Valencia Elementary School

My daughter is going to this school for her k& 1st year and then moved to Sonora for her next 2 years and when she came back ... they were so WONDERFUL ... the teachers new what was going on .. they new where to sit the good and needing work kids ... they also new that i am a working mother and helped with my schedule to be apart of my daughters ... schooling helped me help her advance ... now my daughter reads above her grade level and is excellent in math and science ... AND LEARNS and loves a lot with her after school program ... i LOVE THIS school ... and she is not afraid to ask for help the teachers are so inviting ... to her ... and that is what i love a lot ...
--Submitted by a parent

I've been amazed at how quickly and how much my children have learned at Valencia. My kindergartner is reading, my 2nd grader is a math whiz (add/subtract/multiply/word problems and much more). I believe many of the teachers go way over and above what is expected. They obviously enjoy what they do and make learning fun and engaging. They offer an arts program, choir, PE, computers, library time and other weekly perks. The principal and custodian seem to know every child by name. Class sizes are large but so is parental involvement which helps the success of every student. They take bullying seriously and teach kids how to behave respectfully. My only 2 complaints are that the school starts too early: 7:45 (and hence lets out too early) and the school lunches aren't the healthiest (but the kids do seem to like them). I highly recommend this school for the teachers, staff and community. And also another perk, the parents are NICE and not overly competitive with their kids' successes.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school set back among the redwoods, excellent committed teachers, dedicated hardworking parent club, new fully accessible playground for kids with disabilities, 2 computer labs, teachers using smart boards & more technology to come, arts education, and site improvement in the works! Valencia is a great public school option.
--Submitted by a parent

the most beautiful location for an elementary school. teachers, admin, students, home & school club all rock!
--Submitted by a parent

dedicated teachers, great parent involvement, and diverse community of students

I agree that the principal & teachers at Valencia are very caring and everyone knows my child. But I have been disappointed in the curriculum. My daughter has spent K and 1st grade there and it is a bare-bones education - reading & math only. Important, of course! - but there is no science, history, or music! dksljdflj taught to these little ones! Not only In both K and 1st grade there are entire afternoons spent watching TV cartoon videos and reading cartoon storybooks. I find this very disappointing since there is so much great material out there for kids. I have been supplementing her education at home so much that I'm considering private school or homeschooling now.
--Submitted by a parent

I was extremely impressed with my son's first year at Valencia. The level of parental involvement is outstanding, his teacher was fabulous, the principal is omnipresent! She stands outside managing the traffic as children are dropped off, is outside during recess, and oversees the children as they get on the buses. Every teacher I have met personally is extremely caring, nurturing, and supportive. I feel fortunate that we are in this district! Comments: I wish there were more children of color, but that reflects our community makeup; and I would especially like to see a better racial mix of teachers and staff members in the future. Also, it's sad that the budget does not allow for a robust music program. In my day every child who wanted to started learning instruments in school at age seven!
--Submitted by Sheryl, a parent

Our children attended a local Christian private school here in Aptos and we thought they would be ahead of this school when they transferred. Wrong! This school's academics program is superior and the environment here is fantastic for the overall development of our children. I kick myself for paying tuition the past years when I could have had a better school here.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. I cannot say enough about it. The teachers expect parent involvement which is surprising and slightly frustrating if you are busy, but the result ends up being a well connected faculty and parent body as well as well behaved children due to the actual ratio of students to adults being better because of parent participation. This school was recently grades as one of the top 5% in California and I can see why.
--Submitted by Tim Dodson, a parent

As a kindergarten parent, we haven't had the opportunity yet to join sports or music or art classes or clubs, but I have observed excellent academic standards and progress as well as a high level of parent involvement. I can't wait to have my child continue in Valencia.
--Submitted by Kim Schmidt, a parent