Top Of The World Elementary School

Welcome to our new website

Welcome to the newly created Home Page for Top of the World Elementary School. This new communication tool should prove very helpful in addressing many questions you may have. However, we are always happy to speak with you personally should you desire. Please feel free to contact the representative of the department from which you need assistance.

Ron La Motte, Principal

Our Vision

Nestled upon a hilltop overlooking the Saddleback Valley to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the South sits an educational community known for the past 39 years as Top of the World Elementary School, affectionately known as TOW. In today's fast paced society it is refreshing to find a close knit neighborhood school where families walk to school with their children, stop to have a chat with staff, other parents and maybe have a cup of coffee. Staff, parent volunteers, and the principal meet the buses as they drive in each morning and open car doors to greet each student with a warm smile and a "Good Morning". TOW is proud to maintain its hometown feel and instill this sense of community to each and every student.

TOW is located in Laguna Beach, a small town surrounded by the exploding growth of South Orange County, California. TOW is one of two elementary schools, which feed into Thurston Middle School. Families come from areas east of the Pacific Coast Highway and the inland community of Aliso Viejo. The program consists of a special education pre-school and kindergarten through fifth grades. There are currently 561 students enrolled in the school. TOW also maintains a school within a school known as The Community Learning Center (CLC). CLC serves 40 students in grades first through fourth in a small campus adjacent to the main campus. The CLC approaches the curriculum from a holistic worldview centering on peace and a community spirit. This program is an extension of the overall philosophy of TOW. 

TOW's academic program emphasizes a strong commitment to the core subjects and academic rigor balanced with enrichment programs that foster a well-rounded student experience. TOW adopted the Harcourt Brace series five years agos which encompasses all grade levels. We are currently entering our fifth year of using the Open Court English/Language Arts (ELA) adoption that also provides a consistent ELA program across all grade levels. TOW exhibits the quality of the academic program in its API score. The API score for the 2006  testing period is 914. We continue to score at or above the Statewide Performance Target of 800. The Beckman Science program provides an exciting hands-on, inquiry-based science curriculum. Social Studies completes the well -rounded core curriculum. In addition to the rigorous core curriculum TOW emphasizes the arts in education in a variety of enrichment programs. Students learn about famous artists and create their own works of art based on the artist's style in our very popular Art Masters Program. This year students are learning about the life of composer Sergi Prokofiev through a series of assemblies sponsored by the Pacific Symphony. This Class Act Program helps instill an appreciation for classical music from the earliest grades through fifth grade. TOW also participates in a series of assemblies that emphaize the cultural arts sponsored by the Orange County Perfroming Arts Center Educational Foundation. A wide variety of educational field trips for each grade level ranges from an overnight trip aboard the Brig Pilgrim, related to the social sciene curriculum, to going back in time with a historical visit to the Kellogg Historical House Museum.

To extend the opportunity for students to thrive, TOW has developed a comprehensive after school program available to all students in grades 1-5. The PTA sponsors the after school program and provides scholarships to any student who needs assistance. At this time, over 70% of TOW students participate in the after school program which includes classes such as Garden Club, Academic Chess, Chorus, Story Telling, Art, Mad Science, Digital Animation, Digital Filmaking, Guitar, Violin, Drums, Computer Club, Drama, Musical Minds and many more. There is truly something for everyone in the after school program.

What makes TOW unique is the strong community spirit. Parent volunteers are present in classrooms in an incredible show of support for their children. Last year over 28,000 hours were donated to our school. TOW is a school where students truly know that they are nurtured and supported by all the adults in their lives.