School Profile

Monroe Elementary School, located near the Pacific Ocean on the Santa Barbara Mesa, has been named a California Distinguished School Award winner three times (1987, 1997, 2002).  The school serves K-6 children on a modern campus with many facilities.

Students can enjoy a well stocked library, classroom computers, a computer lab, a large playground, large grass field, and a separate enclosed Kindergarten yard. Monroe School promotes a positive learning environment through awards from the PTA, faculty, and the community.  Students are recognized at weekly assemblies for outstanding citizenship, academic achievement, and demonstration and usage of life-skill themes in problem solving situations. A cross-age tutoring program has been developed to provide one-to-one skills reinforcement in specific academic areas.  This program promotes academic achievement and enhances self-esteem for all participants.

Other educational highlights include:

  • Fully certificated, dedicated classroom teachers provided innovative instruction in the core curriculum consisting of mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Attention to state standards is evident in the performance scores of Monroe students on the California Standards Test.
  • Believing in a well rounded education, Monroe’s PTA provides our students instruction in music and art by specialized teachers. The school employs a science teacher who works in conjunction with the classroom teachers to provide instruction in our science laboratory. Particular attention is focused on students in the fourth and fifth grades whose science knowledge is tested on the California Standards Test given at the end of the academic year.
  • The sixth grade goes to a four day Outdoor School located in the nearby Santa Ynez Mountains.  Outdoor School is a highlight of sixth grade and allows the students to learn state science curriculum in a setting outside of the classroom.
  • The school library participates in the Accelerated Reader program, and all Accelerated Reader books in the library are clearly marked. This program allows students to read books at their own reading level, which research has shown is most beneficial to their development of good reading skills. Monitoring is by computerized tests which guide the student to appropriate books that will allow them to progress at their individual rate. The program is also supported by computers in each classroom.
  • Differentiated Instruction is a program in grades three through six. This program allows all students the unique opportunity to participate in Language Arts instruction with other students at their same level. It is offered in addition to heterogeneous classroom instruction in Language Arts.  One result of this program is a structure provided to challenge GATE students as well as highly motivated and high achieving students. Beginning in grade three, with the introduction of the Differentiated Instruction program, these students are offered the opportunity to participate in classes such as: photography, airplanes and flight, speech writing, ecology and global warming, Shakespearian drama, mythology, and many, many more.
  • Local vendors also offer after school classes throughout the school year in everything from knitting and pottery to drama, martial arts, and marine biology. Classes are taught by professionals from our community dedicated to enriching the lives of Monroe’s students.