Long Valley School in Doyle, CA originally opened as a school and school district teaching grades 1-9, March 21, 1871. The school served the surrounding Long Valley community until destroyed by fire in 1946. Long Valley School (LVS) was reopened in the building located across the street from Doyle Volunteer Fire Department and taught grades K-8. In December 1968, Long Valley School moved into it's new building at its current location on Susan Drive still serving K-8 students. Long Valley School was and continues to be a source of pride in our community. High school students grades 9-12 were transported by bus twelve miles or more to the high school in Herlong, CA. that was operated by Lassen Union High School District in Susanville, CA. In 1987 Long Valley School District merged with the Herlong schools located on the Sierra Army Depot to form Fort Sage Unified School District. (FSUSD) for the purpose of improving the quality of education at Herlong High School and creating a local district that would be responsive to our needs. The conversion from Long Valley School to Long Valley Charter School was strongly supported by the district board members, teaching staff, and the local community and was established July 1, 2000. The charter has since been renewed with equally strong support.
Doyle is located in northeastern California approximately three miles west and 26 miles north of the Nevada State line, with Reno, NV, 42 miles south, serving as our urban center. Our community is comprised of a diverse group of individuals who live in our remote rural area by choice. Doyle is an agricultural community and is increasingly becoming a bedroom community for the exploding population in the Reno/Sparks area. LVCS serves a unique community. Our enrollment is predominantly white with 1% Hispanic, 1% Native American and 1% African American. 60% of the students at our school are eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. Long Valley Charter School defies many of the preconceptions regarding schools where the large majority of students come from families with a low economic background. Our average daily attendance for the most recent school year was 96%. Our 2007 API score was 760.
Our intent is to preserve and enhance the established tradition of high educational standards in conjunction with helping to develop considerate young community members and children who love to learn. LVCS serves as more than a place for local children to receive an education, LVCS provides a place for socialization in our very rural area not only for students, but also for extended family and community members. At our monthly site-based "Caught Being Good" assemblies the school provides a forum for children to demonstrate and receive recognition for their emerging academic and artistic skills before family, community and fellow students. LVCS also provides educational resources in an area where there are extremely limited resources available.
The existing K-8 site-based grade levels allow multi-level education and socialization where students from the same family are allowed to participate together and support each other at school. Upper grade levels work and play with younger students to create friendships and role models.
LVCS has incorporated the established principles successful at LVS with the increased educational opportunities provided by the California Charter Schools Act (as revised by AB544 and AB2417). With the support of our dedicated parent/community group and curriculum design to service our community with multiple methods for a variety of educational needs and learning styles. We have begun our plan to enlist the help of local artists, business people, historians, and interested community members to provide diverse learning experiences along with traditional education, making LVCS a learning center that provides enriching opportunities for students, community and staff alike. The program expansion is still in the developmental stages and we look forward to implementing and expanding the new programs at our school.
Students to be Served
Long Valley charter School admission shall be open to any resident of California, grade levels K-8 for site-based study and any resident of Lassen, Plumas, Modoc, Sierra and Shasta Counties for grade levels K-12 for Independent Study.
Student-Teacher Ratio
Our current avaerage student-teacher ratio is 17:1 on the site and the Board of Directors will strive to maintain as a low a ratio as is economically viable.
Our independent study student to teacher ratio is 25:1. Our plan to enlist the help of local artists, musicians, business people, historians, and interested community members to provide diverse learning experiences for independent study students is quite successful.
