Dry Creek Elementary School

Posted: January 14, 2024

I've been involved in 5 school districts in this area and dozens of elementary schools. I can honestly say, I have been impressed with our 4+ years at Dry Creek elementary. The school administration, teachers, and staff, all put in a noticable amount of effort in to provide a positive environment for students to grow both academically, physically, and socially. There's an impressive variety of activities for students to participate in. Chess club, student council, cultural events, sports, and many family oriented dances, movie nights, and an annual carnival. Every student has several opportunities to try new things. Parents can be as involved, or not involved, as they choose. The homework load has been low. Usually, the homework is an online program at the students individual level, a small amount of review, or any work that was not completed in class. For our family, it has not be an inordinate amount of homework. The best thing is that this school is always trying to improve. No school is perfect, every student has different talents and challenges, but this school does a great job helping students do their best.

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: January 14, 2024

Posted: April 19, 2023

My nephew went to Dry Creek for 2 years. Very much impressed especially the two teachers.

Posted: April 19, 2023

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Posted: March 3, 2022

My children like going to school ever since they started going to Dry Creek.
Dry Creek provides all round development for the students not just education.
I like the after school activities like Chess, Baseball, Basketball, track events etc., which I did not find in other schools in California.
Parents are really involved in making this a great school and the awards keep the Students motivated.
Only negative remark is the heavy homework. In a way it is preparing them for their tests however, I think lighter homework will help children spend more time with family.

Posted: March 3, 2022

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Posted: February 12, 2017

While not modeled by all the staff, there are awards for the pillars of character, lots of posters about them. There are many, not all, but many parents who have taught their children to behave well. Some teachers are so wonderful about them, that while not all teachers are respectful or know what kindness is, the wonderful teachers do teach them well and the children can fall back on those lessons.

Posted: February 12, 2017

This is the 2nd year of the current Principal. He likes to shmooz like a used car salesman and passes everything down to the GIS.

Posted: February 12, 2017

Have had a teacher who didn't believe in ADHD. They do everything to avoid a 504 plan. They don't help struggling students.

Posted: February 12, 2017

Bullying is rampant by a few students who receive almost no discipline. Hit a kid at recess? Be out on the playground for lunch. Get punched by a child at lunch? Tell a monitor and be told to avoid that child.

Posted: February 12, 2017

I'm very disappointed for choosing to go to Dry Creek Elementary. I wish we would have picked another school area. The Principal is a joke. He actually knows it, but doesn't care. He gets to be in charge. The school Constantly fundraises. Raised $50,000 from the jog-a-thon! With less than 900 kids! Then there is Square One art where the children complete a picture, usually a self portrait that get mades into mugs, stickers, pillowcases... Even though it's your child's art, they don't get to choose what they want to draw. 5 self portraits out of 6 years. I'm paying for my child's art. I don't want a self portrait, I want what they want to draw, and it's never been a self portrait. There's a "special" class picture for a required $10 donation, cookie dough sales for 6th graders, 2 book fairs where they take every class in with someone in the younger grades to write down the list of 5 books the child wants and the class returns a couple of days later to purchase books. So, if you don't have the money for books, your child will stand there and watch everyone else buy a book. At the end of the year, there is an adult only fundraiser to bid on baskets filled with items donated by parents for each class. They like to have about $500 or more of stuff, gift cards... in each basket. It costs $40 just to go to the fundraiser, and last year, I think they raised $57,000 but am not positive. There's the Christmas gift shop that they treat just like the book fair. Take a class in, write down what gifts your child wants to get grandma, uncle.. I bought a cheap, flimsy tool box, $10, for Daddy and actually found the exact one, same stickers, at the 99 cent store. Mentioned it after I saw it months later. Was told that was impossible. Umm, no. Exact one. They say it's not to make a profit, just for the kids, but when you actually go to the meetings and hear the accounting, a healthy profit is always made. But, the money is actually, legally, raised by the DC SPA. So the parent association is in charge of the money. Instead Cook has his hands in there and tells the Association what to do with it. Every year, the students with high AR points get a medallion. Not this year. Cook said there wasn't enough money. But the SPA has $75,000 in their account and won't pony up $300.

Posted: February 12, 2017

There is too much homework. Giving homework starts in K and gets too heavy by 3rd grade. They also just teach for State Tests. No State Test in 3rd grade for science? One full quarter of Science, and 3 full quarters of Social Studies.

Posted: February 12, 2017

There are some teachers that are worth their weight in gold. Others, they are collecting a paycheck while sitting at their desk eating snacks and lunch during class and talking on their cell phones. Unfortunately, that's not an exaggeration.

Posted: June 3, 2014

Dry Creek is a great school! The teachers are caring and challenging, always helping your child reach even higher standards.

Posted: March 15, 2014

We have appreciated the consistent leadership from Dry Creek's administration. They have a wonderful team of teachers. Our 4 children are placed with outstanding teachers each year. My kids are challenged academically, and have benefited from the creativity and commitment to teaching their instructors have. My kids are able to participate in after-school sports once they get into 4th grade, and in the 5th grade there is an opportunity to sign up for music. We even have an after-school chess program because of the dedication of a parent that is passionate about teaching the kids chess! DC is a unique school even within the CUSD school district in that our parents are really really involved - something that the teachers and administration appreciate and welcome. We are blessed to have this as our neighborhood school!

Posted: November 27, 2012

This school is the "WORST" elementary school my children attended. The teachers, the psychologist, the nurse and the principal just work there to get paid but, not because they care or have passion for the kids they served. It's sad to have professionals like them working with children.

Posted: June 25, 2012

They sometimes"parking lot" special needs children in an effort to mainstream at the rear of the class. Bullying is Zero Tolerance so they turn away from recognizing passive bullying or and sometimes outright torment.Not enough guards on the playground and out in the field. The main Principal hands a lot of things down to the 2nd rank Principal. Good school for athletic or highly intellectual students, but not enough care and support for the kids suffering with AD without and IEP, or the basic struggling student. I star to the Principals for turning away from facing bullying issues in the real world, not thier textbok definition..

Posted: June 24, 2012

Dry Creek Elementary is an excellent school with great teachers, aides, support staff, office staff, Principal, Vice Principal, and very active parents. I am actively involved in volunteering at the school in both of my children's classrooms, so I see a lot of what goes on in the classroom and on the playground. I have a special ed child that just transferred in from Cole Elementary (another excellent school). There were definitely some adjustments needed for his curriculum and socialization into a mainstream school. However, I felt the school was very quick and responsive to issues as they came up and have resolved the problems quickly and as well as possible given the circumstances. There are still some improvements that can be made with educating ALL of the children about tolerance, acceptance, and diversity. However, I feel that as these problems arise, the school quickly gets to the bottom of what the problem is and deals with it appropriately with the resources that they have. Keep up the great work Dry Creek!!!

Posted: April 19, 2012

Couldn't be more unhappy with a school. My child cries frequently and says her teacher yells in the classroom when there are no other adults around. After months of tears and frustration with a child that once excelled now struggling, I spoke with the principal. He told me that she is a good teacher and he doesn't believe it is true. I have spoken with other parents who have informed me that their children say the exact same thing. The principal was too busy being defensive and protective to hear me out. It is concerning to me that he wouldn't believe that this is possible. Sometimes even good teachers make mistakes. I wasn't expecting him to march in there and fire her, but acknowledging that there may be a problem and working towards a solution would be better than denial. I am NOT a complainer or difficult parent. I spend time in the classroom and I do my part. I am disappointed in this school. Very disappointed. My children are moving to a different school next year.