Grant Distribution

STUDENT SERVICES - 17% Overall Funding

Providing an excellent and holistic education goes beyond offering classes in reading, writing, math, science, and the arts. Students must have access to the support they need to thrive so that EVERY STUDENT WINS. To help ESUSD accomplish this, Ed! funds Class Size Reductions, Library Services, AVID, Link Crew, Web, and Literacy Coaches. Each one of these programs provides services to enhance learning and student success.

 

• Class Size Reduction (CSR) - $200K

Few educational practices have the potential for a more significant impact than learning in a classroom with fewer students. Both parents and teachers consistently prioritize CSR's importance as instrumental in a student's educational experience. Unlike other districts in the area, thanks to the commitment of parents and local businesses to support our schools by donating to Ed!, ESUSD can use the grant funds to offer lower class sizes for our students.

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• 4th & 5th Grade Class Size Reduction - $100K

State guidelines and funding provide for a maximum of 24 students per class in grades TK-3. However, there are no State of CA class size guidelines or funding for grades 4-5. Ed!'s funding of class size reduction in the 4th and 5th Grades ensures our students at this vulnerable age are in a classroom setting that enables them to thrive and receive the attention they deserve. Keeping class sizes smaller allows teachers to personalize their support of each student to advance their growth and achievement.

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• 6th-12th Grade Math Class Size Reduction - $100K

Success in middle and high school math is pivotal to a student's success. With Ed! funding 6th-12th Grade Math Class Size Reduction, our students and teachers can thrive in a manageable environment, encouraging increased success.

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• Library Services - $120K

Having access to a school library and knowing how to use technology to access credible sources provides students with endless discoveries. Ed! funds Library Resource Specialists at CSS, RSS, ESMS, and ESHS to help develop research and media literacy skills and foster a passion for reading and learning that will serve them throughout their lives. The libraries have become a hub of information on each campus, providing students with a quiet place to read during recess and lunch and a vibrant activity center for group meetings and project-based learning.

 

• AVID, Link Crew, and Web - $15K

Funded by a grant to Ed! from the El Segundo Kiwanis Club, AVID, Link Crew, and Web are transition programs designed to help students succeed in middle and high school. AVID stands for "Advancement Via Individual Determination" and is a nationally recognized college readiness system that aims to prepare students, particularly those in the academic middle, for college eligibility and success through an in-school academic support program. Link Crew and Web (Where Everyone Belongs) are student orientation programs that provide mentors and role models for incoming freshmen and 6th Graders, fostering a positive school environment and promoting student success. 

 

• Elementary Literacy Coaches - $5K

Literacy is the foundation of all other academic knowledge and skills. Our students receive prioritized personalized literacy support at the elementary level. In addition to the curriculum in the classroom, our students have access to a dedicated campus library with resources to focus on developing this key tenet of learning.

 

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS - 29% Overall Funding

The Health and Wellness of ESUSD students are essential to Ed! and the community at large. Levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in students throughout the country are at historic highs. It is more important than ever to provide our students with both the advocates and tools to help them recognize and cope with their emotional wellness and academic success. A robust school counseling program offers critical social-emotional and educational support to set students on a path to postsecondary success. Additionally, providing a comprehensive physical education program starting in the 1st Grade builds student confidence and teaches our students the principles of teamwork.

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• School Counselors - $400K

  • Two ESMS Counselors - 400:1 Student-to-Counselor Ratio

  • Two additional ESHS Counselors - 300:1 Student-to-Counselor Ratio

Counselors foster a sense of connection on campus, create a positive learning environment, and play an essential role in guiding students in their academic and career planning. Research shows that smaller student-to-counselor ratios support increased standardized test performance, attendance, GPA, and graduation rates, and results in decreased disciplinary infractions. The average student-to-counselor ratio in California schools is exceptionally high at 527:1, well above the American School Counselor Association's recommendation of 250:1. Ed! 's growing investment in counseling has played a critical role in adequately supporting students' needs.

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• Elementary PE - $160K

While the state mandates that students receive 100 minutes per week of PE, it does not fund physical education teachers. Ed! is proud to support credentialed physical education teachers at our elementary schools to provide weekly high-quality physical education and sportsmanship instruction. In addition to the health benefits, research shows that physical activity can help improve concentration, memory, and behavior in the classroom. Having separate certified PE teachers also ensures that ESUSD's TK-5th-grade teachers have time for lesson preparation rather than teaching PE.

 

• Tenth Grade Counseling - $10K

Every student entering the 10th Grade has the opportunity to meet with their counselor and their parents to develop a path toward graduation and future college goals.

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STEAM: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS & MATH - 27 % of Overall Funding

Project-based learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) for elementary, middle, and high school students has been a significant priority for our community. The important foundational concepts learned in STEAM-based classrooms and programs promote strategic critical thinking and innovative problem-solving to ensure our students can navigate and engage in a 21st-century global society.

 

• Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science - $250K

As students enter the 9th Grade, they can enroll in the PLTW Biomedical Science Pathway, a program funded by a grant from Chevron to Ed!. This pathway applies real-world issues by exploring diseases, DNA analysis, prosthetic design, public health, and more. Along the way, students gain experience with state-of-the-art tools and techniques used by professionals in hospitals and labs daily. This pathway gives students the knowledge to make an informed decision about pursuing advanced science education at the college level and potentially gaining a competitive edge in college admissions and future careers.

 

• Math Coaches RSS & CSS - $100K

Our educators prioritize student-centered learning, experiential learning, and conceptual understanding over the traditional algorithmic set of mathematical principles. Ed! funds a classroom educator to serve as a math coach, collaborating on best practices in instructional design and methods with teachers across the mathematics departments at the elementary schools to foster student success in math districtwide.

 

• High School Business Pathway - $80K

As students enter the 9th Grade, they can enroll in the ESHS Business Pathway. This pathway offers a curriculum in financial literacy, accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, communications, and economics. Studying business in high school provides numerous benefits to students, including developing crucial life and career skills, understanding business fundamentals, and potentially gaining a competitive edge in college admissions and future careers. 

 

• Art - $54K

Starting in Transitional Kindergarten, students learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting, and the curriculum expands at the middle and high school to include clay, photography, and digital art. The ESUSD Art program provides numerous benefits, including fostering creativity, boosting academic performance, enhancing social-emotional skills, and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. 

 

• Robotics - $43K

The Robotics team at the middle and high school are funded by Ed! through a partial grant from Northrop Grumman. Participating in the robotics team fosters STEM skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork while sparking creativity and preparing students for future careers in technology and engineering. 
 

• International Baccalaureate (IB) - $20K

Ed! funds the El Segundo Middle School International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which offers a globally recognized, challenging, and well-rounded education that fosters critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and personal development, preparing students for higher education and a globalized world.

 

PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS - 27% Overall Funding

A quality visual and performing arts education is essential to a comprehensive academic program. Art education fosters lifelong learning skills—creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving—and improves all students' psychological and creative aptitude. Our students can participate in sequential and comprehensive arts education programs that encourage active learning and a deeper appreciation of the arts.

 

• Music/Vocal - $250K

Ed! funds ESUSD's nationally recognized comprehensive vocal music program, which starts in the 1st Grade and continues through the 12th Grade. Once students reach the 9th Grade, they can self-select to continue their education in the music program and join the ESHS Arts Pathway.   

 

• Instrumental Music/Band - $120K

Instrumental music is introduced to students starting in the 6th Grade. With funding from Ed!, ESUSD has a comprehensive, award-winning band program at both the middle and high schools. Taught by certificated music instructors, the program fosters a love of music and the art of playing an instrument. Once students reach the 9th Grade, they can self-select to continue their education in the band program and join the ESHS Arts Pathway.

 

• Strings/Orchestra - $70K

Starting in the 6th Grade, students can take classes at the middle school to learn how to play the violin and/or cello. With funding from Ed!, ESUSD has a comprehensive, award-winning orchestra program at both the middle and high schools. Taught by certificated music instructors, the program fosters a love of music and the art of playing an instrument. Once students reach the 9th Grade, they can self-select to continue their education in the strings program and join the ESHS Arts Pathway.

 

• Music Production/Tech - $52K

Like reading and math, music literacy involves helping the brain organize information. Since not all students desire to play an instrument, Ed! funds the middle school's Music Production/Tech program. A certificated music instructor teaches this class, which allows students to learn how to read and develop music using technology.

 

• Musical Instruments & Sheet Music - $33K

Ed! believes it is essential that all students have access to musical instruments if they wish to play one.

 

• Drama Program $18K

ESUSD's middle and high schools have a comprehensive Drama program where students learn how to develop and perform amazing musicals and plays each year. Once students reach the 9th Grade, they can self-select to continue their education in the Drama program and join the ESHS Arts Pathway.