Menlo-Atherton offers a broad range of alternative academic opportunities. Our supportive guidance department and staff is always available if you are looking for ways to broaden your academic experience or would like to explore some of Menlo-Atherton's diverse alternative opportunities.

Be sure to check out all Student Support Services offered at M-A.

•  AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)

If your goal is to attend college, but your grades don't reflect your ability level and you need more personal attention, AVID is the program for you. In the AVID class, students work on study skills and vocabulary building, attend tutorial groups for any subject, go on field trips and hear motivational speakers. An after-school study hall is also offered. Ideally the student enrolls in 9th grade, but enrollment can occur at the beginning of each year or at the semester break. Enrollment is by interview and application: first come, first served, but limited to 100 students. Parents or guardians are expected to attend several conferences. Teachers are encouraged to give feedback to the AVID instructors on student progress. 

M-A offers a four-week summer school to 120 incoming 9th grade students. Enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis with recruitment in the spring at all area middle schools. The program is designed to assist students who have an academic, economic, personal or environmental issue that may impede success in high school. The summer experience helps students prepare for the challenges ahead. Once in high school, Compass students continue to receive general support and guidance from Compass coordinators, including newsletters, leadership training, counseling and someone to watch over their progress and help with problems at school or home. Contact: Jenna Carson, 322-5311, x8729

Menlo-Atherton’s Academy is committed to developing the academic, personal, and critical thinking skills of select 10th through 12th grade students. A college-bound, standards’ based curriculum is emphasized which simultaneously develops essential career skills needed for today’s emerging high-tech industries. By providing smaller class size, various instructional methodologies, and an integrated, enriched curriculum designed by a dedicated team of teachers who regularly communicate goals and high expectations, the program seeks to meet each student’s comprehensive needs and enable all students to master mandated curriculum.

Being a school within a school, the Academy can more readily foster a sense of community and function as an extended family. Several community building activities are incorporated into the curriculum. Each activity is designed to enhance the learning experience. Participating in these extracurricular activities provides students with incentives and, in addition, allows Academy teachers - regardless of their particular area of curricular expertise - to better know their students so as to help them meet with desired success.

By creating a warm, nurturing, well disciplined, positive environment and equipping our students with core essential knowledge and skills, we encourage students to develop a personal educational plan based on their interests and lifelong learning goals. While a motivating program to prepare them for post secondary education is offered, ample opportunities are given to develop essential career skills and become aware of various career options. Being "The Computer Academy," the school focuses on equipping students with mastery of the technological tools and skills available to all in the twenty-first century. The use of these tools and skills is regularly integrated into the students’ daily coursework so that graduates of the Academy will be particularly adept at a myriad of technological skills, a key factor for successful employment in today’s society. In addition, community service is encouraged at the Academy to foster commitment, pride, good citizenry, responsibility and a sense of belonging. Whether students choose a career or an academic path upon graduation, we hope to create students who appreciate diversity, embrace the notion of being lifelong learners and valuable members of their community who have learned to respect themselves and others. Contact: Lance Powell, 322-5311, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Courses in all academic areas are available for students who are learning to speak, read, and write English. Most students are able to transition into the mainstream by graduation. Contact: Guidance Office, 322-5311, x5125

There are several opportunities at M-A to prepare for Scholastic Aptitude Tests - one through RISE and another through Jane King. The cost ($100 or less) is a good deal when compared to similar courses on the market. Qualified SAT-prep teachers teach classes. Dates are announced through Trivocis and student bulletins.

New to M-A this year is a College Entrance Test Prep Class that is offered to juniors in the spring semester. There is room for up to 70 students in the class that meets at "zero period" (before 1º in the morning). The course stresses English reading and writing skills, mathematical reasoning, and test-taking skills. The class is not designed to replace traditional instruction in college-recommended subjects. Students are expected to have completed or to be enrolled in Algebra 2 before signing up for the course.

M-A's comprehensive special education program serves about 200 students. Five resource specialists, three special day class teachers (SDC), eight instructional associates, and a speech and language therapist support students with individual education plans. The department offers content instruction in all core curriculum, study skills assistance, mainstream monitoring, a specially equipped computer lab, and more than 40 class sections. Our staff works in mainstream classrooms along with the general education teachers. Contact: Simone Rick-Kennel, 322-5311, x5222

After School Tutoring in Library

Tutoring is available after school in the library. The days and times are as follows:
Monday and Tuesday 2:30 – 4:00
Thursday 1:45 – 3:45

The tutoring center is staffed by M-A teachers and parent volunteers. The center is opened to all M-A students that need help with homework or school projects. Students are welcomed to come in for a few minutes or stay the entire time.

The library will also be open on tutoring days until 4pm for any student that needs to study. If you have any questions, please contact Fran Huber @ 322-5311 ext 5162.

There are groups at M-A as well as many in the community that provide free tutoring, such as Plugged In, Boys and Girls Club, and others. For a complete list, contact the Guidance Office.

Private Tutors: If money isn't a problem, you can consider hiring a professional. The school cannot recommend specific tutors or programs, but it does maintain active lists of people and agencies who provide tutoring services. Contacts: 322-5311, x5120 (Guidance Office), x8719 (Math Dept.), x8605 (Language Dept.)