The nonprofit private Spring Hill school has come back strongly from a fire that destroyed $400,000 of its buildings.
After spending time in portable classrooms, the remodel is complete and the school is back for the long term, despite rumors to the contrary.
"While our facility was being renovated, our commitment to a 'whole-child based curriculum continued to grow," said Silvie Hill, the principal.
Rumors that it wouldn't recover worried some parents who feared it would cut enrollment. "We are hoping to clear the confusion and inform our community that our non-profit Santa Cruz school is gearing-up for recovery and growth," said parent Renata Russo.
What makes this school different is that students work at their own level. A first grader can take math with a third grader, if they are on the same academic level. The school also features activities that some schools have abandoned in waves of budget cuts, such as art, drama, music and phys ed. After school programs include Lego Robotics, chess, gymnastics and sports.
The school, at 250 California St., was founded in 1977 as the Popper-Keizer School for the Gifted and in 1996 changed its name to Spring Hill - The Advanced Elementary School of Santa Cruz, settling in 2008 for Spring Hill School, Advanced K-8 Education.
Parents pay nearly $14,000 a year to send their kids there and there are 14 teachers and two administrators for 156 students.
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