Herbert Hoover Elementary School
800 Barron Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
The Palo Alto Unified School District established Hoover Elementary School in 1974, during a time of progressive and alternative educational experimentation district-wide. At the more unstructured end of the educational spectrum, Ohlone Elementary School offered students an "open classroom" environment, and Ventura School gave families the choice of sending their students to a progressive school based on the "school without failure" philosophy of Dr. William Glasser. Likewise, many neighborhood schools reflected the open classroom and progressive educational movement of the 1970s.
Some parents felt that these programs did not meet the needs of their children. These needs included having clear expectations for both academic performance and behavior; a consistent school philosophy; single-grade-level classrooms; as well as regular homework and writing assignments. These parents asked that the district balance its offering of elementary alternatives by including a model that was described as "more structured" to accommodate those students who performed best in that environment.
The PAUSD agreed to work with the community to establish an elementary school with a consistent structured program that would be built around instruction in basic academic skills. Hoover Elementary was established - and began enrolling its first classes on May 4, 1974.
Students' Needs:
Hoover offers a variety of opportunities for students with special needs: a resource program for children with learning handicaps; speech and language assistance for children with speech handicaps; tutoring for students with limited language proficiency; and a Reading Recovery program for students reading below grade level. The district also provides Hoover with personnel and materials for gifted students. A Hoover Student Study Team, composed of support staff, teachers, and the principal, provides assistance to teachers with concerns about individual students. Hoover is the site of a district Language Transition Program serving 20 non-English-speaking, primary-age children.
The Site Council has elected to hold a meeting annually to solicit and address issues of concern to the families of non-English-speaking students. This meeting is intended to provide a forum in which issues that are not noted by Hoover and district screening and testing of children can be raised and subsequently addressed by Site Council.
Hoover's Scores on California Standardized Tests
| Reading | Math | Language | Spelling | |
| 2nd Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 3rd Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 4th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 5th Grade | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
Scores range from 1-99. A score of 99 indicates that the school scored higher than 99 percent of the other public schools in California. Scores are from "McCormack's Guides '99."
School Safety:
With high expectations, clear school rules, and consistent enforcement, Hoover was commended by the Program Quality Review team for its safe, orderly environment. An experienced yard duty staff supported by teachers and the principal assists in creating a positive and safe school climate. Further, as indicated by Program Quality Review interviews and parent surveys, 99% of the community members believe Hoover provides a safe learning environment for children.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School's Mission Statement:
"We seek to build within each child a sense of responsibility, confidence, pride in accomplishment and a positive self-image through proven academic achievement."
"We emphasize basic academic skills and subject matter, and establishment of good study habits."
"We attempt to provide an environment promoting academic excellence; the school provides the quiet and orderly environment which many children need to learn."
"We believe in accountability for the success of each student."
"Within a warm, caring environment, we hold ourselves responsible for providing the opportunity for each child to reach full potential."