Zamorano Fine Arts Academy

Zamorano Fine Arts Academy is an exciting and innovative place for children to learn and grow. My goal at Zamorano is to offer a school that always puts children first, maintains high academic standards and expectations, embodies a “family” type environment, and provides many enrichment opportunities for all of our students. Zamorano exemplifies all of these elements.

At Zamorano we believe that all children have the right to the best education possible. Zamorano is one of the highest scoring elementary schools in this area. We are proud of our students and their achievements. Our API scores reveal impressive gains over the last four years, beginning at 740 in 2003 and soaring to 827 in 2008. Zamorano Fine Arts Academy offers a strong instructional program to a widely diverse student population. We challenge all students to reach their highest potential.

As a fine arts magnet school--art and technology are important components. Children at Zamorano receive a myriad of artistic experiences integrated into their academic studies and are supportive of their learning. Students use their knowledge of the dynamic language of art to assist them in all of the content areas—especially math and science. Our instructional music program challenges all students.

Our mission at Zamorano is to have all of our administrators, staff, students, and parents work together to provide a positive and challenging school environment that supports learning at all levels. Professional development has been, and will always stay, at the forefront of everything we do to improve ourselves as educators. Four of our teachers are National Board Certified and we are all dedicated to the work of constant improvement in teaching and learning. The many awards and accolades we have received are a testament to that philosophy. Some of these awards are California Distinguished School 1993, Urban League’s Best Academic Practices Award, Title I Academic Achievement Award 2005-2006 and 2006-2007, and named to the 2008 California Business for Education Honor Roll.

Zamorano is a special school and we are fortunate to have an enthusiastic staff, wonderful facilities, high standards, excellent teaching, supportive parents, and most of all, outstanding students. It is a privilege and honor to serve as the principal of this high-performing California Distinguished Magnet School.

Marian Phelps
Principal