Linscott Charter School offers students experiential learning in a small school setting

October 24, 1:35 PMSanta Cruz Parenting ExaminerSuki Wessling

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Music class at Linscott (photo: S. Wessling)

Linscott Charter School in Watsonville was the first of its kind in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Housed in the original elementary school building close to downtown, Linscott is a K-8 parent participation school focusing on experiential, whole child education.

That makes it unusual in its immediate neighborhood.

"Linscott offers a public school option to families who are interested in a small school experience," says Robin Higbee, Administrative Director of the school and a former teacher in the middle school. "The public schools in the PVUSD have large student populations and the experience is less intimate."

Unlike other local schools, where parents and students are seldom part of the school-wide decision-making process, Linscott boasts a parent-led Site Management Team that helps make all the decisions regarding Linscott's present and fugure.

"Linscott is a very democratic environment, soliciting input from all stakeholders -- parents, teachrs and students," Higbee explains. "The needs and interests of all are considered."

Similar to Tierra Pacifica School in the Live Oak District, which was modeled on Linscott, Linscott depends on parents to do a lot of the work involved in having a school that doesn't cut education to the bare bones.

"Parents at Linscott are actively involved  in the school," says Higbee.  "They support teachers in classrooms, provide supervision at recess, raise money for enrichment activities and field trips and assist with facility maintenance."

Unlike other schools in their neighborhood, Linscott adamantly refuses to cut such educational basics as physical education, music, art, and fieldtrips. As the state has cut the schools' budget, Linscott has to keep finding new ways to fund what they consider essentials in a well-rounded education.

And their effort pays off every year in a way that Sacramento likes: Some of the highest test scores in their district.

But test scores are not near the top of the list when people recount what they like about Linscott. Robin Higbee says it's the community.

"The adage 'It takes a village to raise a child' is evident at Linscott as families and teachers work together to make sure students get what they need to succeed."