Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School - Thousand Oaks, CA

The Meadows Elementary campus had a forty-five year history of academic excellence, bolstered by a passion for the arts. Sadly, during the Great Recession, the local school district had to close the Meadows campus due to a district-wide decline in enrollment. The local community was heartbroken by the potential loss of its beloved neighborhood school, and the community was driven to action. Parents, community members, and teachers worked and fought tirelessly to reopen the Meadows campus as a conversion charter school. These enormous efforts resulted in the founding of Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School (MATES), which successfully opened its doors in 2009 as an independent, public charter elementary school.

Today, MATES is an award-winning school built on the original foundation of Meadows Elementary, which has grown and evolved to meet the demands of 21st century learning. As the school name indicates, the arts and technology are key components of the MATES curriculum. Thematic, project-based learning is infused with the arts and technology in order to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for life-long learning and academic success. This educational philosophy allows MATES students to make authentic connections across disciplines, making learning meaningful and long-lasting.

MATES continues to serve the original intention of the charter by providing a high-quality education, strengthened by the arts and technology, to the surrounding neighborhood and local community. The cornerstone of the MATES philosophy is based on a well-defined history of excellence at Meadows Elementary. The rich artistic and academic environment that has existed in the community for decades continues today at MATES.