Welcome to the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School (LTESMS)!

Our school is located approximately four and a half miles west of the City of South Lake Tahoe. Situated in El Dorado County, Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School is one of four elementary schools in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. The enrollment for kindergarten through grade five is currently 380 students, taught by sixteen teachers. The current ratio of student to teacher is approximately 20:1 in grades K-3 and 30:1 in grades 4 and 5.

The LTESMS was established in September 2005 to provide project-based, thematic, interactive instruction using environmental themes and technology articulated through the grade levels to foster life-long stewardship of the environment and to assist students to achieve their maximum potential in their academic, social, and civic development.

Our program is open to all K-5 students, space allowing, in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District including English Language Learners, Special Education and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) students. Preppie Kindergarten is a program for children who are eligible for regular kindergarten (student is five on or before December 2 of the current school year) but whose birthday is later in the year (usually Aug-Dec) and whose parent/guardian would like a “bonus year”. These “preppies” are mixed in with a regular kinder class, follow the same daily schedule, but have academic accomodations that are developmentally appropriate. They will then go on to “regular” kindergarten in the following school year.

Each year our kindergarten classes are made based on a lottery system. If you currently have a student here or you work for the District, your kinder automatically gets in. If not, you must get your child on the list between Jan-March of the year they turn 5 (but they must be 5 before Dec 2). The lottery is typically held the first week of April.

The LTESMS is housed in the former location of “Meyers Elementary School,” which closed its doors in June 2004 due to a decline in the student population of the District.

There is tremendous support and commitment from parents and the community. Parents support their students and school by assisting in classroom and field trip learning activities. The PTA and the School Site Council share strong parental leadership and participation. Many parents also contribute by donating time and sharing their expertise and special interests.

Our mission statement is “Every Day is Earth Day” and the Motto for Success is “Be the Best You Can Be” (John Wooden). Mr. Comlossy’s 5th grade class participated and won the Jiminy Cricket’s Environmentality Statewide Challenge in 2006. In addition, they were selected as finalists in the 2007 contest and tied for first in the state in 2010! His classes continue to compete most school years.

The Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School, is a “School of Choice” where parents and students having an interest in environmental science and/or technology have demonstrated their support by participating at the school. LTESMS offers state-of-the-art technology in a unique geographical setting in which to study and participate in environmental science educational opportunities. The Title V funding for innovative programs provides funding for field trips, which is necessary for field work when participating in local governmental agency projects.

Training and curriculum activities tailored to the school are essential for maintaining and improving our instructional program. Teachers receive increased educational opportunities in differentiated instruction to meet individual needs. They utilize technology as a part of, and to supplement, grade level content standards. Students and teachers use the Internet to access current in depth science (life, earth and physical) information and basic skills reinforcement.

Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School, which has a secondary focus on technology, has invested a large amount in the purchase of mobile laptop computers, and SmartBoard technology. The school has one SmartBoard in each K-5 classroom with Internet access, along with 150 mobile laptops for classroom use. For the 10/11 school year we started integrating Netbooks into the curriculum. Netbooks are thin, lightweight (3 lbs or less), ultra-portable computers with a screen size of 12″” or less operating on an ultra low power processor. Each teacher rotates use of laptops in order to integrate technology with grade level standards. The school is wireless, which provides an environment for integrating laptops in a variety of classroom situations.

We welcome all visitors to our school, but please stop in the school office first, to sign in.