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Palomar Mountain School is San Diego County's last operating one-room schoolhouse. It barely escaped the October wildfires, but now mounting political and economic pressures may threaten its existence. In this first of two reports, KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis gives us a glimpse of life at the school.
Palomar Mountain School is a small white building tucked under a bed of pine trees on top of Palomar Mountain. Seven kids go to the school.
Students: I pledge allegiance, to the flag….
This year's class is made up of three eighth graders, three elementary school kids, and one kindergartner. No one lost their homes to the fires. Mrs. Armstrong is their teacher. She gives me some quick introductions.
Armstrong: This is Dylan, this is Aaron.
Tintocalis: And who's this guy?
Armstrong: That's Alexander. Alexander is in second grade this year.
Tintocalis: And hi. Hi.
Armstrong: And this Madeline. She's our kindergartner this year.
Tintocalis: I drew a picture for you.
Armstrong: Thank You!
The schoolhouse room is divided in half by an imaginary line. The eighth graders split off and go to one side and the elementary school kids go to the other. One corner is especially for Madeline, or Maddy. It's her own colorful play area complete with toys, paint and children's books.
Mrs. Armstrong teaches five different grade levels under one roof.
Armstrong: I don't really have an opportunity to get up and give direct instruction, as you would in a traditional school because we have so many different grade levels. So my instruction would look more like sitting down one-on-one with a student. Going over whatever lesson they're working on that day. So you're moving around a lot.
Mrs. Armstrong says organization is the key to making sure each student follows a daily lesson plan because its up to each student to work on assignments independently.
Student: Yeah we follow our own schedule and if we need help and she's busy, we'll either wait patiently or ask Mrs. Baker.
Rose Baker is the teaching assistant, but she's also the nurse, custodian, secretary and lunch lady! At the moment, she's warming up some snacks in the schoolhouse kitchenette. She says kids here are more than students.
Baker: Yeah they're like your own -- you just can't help but to get really close. They're like family. Jessie here has been here since kinder - she's like my other daughter. And I don't ever remember that when I was in the city.
The kids also form tight bonds. They tutor each other, provide moral support and even take turns babysitting Maddy during lunch and recess.
Today, its Aaron's turn to watch her.
Aaron: We have to help her everyday, for a lot of things. Like she could get hurt or fall off the slide, yeah so we have to watch her, play with her, so she doesn't get bored.
For five decades the one-room schoolhouse has served the tiny community of Palomar Mountain. The October wildfires burned some parts of the mountain, but the summit was untouched. This rural, mostly undeveloped area is home of the Palomar Observatory, federal and state parks, and a Christian retreat center.
The families who choose to live out here prefer not to drive an hour down the mountain to another school. Parents also treasure this schoolhouse because their kids get personalized instruction. Mrs. Armstrong says kids who come from bigger schools excel here.
Armstrong: I know exactly what each student needs. And I can modify the lesson to meet their learning styles.
But Armstrong says the number of kids who come to the school is shrinking - from 30 kids about a decade ago to now just the seven this year. As a result, state funding to keep Palomar open is drying up. The school is operating in the red this year. The community has raised money to pay for computers and field trips, but parents say they can't help but worry about the future.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
