Santa Rosa Technology Magnet School

I have two sons at this school and this is the 2nd year they attend SRTMS. This school has provided my sons with an academically challenging environment and it is well worth the drive out of our area. I am especially happy with the middle school curriculum. I have compared other schools and did quite a bit of research before deciding to register my sons at this school and have not been disappointed thus far. I have found that my 7th grader uses his laptop at all times and submits majority of his work electronically. He has been able to take advantage of electives such as French and Robotics, I have found very limited choices at other middle schools for electives due to budget cuts. The Robotics class this year is introducing a programming language called Scratch. i feel that the laptop fee is a small price to pay when you consider the advantages at this school. To this day i don't recall having to pay for any of the field trips. My 3rd grader has a great teacher this year and is doing great as well. This school has provided a safe, non bullying environment for my sons to learn.
--Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, this school is billed out as a technology magnet. The kids from grades 6 to 8 lug around a laptop that they use for email and word. Occasionally they use the internet for research. They charged the current class $500 a year ($1500) for a laptop worth $200. They have finally changed for a netbook. Which will be much better because there is not a thing "technical " about what they do!!! The PTA recently used designated "laptop" funds to make an $80,000 dirt track. So if you send your child here realize that technical and computer savvy are not what you are getting. Academically, they score well -but we will see when they enter High School how well prepared they really are.
--Submitted by a parent

All of my children are happy to go to school and happy when the day is through!
--Submitted by a parent

We are new to SRTMS. The curriculum is exactly the same as all PVSD schools as they all follow the State of California's guidelines. That is where the comparison ends. The DEPTH at which the students learn the aforementioned curriculum is much greater here. My son was bored stiff and frustrated with students at his previous PVSD school. In just his first week at SRTMS he was challenged as never before. Additionally, his workload has increased as well as the expectations placed on him. He is now in a class with many students that are high level achievers and is forced to pay attention to keep up. To the person who wrote that this school is better because it is affluent, you are nuts! Camarillo is one of the wealthiest cities in California. Most kids in any school here can afford those programs.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers and curriculum are definitely average, and there are some terrible teachers at this school! So, why is the API higher than other PVSD schools? MOST of the families at SRTMS are supplementing the public curriculum with Kumon or some other private academic enrichment program. The families of SRTMS students are affluent and able to financially provide supplemental programs. Without this, the school would be no different than any other PVSD school, and quite possibly worse. Don't be fooled by the API scores!
--Submitted by a parent

My child went down over 100 points from 6th grade on his star score. Pleasant Valley seems to place the teachers it cannot place anywhere else -so just beware. Some grades are better than others,
--Submitted by a parent

Had two kids attending SRTMS and left for many reasons, some not b/c of the school itself. While it is impressive how many parents are involved, some of them seem to rule the school and get special treatment over other families from teachers and faculty. In my experience, principal seems to put teachers first, then parent, then student - a bit backwards and quite frustrating when you have a real issue to deal with. There are many great teachers there and some not so great. And no matter how many complain, the not so great ones seem to always get a pass. Principal seems to be a better fit for Middle School than Elementary. Pretty good academic school but for a technology school, lacking a bit.
--Submitted by a parent

We are a K-8 school that cares deeply about each individual student. One School, one family.
--Submitted by a teacher

I think Santa Rosa Tech Magnet School K-8 is the best because although it's a small school compared to the much larger student body count of other schools in the same district, the staff is friendlier, closer to the students and parents. The kids don't get lost in the shuffle. Each and everyone of them is noticed and cared for. The parents are very involved and kids from all over the county come to SRTMS to be a part of the SRTMS family.

I believe the best way to improve the public school system is to provide alternatives and allow parents to choose. The many parents that drive their kids MILES to SRTMS is testimony to the superior program offered there. From its origins as a one-room school house for Norwegain farmers to the only MS in the state to offer integrated lap-top learning, you'll find a quaint yet serious learning environment championed by Mr. Holtke a powerhouse of energy and talent in wrangling elementary thru pre-teens. I'm in ... SRTMS Pride!
--Submitted by a parent