Set against the backdrop of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the city of Cupertino, Monta Vista High School is a four-year comprehensive high school whose purpose is to “Educate the Whole Child / Educate Every Child.” Opened in 1969, the current enrollment is approximately 2,570 students. Students come from homes where many parents have advanced educational degrees and are committed to academic excellence. The school benefits from industry partnerships, special district programs, and strong community support.

Monta Vista High School is recognized internationally for the outstanding academic achievement of its students. Virtually all seniors graduate, with 98% enrolling in post-secondary programs and 67% of those students attending four-year colleges or universities. The high school has a reputation for rigorous academics and extensive elective and co-curricular programs. The staff strives to engage every student in learning by offering a balanced approach to education, with each and every curricular area geared to achieving the schoolwide Learning Goals and being specifically aligned to California State Standards.

Because Monta Vista High School believes in educating the whole child, offerings extend well beyond the limits of traditional academic curriculum. Students’ options for electives range from jazz band to Oral Composition to 3-D Design. Over 600 students participate in vocal and instrumental music programs. Over 700 students are enrolled in the Visual Arts department that culminates in an ROP Commercial Art program considered to be one of the top five in the nation. Co-curricular activities abound. Offering over 80 clubs with more than 2,900 club members, Monta Vista students can follow such passions as Robotics, movies, chess, or hip-hop. Monta Vista’s ASB (Associated Student Body) continues to create innovative ways, such as “Proud to Be a Matador” week, Diversity Week, and Staff Appreciation Week, to unite students and staff into a single learning community that builds character and values responsibility, respect, and honesty. Monta Vista’s Leadership program has received statewide recognition by CADA (California Association of Directors of Activities) as a model leadership/activities program for the last two years. A two-year old Community Leadership class was recognized by San Jose’s Junior League for their community contributions.

Students and staff members have joined forces to improve the Monta Vista High School website to create a source of information designed for the entire community. In both fall and spring, a series of evening informational meetings are held for students and parents covering topics such as high school life, co-curricular involvement, and the course selection and college application processes. These meetings are translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Monthly parent coffees provide an informal conversational setting for parents to meet with the principal and discuss points of interest. Three times a year, newsletters are sent to every family and the PTA sends daily emails to parents with the daily bulletin and other important announcements. Communication between school and home is strengthened with on-line tools including School Loop, teacher generated web-sites, PTA and staff e-mail notifications, and a new student leadership newsletter.

In fall 2007, the school completed renovation of the administration building, ASB office, career center and the cafeteria, bringing to close an eight-year modernization project. Already completed are the new visual and performing arts building and a 33,000 square foot complex housing a new gym and fourteen new classrooms. An expanded library media center and renovated auditorium opened in September 2005. New athletic facilities, including a new swimming pool and a renovated gymnasium, opened in the fall 2006. Today the school is comprised of 87 classrooms, 2 gyms, 1 multipurpose room/cafeteria, 1 library, 1 career center, 1 staff lounge, 2 computer/video labs, 1 auditorium, 3 dance/team rooms, and multiple athletic fields.

The principal works daily with six (6) full-time custodians to ensure that the cleaning of the school is maintained to provide for a clean and safe school. District maintenance staff ensures that the repairs necessary to keep the school in good repair are completed in a timely manner. The District rotates a “deep cleaning” crew at all campuses during breaks and over the summer. This custodial crew strips and waxes floors, cleans carpets, removes cobwebs off ceilings, washes windows, dusts blinds, pressure washes exteriors, and washes whiteboards and shelves. Additional carpet cleaning machines were purchased for the sites to help better maintain the classrooms year round. The District increased the work year from 11 to 12 months for the groundskeeper at each high school which has improved the field maintenance and curb appeal of each campus.

Monta Vista High School facilities are in good repair. The asphalt parking lots and basketball courts need resurfacing.