Wildwood School Profile

The School

Wildwood is an independent, co-educational K-12 school located on two urban campuses in West Los Angeles. The secondary school was founded in 2000. The first class was graduated in June 2004.

Accreditation

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)

Location

The secondary campus is located on Olympic Blvd. between Bundy Drive and Barrington Avenue. It is 1/4 mile west of the 405 Freeway and 1/4 mile north of the 10 Freeway. Visitor parking is available in the structure located behind the school on Mississippi Avenue.

Pattern of the School Year

Wildwood School operates on the semester system with 18 weeks in the fall semester and 19 weeks in the spring semester. Students spend specific time engaged in community service, planning and taking urban treks and outdoor education. Students also work with mentors in various careers.

Enrollment

Currently the secondary program has 362 students in grades 6-12. Students are ethnically and culturally diverse and travel to Wildwood from all over the urban area of Los Angeles. 23% are students of color. 100% of Wildwood School’s students plan to attend college.

Grade 9: 62 Students
Grade 10: 56 Students
Grade 11: 56 Students
Grade 12: 50 Students

Faculty

There are 57 secondary teachers; 31 women and 26 men; 60% have advanced degrees. Faculty/student ratio is 7/1.

Curriculum

Wildwood provides a personalized, learner-centered environment in which students practice and exhibit thoughtful learning through exhibitions and portfolios. Students engage in a challenging academic program that includes an interdisciplinary curriculum, community involvement and internships. Wildwood is dedicated to preparing its students for college, but also seeks to promote life long learners committed to social justice and the ability to be leaders in an ever-changing world. All students study the core curriculum each year: Humanities (English and History), Math, Science and Spanish. Students select electives from a variety of art, music and drama classes.

Grading

Wildwood is a non-competitive school and students receive narrative assessments based on the Seven Habits of Mind and Heart, rather than letter grades. Beginning in 9th grade, the end of the year narratives are converted to letter grades and a cumulative GPA is assigned to students in order to facilitate college applications. Community Involvement and Internships are awarded .5 credits per semester, but are not calculated in the academic GPA.

The Seven Habits of Mind and Heart

• The Habit of Perspective: The ability to address questions from multiple viewpoints and to use a variety of ways to solve problems.
• The Habit of Evidence: The ability to bring together relevant information; judge the credibility of sources, and to find out for one’s self.
• The Habit of Connection: The ability to look for patterns and the ways things fit together in order to utilize diverse materials to form new solutions.
• The Habit of Convention: The ability to acknowledge accepted standards in any area in order to be understood and to understand others.
• The Habit of Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others, accepting and giving appropriate assistance.
• The Habit of Service to the Common Good: The ability to recognize the effects of one’s actions upon others, coupled with the desire to make the community a better place for all.
• The Habit of Ethical Behavior: The ability to understand how personal values influence behavior and to live one’s life according to ethical principles.

Transcript

The GPA is based on all course work completed between 10th-12th grades. Extra points are awarded to classes designated as Honors and to college courses. Test scores, such as PSAT, SAT, SAT II and ACT are available, but are not listed on the transcript. Students are not ranked.

Honors Courses are offered in Humanities, Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish. In addition, students are encouraged to pursue course work at local colleges and universities and to enroll in on-line classes. Wildwood School does not offer Advanced Placement courses or International Baccalaureate.

Organizations

• The Coalition of Essential Schools
• California Association of Independent Schools
• National Association of Independent Schools
• The College Board
• Western Association for College Admissions Counseling
• National Association for College Admission Counseling (Wildwood School complies with the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.)