Solano Elementary is coping with budget cuts. (Photo by LeTania Kirkland)

Despite state budget cuts and more expected in coming years, the staff at Solano Avenue Elementary School says it is determined to provide students with a sense of normalcy this school year. 

The school tries to encourage high expectations among its students. In the hall is a group photo of last year's graduating students, with a description of the university they hope to attend linked to each child. Many of Solano's students have gone on college and come back to their old school, said school coordinator Shannon Garrison. 

Solano is a single building between downtown Los Angeles and Elysian Park. With a student population just over 260, half don't speak English as a first language and many come from low-income families. 

Despite these challenges, Solano has earned the title of "California distinguished school," most recently in 2006. The school's Academic Performance Index score ranked 19th in the entire district. The API was developed to rank the academic performance and growth of individual schools based on statewide testing.

"The kids come first," said Garrison, who was formerly a teacher at Solano but joined the school administration as a "coordinator" for this academic year.

The school was able to offset some budget cuts with $260,000 of federal and state funds, said Principal Richard Hickcox. Solano saved after-school programs to help students with homework and individual subject areas.

And when the district proposed he oversee two schools simultaneously to save money, parents approached the school board in opposition and the proposal was dropped.

Community involvement has helped continue existing programs. The school is affiliated with the Los Angeles Theatre Academy, which has worked with students to develop plays inspired by the social studies curriculum. The Chinatown Optimist Club also sponsors an annual oratorical contest. The L.A. Dodgers has sponsored Solano under the "Adopt a School" program, providing new computers and office equipment. 

But the administration made sacrifices such as increased class size, cutting library aid hours and forgoing professional development programs for teachers, Garrison said. Most classes have increased from 20 to 24 students.

"That doesn't sound like a lot," she said, but it can affect a teacher's ability to provide individual attention to students.

With a larger class size, a teacher will have a harder time tailoring lessons for certain students like providing pictures or a video clip for students who learn visually or a hands-on activity for other students, she explained.

While Solano is trying to minimize damage from budget cuts, Hickcox fears more cuts in the coming year. And if there's no additional federal aid then, "people will be hurting," he said.