Miramonte Parents' Club
California ranks 33rd in the nation in cost-adjusted per-student spending, spending $3,000 less per student than the national average and half of what New York spends on its students. Based on the formula the State of California uses to determine funding for our public schools, our district receives the lowest level of per-student funding possible.
AUHSD spends just over $18,000 per student. Piedmont and Los Gatos receive close to $22,000 per student, Tamalpais receives $23,000 per student, and Palo Alto spends just over $30,000 on each of its students. In spite of the fact that all of these schools receive more funding from the state than Miramonte does, they all ask parents to donate to the local schools so that they can do even more for their students.
The fact is that public funding is simply inadequate to provide the exceptional education we all want for our children. Miramonte families are asked to provide supplemental funding to bridge the gap between what public funding provides and what our students need to succeed in college or the workplace after high school. Our students deserve an engaging educational experience, and Miramonte works every day to provide that.
Each year, the ONE-Miramonte budget is proposed by our principal (in consultation with teachers and staff) and Parents' Club leadership. The Parents’ Club is responsible for raising these funds from our generous Miramonte families. Without these donations, Miramonte would be a bare-bones high school.
The generosity of our families helps Miramonte bridge the funding gap, enabling the school to offer each and every one of our students the following enhanced educational experience:
Over one-third of our budget goes to fund 19 class sections, which:
- Provides a much broader range of elective, AP, and Honors classes so that our students have more opportunities to explore their interests
- Allows for smaller class sizes
- Preserves the 7-period day.
Funding our student support programs is vital because it empowers students with the resources and guidance to find their post-Miramonte path, overcome challenges, achieve their full potential, and excel academically, fostering a brighter future for all:
- College & Career Center - donations fund supplemental staff, additional hours, supplies, and expenses. The CCC works with every Miramonte student every year through their 4-year programming encouraging students to explore their interests and make the most of their time at Miramonte. They also support juniors and seniors during the college application process and plan for post-secondary life
- Wellness Center - In addition to supporting students who need counseling, the Wellness staff provides valuable education to all students on stress management, healthy relationships, and building resilience
- Peer Tutoring Program
Donations provide essential supplemental funding for every single class at Miramonte, ensuring that all students have access to necessary supplies for all subjects, from art materials to lab equipment:
- Career Technical Education
- English
- Math
- Physical Education
- Science
- Social Science
- Special Education
- Visual and Performing Arts
- World Languages
- Library – subscriptions, databases, research resources
Miramonte offers a broad range of student activities, events, and programs where students can explore their interests, cultivate their passions, develop valuable leadership skills, and engage with their community and peers. Donations play a crucial role in funding:
- Campus culture and spirit initiatives
- Community service tracking and awards
- Field Trips
- Graduation, Graduation Week Activities, and Time of Reflection
- Link Crew
- Mats Day
- Student Clubs
Miramonte has incredibly talented, dedicated, and professional teachers and staff, and we would not be the best school in the district and amongst the best in the state without them. Donations support:
- Office supplies and equipment
- Teacher and staff professional development
- Teacher and staff appreciation events
Donations allow for some improvements around the Miramonte campus:
- Garden and landscape enhancements
- Enhancements to outdoor student spaces, including expanded student seating
- Modern projection system pilot program to improve the student learning experience
- New furniture in the library, staff lounge, and Student Union
- New laptops and monitors for all Miramonte teachers phased in over two years
- Improved signage
Providing all this to Miramonte students will cost $1,302,000 this school year. The per-student ask is $1,800, and we ask all families to contribute because all Miramonte students benefit. Gifts of any size are appreciated and gratefully accepted.
If you have any questions about fundraising at Miramonte, please contact Jill Hughes, Parents' Club VP of Fundraising.