School's 2003 Highlights

The school's Academic Performance Index growth target was 734 points. The actual performance was 765; an improvement of 31 points. This is the first year that Gordon J. Lau Elementary School was identified as eligible to apply for California's Distinguished Schools honors. The school was determined to be eligible based upon its No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress and state Academic Performance Index (API) 2003 results.

The school's academic achievement is due to the total school staff's commitment and dedication to its students.   Parents are important partners in a child's education. The ongoing communication between parents and teachers help to keep the partnership vital.

The school's unit, "Don't RAMble Around, Stay in School" won 1st Place (community parade unit category)in the 2003 Chinese New Year Parade.

School's Contributions

$8,400 to United Way re September 11th (the most contributed by any school in the Bay Area).

2, 261 pounds of food to the San Francisco Food Bank (the most contributed by any school in the Bay Area).

Every Penny Counts campaign
Children's Clothing to the San Francisco Social Services Department's Foster Children Program

The Four Names of the Gordon J. Lau Elementary School:
1859 – Present Period

1859–1906 The Chinese School
Chinese children were assigned to a school for only Chinese students; they were not permitted into any other public schools in San Francisco.

1906–1924 The Oriental School
The school was renamed so that in addition to Chinese students Korean and Japanese students could be assigned to this school as well.

1924–1998 Commodore Stockton School
The school was renamed after an American naval officer, Commodore Stockton, who ordered the sale of the property of Mexican landowners and the money used to build public schools in California.

1998 – Present Gordon J. Lau School
The school was renamed after an outstanding Chinese American who was a community leader and a civil rights pioneer in San Francisco.