Garvey School DistrictProviding a premier education in a 21st century learning environment to develop tomorrow's responsible leaders.

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VISION
Providing a premier education in a 21st century learning environment to develop tomorrow's responsible leaders.

MISSION
The students of the Garvey School District will learn academic skills, moral and ethical values and a respect for diversity that will enable them to be life-long learners and productive members of a global society.
 
GSD
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 
CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS AWARDEES
This award honors outstanding education programs and practices in elementary and intermediate schools, including teaching, learning, collaboration, and data-driven school efforts ranging from professional development to positive behavior intervention. Elementary schools and middle schools are recognized in alternate years.
  • Garvey Intermediate School - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2021)
  • Temple Intermediate School - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2021)
  • Bitely Elementary - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2020)
  • Monterey Vista Elementary - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2020)
  • Rice Elementary School - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2020)
  • Monterey Vista Elementary - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2018)
  • Monterey Vista Elementary - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2014)
  • Willard Elementary - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2014)
  • Hillcrest Elementary - California Distinguished Schools Awardee (2012) 
 
TITLE I ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEES
This award honors Title I schools that have demonstrated success in significantly closing the achievement gap between high and low-performing students, and making significant progress toward proficiency on California's academic content standards in school. 
  • Monterey Vista Elementary - Title I Academic Achievement Awardee (2014)
  • Willard - Title I Academic Achievement Awardee (2014)
  • Dewey Elementary - Title I Academic Achievement Awardee (2013)
  • Sanchez Elementary - Title I Academic Achievement Awardee (2012)
  • Willard Elementary - Title I Academic Achievement Awardee (2011)
  • Monterey Vista Elementary - Title I Academic Achievement Awards Awardee (2009)
 
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AWARDEES
This prestigious award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that close achievement and opportunity gaps and where students achieve high learning standards. 
  • Monterey Vista Elementary - National Blue Ribbon School (2020) 
 
GSD
HISTORY
ABOUT RICHARD GARVEY
Richard Garvey was born in Ireland in 1838.  He immigrated to this country in 1850 at the age of 12. During the Civil War days, he was active in riding the Pony Express with Lucky Baldwin.  He married Theresa Mooney in 1884, who died at the young age of 22, leaving one son, Richard Garvey, Jr.
 
In 1890 there were approximately 15 children living in the area that is now the Garvey School District; however, there was no school in existence at that time.  Richard Garvey, Sr., visited the County Board of Supervisors at this time and requested the organization of a school district for educational purposes.  He later contributed land for the first school.
 
GARVEY SCHOOL (EST. 1894)
In 1892, land (330’ x 264’) was set aside for Garvey School. From 1892 to 1894, a petition was filed for a school. While awaiting action on the petition, the first teacher, Miss Alica McCollum, was provided for forty children. Classes were held in the granary on the Garvey Ranch, somewhere near the present corner of New and Garvey Avenues. 
 
On March 30, 1894, the petition was approved and Garvey School District was officially formed. Work began almost immediately on a two-room structure on the grounds donated by Mr. Garvey at the corner of Garvey and Hellman (now Jackson).
LIST OF SCHOOLS AND YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT

The district continued to grow and schools were added:

  • Richard Garvey School - 1892 (Est 1894)
  • Frances Willard School - 1924
  • John Marshall School - 1924
  • Monterey Vista School - 1926
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson School - 1927
  • Fern School (now Temple) - 1950
  • Dan T. Williams School - 1958 (named for a former Superintendent)
  • Hillcrest School - 1961
  • Margaret Duff School - 1965 (named for a former Principal)
  • Dewey School - 1965
  • Eldridge Rice School - 1967 (named for a former Superintendent)
  • Arlene Bitely School - 1986 (named for a former Board Member)
When the district moved to the intermediate configuration, Fern School was divided into two plants— Fern Intermediate and Fern Elementary. In 1989 Fern Intermediate School was renamed for Roger Temple, a longtime teacher, principal and superintendent who passed away that same year.  Later, Fern Elementary was renamed after George I. Sanchez, well-known sociologist and writer who was a leading reformer of bilingual education.

 

The Garvey family was generous in donating land and money to the area. They have no heirs. Richard Garvey, Sr., and his family have been laid down to rest at the Garvey Mausoleum located in Calvary Cemetery (corner of Garvey and Jackson) in Los Angeles.

GARVEY SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY

A little school district that began with 15 students and one classroom has grown to over 5,000 students serving students from 8 months old to Grade 8. Garvey School District currently operates nine elementary schools and two Grade 7 to Grade 8 intermediate schools.

 

The headquarters for Garvey School District is located at 2730 Del Mar Avenue, Rosemead, CA 91770. The District includes more than 5,000 students from diverse backgrounds, predominantly Asian and Latin American. The District serves the southern portion of the city of Rosemead, parts of the cities of Monterey Park, San Gabriel, and unincorporated community of South San Gabriel.

 

Monterey Vista and Hillcrest elementary schools are located in the city of Monterey Park, while Dewey Avenue Elementary school is located in the city of San Gabriel. All other schools in the district are located in the city of Rosemead.

 

 

Learn more about Richard Garvey and the Garvey School District: 

Garvey School's Early Publication, 'The Broadcaster' Newsletter (June 17, 1932)
Garvey School's early publication, "The Broadcaster" newsletter (June 17, 1932)
Learn more: 
The Historical Museum of Monterey Park
Open Saturday and Sunday afternoons (between 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
781 S. Orange Ave., Monterey Park, CA 91754