Santa Monica Alternative School House


The Santa Monica Alternative School House is an alternative school in Southern California that was founded in 1973 to emphasize "non-authoritarian, non-competitive, non-sexist methods". Originally serving grades Kindergarten through 12th, SMASH downgraded to a Kindergarten through middle school curriculum in the late 1980s. In 2005–2006, SMASH had 193 students enrolled in grades K-8.
SMASH is a school in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. They use a constructivist approach to learning that provides opportunities for students to "take ownership of their education".
The school divides classes into "cores" of mixed age grouping which allow for mentoring and a strongly interconnected curriculum and community. Core 1 consists of kindergartners, first and second graders. Core 2 consists of third and fourth graders. Core 3 consists of fifth and sixth graders, and Core 4 of seventh and eighth graders.