Almond Acres Charter Academy board president and co-founder Jill Ogorsolka, right, and first-grader Natalie Gutierrez cut an eight-stranded ribbon Monday to celebrate the opening of the San Miguel school.

More than 150 students are enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade at Almond Acres, on the grounds of Lillian Larsen Elementary School, according to Erin Colegrove, outreach coordinator at the charter school. Classes started Aug. 20.

A group of parents, educators and community members had hoped to open the school in Paso Robles, but the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District rejected their proposal in February 2011. The San Miguel Joint Unified School District board approved Almond Acres’ charter in December.