Santa Margarita Elementary School

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Posted: August 14, 2024

Attended this school for 2 years, the principal wasn’t not helpful on any concerns we had. Played favorites, didn’t follow regulations for health and food safety. My child was very good and would get written up if they weren’t running fast enough to line up. I have another child who went there and these write ups affected them to high school. If another child was physical or inappropriate the principal would not hear our concern and made my child feel like they were in trouble, taking from their class time. The class sizes had 32 kids, way too large of a class for one teacher. They tried to split up the kids who needed more help and made them feel left out and behind more. No structure, I would have been better off homeschooling since we mostly did that anyways due to the lack of daily interaction with each student. The programs being offered like free lunch were not helpful due to the rude lunch lady who would make my child go to the back of the line if they forgot the lunch number. Very discouraging. Would not recommend champions either, teachers will not help your child open any snacks if they tried to open it with their mouth, even though they are kids just trying to figure it out themselves. There’s some clubs your student could join, those could be fun, but due to the other issues, we never wanted to stay long, discouraging staff.
They will write your child up and blame the child for being late instead of hearing the parent. I’ve heard staff in the office tell children to SHH and be quiet when they were hurt from being forced to sit outside and eat lunch off the ground on the hot blacktop in May. Used a thermometer to measure the ground was reading 100 degrees. Way too hot and exhausting for children, also unclean. The bathrooms will be closed and kids won’t know why, my child wasn’t able to use the restroom and I had to ask why they were closed, staff said to go to the office. Our children are supposed to have more than one facility. This school try’s to get away with little things throughout the year that completely are inhumane. Hopefully a new principal could come in and help soon. Would not return my child there until there’s changes for the better of the children we are raising.

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

Posted: August 13, 2023

This school is terrible. The staff does not follow CA Education code laws. There is no counselor on staff. The principal plays favorites and brushes everything under the rug. The office staff and the teachers are completely unprofessional. My child talked about her teachers personal life more than what she was supposed to be learning in class. We moved into this district during my child’s last year of elementary so I tried to make a transfer but was denied because the school district wasn’t allowing changes after Covid. I would have done home schooling if I had known how bad it was going to be.

Posted: March 11, 2023

There are 31 children in the kindergarten class! I have been appalled by the lack of attention the administration pays to class sizes.
There is ONE counselor who comes to the school for 4 hours a week. So, if you have a kiddo who might be struggling in a post-Covid era. Good luck, go and hire someone yourself.
No music teacher on staff, no art teacher on staff, no PE teacher on staff. If I had a choice my children would have gone somewhere else.

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: March 11, 2023

Posted: May 15, 2019

Our experience with this school has been fantastic. The principle is very hands on and it is obvious she cares deeply about each of her students and teachers. She is great about communicating with us as parents and quick to resolve any issues that come up with our kids in the classroom or on the playground. Bullying is absolutely not tolerated and kindness is encouraged every day at this school.

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: March 7, 2018

Posted: March 7, 2018

Posted: March 7, 2018

Posted: March 7, 2018

Posted: March 7, 2018

The leadership at this school is sub par to say the least. My child was horribly bullied here and the principal Mrs. Porter did nearly nothing. She had a "talking to" to the bully but brushed it off because she knew the bully since he was a kid and couldn't believe it was "that bad". The only way it was resolved was when I went to the parents of the bully myself and it turned out Mrs Porter never even told the parents! The parents were horrified and together we fixed the situation.

Posted: March 7, 2018

Posted: March 7, 2018

Posted: October 12, 2014

My children have attended this school for 3 years now and it has only continued to go down hill. The school curriculum is a joke. The "common core" is only hindering children's ability to learn & make discerning thought processes. "Lambie the Lamb says Baaaa.... the letter 'A' says AAAA". whatever happened to A is for apple? This has confused students & isolated adults from being able to help their own children. Everything I see come home from my kids is BACKWARDS thinking & ridiculous. How is it that we hold a Masters Degree yet can't figure out their idiotic teaching methods? I am very disappointed in this school. The curriculum is a joke & the timeline of class schedules is equally irritating. Children who are in different classes require parents to pickup/drop off at random times. I have to drive to that school 4 times a day! This makes my family and toddler suffer throughout the week to accommodate their ill planned schedule. Plus, parking is a nightmare. The new principal has parents picking kids up in the BACK of the school in a PARKING LOT. As we are waiting in our HOT CARS in the sun, we wait for our kids & navigate around children who RUN in the parking lot. DANGEROUS!

Posted: October 27, 2013

We love this school. It is small and the teachers and staff really pay individual attention to the children in the classes. Because of the small size of the school they are able to have a few special programs like the organic garden and the Learning Among the Oaks program which are exceptional. It is a small country school with exceptional teaching staff.

Posted: October 27, 2013

I have two children that attend Santa Margarita Elementary School. They both love to get up to go to school every morning. The school is wonderful. It has a small hometown feeling. The principal is very caring. I always see her helping out around the school whether it is in the classrooms, on the playground, or helping the kids cross the street.

Posted: October 26, 2013

First year of Common Core at Santa Margarita Elementary. Kids are adjusting and so far so good. I think it is an improvement for sure.

Posted: May 2, 2012

Our daughter has gone to this school since she was in preschool. Most of the teachers are excellent. Mrs. L, Mrs. G, stand out for us. I hope they are paid well. There is one teacher though that we don't care for at all. While I wish I could elaborate I won't. Her last name starts with a W. Now I should clarify: there are two teachers whose last names start with a W. The one I'm referring to does "home schooling" - (yes at school). Not a good teacher in my opinion. Anyway, besides this fly in the ointment, the school is great, has beautiful grounds and we and our daughter love it.

Posted: October 8, 2010

It's in my town and I'm a retired school nurse and I love kids !