Walter Hays Elementary School
1525 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Walter Hays School has about 450 K-5 students. The ethnic/racial makeup of the student body is about 7% Black, 7% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 80 % Caucasian. Attendance rates are high. The average classroom teacher-to-student ratio in the fourth and fifth grades is 28.5, which is slightly over the district's established ratio for elementary schools. Class size has been reduced to twenty or fewer students in grades K, 1, 2, and 3.
Students' Needs:
Some students have special needs. Walter Hays has many programs to satisfy these needs. These programs include:
Reading Recovery: One-on-one instruction to identified first graders. Paid partially with State funding through the Miller-Unruh program.
GATE: The district Gifted And Talented Education teacher assists teachers in designing and implementing independent and small group projects.
English Language Development: provides intensive English language instruction to students whose native language is other than English. Students learning English also receive some tutorial support in their native languages.
Walter Hays' 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:
Walter Hays' rules are based on mutual respect, responsible behavior, and safety for self and others. Attention to conflict resolution skills has significantly reduced the number of issues that arise during recess, and discipline referrals are minimal. The playground is supervised by teachers at recess and four noon supervisors at lunch.
Third graders participate in a bicycle safety program presented by the Palo Alto Fire Department. This includes formal safety instruction as well as a practicum in which children ride their bicycles.
Disaster preparedness is a priority at Walter Hays. There are regular fire and earthquake drills as part of the school disaster plan, which is reviewed annually. They store emergency equipment, supplies, and food, and many of the staff participate in First Aid and CPR training.
Walter Hays Elementary School's Mission Statement
"Walter Hays students will develop self-respect, value learning, and cultivate an understanding of others through a school experience which fosters high expectations for academic, social, and emotional development in a global community."