MILLBRAE SCHOOL DISTRICT

District Demographic Data

2008-2009

Millbrae School District is a small K-8 elementary school district situated in northern  San Mateo County adjacent to the San Francisco Airport.  The District operates five schools: four K-5 schools and one 6-8 middle school.

For eight years, the District experienced declining enrollment.  September 1997 enrollment was 2,357.  September 2004 enrollment was 2,080, a decline of 277 students or 11.75%.  The decline in enrollment was due primarily to the planned BART Millbrae station, which has replaced apartments on Garden Lane and Aviador.  However in September 2007, the District experienced a slight increase with enrollment of 2,124.  September 2008 enrollment was higher at 2, 135.

Four of the five District schools have received the California Distinguished School Award: Lomita Park in 2010; Taylor School in 1986, 1994, and 2001; Spring Valley in 1995; and Green Hills in 2006.  Additionally, Taylor School received the National Blue Ribbon Award in 1996.

Millbrae’s student population is ethnically diverse with over 30 languages spoken as first languages other than English.  The March 2009 Language Census Report shows the most common languages to be:

The Millbrae student population is 30% Limited English Proficient (LEP), 19% Fluent English Proficient (FEP), and 49% native English speakers.  The English-Language Development Program (ELD) has increased from sixty six students enrolled in 1978-79 to 692 students who were enrolled in 2008-2009.  Seventy three were reclassified from English Learner to Fluent English Proficient as a result of the ELD Program.  The Emergency Immigrant Education Program showed 149 students who qualified as immigrants enrolled in 2008-2009.

Millbrae School District is also highly diverse in socio-economic make-up.  Four hundred and forty nine students were eligible for free or reduced lunch in 2008-2009.  Additionally, Millbrae has seen a change from a stable school population to a much more transient population.  Millbrae has also witnessed a significant increase in single parent families, and it is common in two-parent families that both parents work outside of the home.  As a result, childcare is in high demand, and the District’s elementary schools have before and after school child care on each campus.

The City of Millbrae is a small suburban community with a population of over 21,000, covering 3.2 square miles.  It is a city of small business with no major industry.  The community has changed in the past years and reflects the ethnic and socio-economic changes seen in our schools.  There are more multiple family dwellings and apartments.  A large portion of the community has been residents of Millbrae for a number of years and many are retired.

Millbrae School District enjoys a close working relationship with the city of Millbrae; there are quarterly School Board/City Council meetings scheduled each year. This collaborative relationship extends to programs in conjunction with the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Library, and Department of Parks and Recreation.  Additionally, the schools receive active support from the City’s service organizations: Lions, Rotary, and Soroptimist.  Millbrae exemplifies the saying: “It takes a whole village to raise a child.”

Millbrae School District also works collaboratively with other school districts and has established a consortium for GATE Summer School with Burlingame and San Bruno School Districts.  Millbrae is a member of the Middle School Partnership Group, the Principals’ Forum, and participates in administrative in-service training with other districts.  At the County level, Millbrae is part of the Special Education Local Plan Area and works collaboratively with other County services such as the Family Service Agency.  Millbrae also receives grant monies from the San Mateo County Human Service Agency for alcohol and drug prevention for at-risk students.  These are but some of our collaborative efforts.

Millbrae’s changing population has been a catalyst for change in our District.  The entire Millbrae School District community participated in a Strategic Planning process for the years 2005-2010.  This process resulted in Board-adopted District mission statement and six Focus Goals.  These goals involve all-inclusive change in the areas of community, curriculum, student need, finance and facilities, technology, and staffing.  All other planning in the District articulates with this plan includes a five year plan of the District’s Technology Plan.  A multi-pronged staff development plan includes the District and site-based program in-service.  Millbrae’s goal is to stay on the cutting edge in the area of curriculum.  Evidence of this is our comprehensive literacy program, summer school, and at-risk programs through County Alcohol and Drug Prevention monies.  These are but a few of the areas where Millbrae School District has embraced change in order that:

“Together we can make a difference for excellence in education.”