Elementary Schools

San Juan Elementary is the first school in South County to offer a Healthy Start after-school program for children and their parents. At the Center for Student Success, which opened last week, students can sign up for homework tutors, afternoon sports and computer, music and science courses. Their parents, meanwhile, can enroll in such classes as English as a second language, literacy, CPR and computer training.

Two elementary schools will be closed here to help reduce a hefty budget deficit. Santa Cruz City Schools trustees voted Wednesday to close Branciforte and Bay View elementary schools, rather than Natural Bridges and Gault elementary schools as an advisory commission had recommended.

A projected budget deficit of $7 million to $10 million next year may force the West Contra Costa Unified School District to shutter four elementary schools with low enrollments, officials said. The enrollments range from 250 students at one school to 290 at another, far short of the 450 to 800 the district considers the ideal size for elementary schools.

The ABC Unified school board is scheduled Tuesday to consider testing a uniform dress code at five elementary schools in Cerritos and Artesia beginning in September. Parents at the five schools overwhelmingly favor a uniform dress code on campus, a recent survey found. More than 75% of the 1,379 parents who responded to a survey that was sent home in March said they favored the proposal to have the students wear uniforms in shades of gray, navy or plaid, school officials said.

The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education approved locations for two new elementary schools in central Los Angeles on Tuesday. Board President Jose Huizar said the district must finish design work before it begins the process of buying the properties. The first site is near Washington Boulevard and Budlong Avenue. The second site is at 32nd Street and Maple Avenue.

A dozen Orange County elementary schools have been named California Distinguished Schools, an annual honor recognizing campuses that show leadership and innovation in academic and community programs, officials announced. Statewide, 225 elementary schools won this year's title and will receive their awards May 22 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

A supermarket chain that plans to open a store in south Oxnard plans to "adopt" nine Oxnard elementary schools in a program that emphasizes environmental education. The schools will receive donations from the redemption of recycled containers at Smith's Food store, scheduled to open this month at Oxnard's Centerpoint Mall on Saviers Road. "We will benefit handsomely," said Norman R. Brekke, superintendent of the Oxnard School District.

The Tustin Unified School District this week opened two elementary schools, including one that had its doors shut for nearly 20 years. The schools, Peters Canyon Elementary and Guinn Foss Elementary, are needed to accommodate enrollment growth and class-size reduction, officials said. Enrollment in the Tustin district is growing at about 7% a year, making it one of the fastest growing districts in Orange County, officials said.

Seven Orange County elementary schools are in the running for the title of National Blue Ribbon School, a state Department of Education official said Monday. They are among 46 schools chosen statewide from a field of nearly 300 for their challenging standards and curriculum, family and community partnerships and good student performance on standardized tests.