Manzanita Elementary School

This school has disappointed me this year. All of my kids have attended this school in the past and I must say the teachers are great, maybe not all but most. This year alot of things changed with the new principal which I have nothing good to say about, he is just definitely out of the question, no parent communication, and the office staff much less professional than past years. This school totally forgot they had parents coming from the south side of 39th Ave therefore they decided not to allow us to make a left turn into the school, so how are we supposed to get in to the school to drop off children. I guess gas prices, mileage, and time is not there problem. They even got a cop to cite everybody coming into the school from the south side that had to make that left turn in order to get in. Sad to say but this school doesn't care about parents or students that much. With all the inconvenience I have to go thru just to drop off and pick up my kids every day, I and alot of other parents living south of the school will be moving our children to different school even if we have to carpool.
--Submitted by a parent

Some may say good things about this school, maybe when your child/children attended this school a few years back it was different. my personal experience with my kids at this school with in a one years time isnt good. Ive had my childrens bullied, had my child come home to tell me that a teacher/staff at the school told them to trash there lunch, I dont get free lunch for my kids, I buy and pack my children lunch daily for school. Ive had my children not wanting to attend school anymore. If you really care about your child/children education and needs please find another school beside Manzanita, the staff at the front never answer the phone, the Principal himself is a JOKE...The teachers dont make time for Parent conference when you want to attend one...also your not allowed to disturb your child education...meaning u cant just show up and visit there classroom, look back and my parents used to visit my classroom,also their is alot of lack of communication and parent involvement is very low,he only time they ask for parent involvement is when the school decides to sell hotdogs,burgers and such,who knows what happens to that fund because the fliers my children bring back dont say.
--Submitted by a parent

I happen to love this schgol. I have read all kinds of negatives here and have to wonder where these parents are? I know they are not involved much with the PTO or school functions. How do I know this? Because I am involved in every aspect I can be involved in. So where are you? As for the teachers, they are ALL exceptional. They truly care about their students and go out of their way to help. My child is a special needs student and gets FANTASTIC care and consideration there! They are AWESOME!!
--Submitted by a parent

So there is a problem the way the students are schooled if you consider that 40 children in one class and one teacher teaching the class then it would seem that the gap is huge where is the homework ahhhhhhhhh where does this school rank ! All the parents who have a children there be aware.
--Submitted by a parent

i am a parent who have had nothing but fantastic parent teacher and also principal communication. i love this school and my children have had nothing but excellent teachers . and one awesome basketball team as well as coach.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has been a big disappointment. The quality of academic programs in the school is below standards for children with speacial needs and especially with acedemics in reading-writing. We were involved with several meetings with the LD teachers, principal and district too, this ended with discouraging results. Our observation the teachers seemed to misuse/abuse the make your day program and there was lack of professionalism with this group as well. I can really relate to the other posts from concerned parents.
--Submitted by a parent

The quality of academic programs in the school is definitely substandard-especially math. Keep on top of your children to ensure that they don't get behind. The extracurricular activities are very limited in comparison with other schools-even schools within the same district. The parental involvement is low. We have been very involved, including several meetings with the principal and the district, and only got results because we pressed for them. Our children have complained of multiple incidences with several teachers in regards to the teachers behavior. There is definitely a lack of professionalism with some of them. On a good note, there are a handful of awesome teachers! Other than that, I would have never bought our home in this neighborhood if I knew then what I know now-I feel like we cheated our kids on their education.
--Submitted by a parent

I think that quality of academic is low especially in math, there is little or no encouragement for parents to be actively involved.
--Submitted by a parent

I think manazinta focused more on discpine of chilrdren than focusing on reading. Make sure you stay on them for your childs sake
--Submitted by a parent

My children went to Manzanita for most of their elementary careers. I moved two of them once. Both times they chose to go back. I did not like the discipline techniques used and ofcourse the new nclba has made teaching more difficult in that teachers focus on testing rather than core knowledge development.
--Submitted by a parent