Computers in the Classroom: How do Los Altos Area Schools Rate?

One might expect at high schools in the heart of the Silicon Valley, that Los Altos and Los Altos Hills students would have more computers to use than many other schools in the state, according to figures released earlier this month.

Yes. And no. Turns out it's highly variable, depending on where in Los Altos or Los Altos Hills you might live and attend. Both Palo Alto and Gunn high schools, tout ratios of 2.8 students per computer, according to the statistics published on the Ed-Data website. That's far better than the state average of 4.7 students per computer.

Los Altos High, where about half of the student body is from Los Altos, is also better than the state average, at 3.5 students per computer.

The largest student-to-computer ratio in the area is Homestead High and Mountain View High with 5.1 and 5.0, respectively, however.

For some comparison nearby, most Fremont Union High School District schools provide fewer computers for student use than the state average, including the high-scoring Monta Vista High School.

Lynbrook High School has the best student-to-computer ratio in the Fremont Union High School District  averaging 3.3 students per computer. 

Monta Vista, which has the largest population in the FUHSD, also has the highest ratio of computers per student, with 390 computers for the 2011-12 school year bringing the average to 6.4.

This is the Information Age, and integrating technology into the classroom is seen as a priority for schools. Some schools now encourage middle and high school students to use personal cell phones, tablets and e-readers during school hours for classwork, according to an MSN Money report. The same article stated nearly three-quarters of teachers surveyed for the Pew Research Center Internet & American Life study said they or their students use cell phones during class or for homework.

Check out the differences among local high schools below, or compare other schools by visiting the Ed-Data website and searching for schools using the yellow box in the upper right corner of the page.

School Access to Technology Comparisons, 2011-12 School Enrollment Computers per School Students per Computer Classrooms with Internet Alta Vista High
143
86
1.7
10
Los Altos High
1648
471
3.5
83
Gunn High
1854
661
2.8
98
Homestead High
2312
450
5.1
109
Mountain View High
1847 373
5.0
84
Palo Alto High 1887 682 2.8 87 Monta Vista High 2513 460 6.4 125 Statewide Average n/a 290.8 4.7 n/a

It's important to note the statistics are not a measure of how technology is integrated into the classroom, nor does the data reveal how up-to-date the computers found in local classrooms are.

Here are definitions of the categories in the table above:

• Number of computers: The total number of computers owned or leased by the school that are used at least part of the time for instruction or activities directly related to instruction. Examples are direct instruction, curriculum development, classroom management, preparation of instructional materials, and similar activities.
• Number of students per computer: The enrollment divided by the number of computers, as defined above. Some very small schools or alternative schools may have nearly as many computers as students.
• Number of classrooms on the Internet: The number of classrooms or other instructional settings (such as computer lab, library, or career center) at the school that have access to the Internet through at least one computer. Each classroom or instructional setting is counted only once, even if it has more than one computer with Internet access.

The statistics are published by the the Ed-Data website, a partnership between the California Department of Education (CDE), EdSource, and the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team to provide data about K-12 education.

How would you rate the availability of technology at Cupertino-area high schools? Are we doing enough to prepare students?

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