.</p> <p>The Instructional Improvement Council reviews the instructional program, considers new course proposals and consults with the administration regarding staff development.</p> <p>The Athletic Advisory Council provides oversight of the interscholastic sports program and its budget. <a href="http://albanyhs.schoolloop.com/boosters/general">Athletic Boosters</a> provide support for athletic programs through fundraising activities. Sports teams practice on Cougar Field.</p> <p>To find out how you can get involved, call the school or talk to your child's teachers.</p> <p>And, if you're looking for internship and job tips, the school <a href="http://ahs.ausdk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=92775&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=173714">has a great resource page</a>.</p>