Message about our school

Costaño Elementary School serves an ethnically diverse community and features high academic standards in a positive campus environment. We emphasize respect, responsibility, organization, and self-confidence. This framework enables students to grow into independent learners. Our goal is to develop a “community of practice” that drives our programs, with a focus on collaboration and achieving substantial results.

Program Offerings

Our educational specialist works with kindergarten through eighth grade students. We also have a program assistant, a computer lab teacher, a part-time speech therapist, a psychologist, a nurse, physical and occupational therapists, a PE teacher, a library specialist, and a parent liaison. In addition, we have a teacher on special assignment to assist with designated administrative duties.

• Gifted and Talented Education: Educators identify academically gifted or talented students based on teacher recommendations or tests for inclusion in enrichment programs called Gifted and Talented Education (GATE). Our school has 26 students who qualify for this program.
  
  We provide GATE instruction after school as well as within the regular classrooms. Our focus is the core curriculum, with specific attention to mathematics, science, and reading.
  
• Special Education Program: Students with moderate to severe learning differences are sometimes entitled to individual education plans and extra attention. Our school has 38 students who qualify for these special education programs.
  
  We offer a continuum of services to children with disabilities so that they can learn alongside their non-disabled peers. If the Individual Education Program (IEP) team deems that a modified general education program won’t serve a particular child adequately, we provide that child with special education services.
  
• English Learner Program: Most students not yet fluent in English enroll in special classes that help them gain fluency. We strive to advance our English learners into regular classes as soon as possible. In our English Language Development program, English learners receive instruction in English with support in their primary language. District and standardized tests show that they are becoming proficient.