An unknown donor has given Vistamar School, a co-ed independent high school serving the Los Angeles area, a matching grant of $1.6 million.
The school said that "each new campaign contribution that it receives in 2010 will be matched, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, by a gift to the school’s endowment for financial access."
Vistamar, which serves ninth to 12th graders, said that endowment monies are set aside for financial access awards, and are supported by pledges from philanthropic groups and individuals to provide opportunities to potential students who would not be able to afford the school’s tuition.
"A vigorous financial access program ensures that Vistamar’s ability to enroll the strongest students is not restricted by their family finances," said Jim Buckheit, head of school. "That’s how we’ve been able to develop a school culture where civility, achievement, and respect for diversity are norms."
In its fifth year, Vistamar School said it has graduated 49 students who have enrolled in competitive higher education institutions throughout world.
The school owns the building it operates out of and continues to add classrooms and facilities as it grows.
The next phase of construction, planned for the summer of 2010, is aimed at bumping the capacity of the school to enroll more students from its current enrollment of 204 students to about 300, with an eye toward a maximum of 384 students. The construction will add classrooms, labs and more so as to keep class sizes consistent with current levels, even as enrollment grows.
This matching grant is the third major endowment gift Vistamar has received since it incorporated in 2002 and will bring its total endowment to $6.6 million.
