Buena Vista Elementary School

2nd year for my 2 daughters. The improvement in both of them, from reading, math and general overall ability is night and day from their old school in NorCal. A massive improvement.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school and great teachers! I am amazed by how much my child has learned at this school. All the children seem to be having fun while learning. My child is excited to go to school everyday.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school...smallest in the district, much like a private school. Awesome teachers and staff. PTA is very involved in fund raisers and events. Locked gates, very secure.
—Submitted by a parent

So far, I've encountered this to be your standard school with nothing particularly notable about it. Standard curriculum followed faithfully without much depth or enrichment. The principal is distant, and there is not much sense of community here. I came here after the parents fought so hard to keep it open, thinking we'd have a great experience. I think the school's leader has a lot to do with setting the tone of the school, and I'm not finding much special about the leadership or much passion from the parents. Surprising. I have been very happy with the teachers at BV, however. I'm posting this so that other parents will not be misled like I was by glowing reviews into thinking this school is amazing. It's fine, but it's not amazing.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has a small town feel and provides an excellent learning environment. So far all the teachers my child has had have been exceptional. My child is excited to go to school each and every day! The PTA is wonderful and welcoming. And to top it off the school has an API score of 902 plus it is a CA Distinguished School!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has just finished Kindergarten and has absolutely loved every minute of it! My husband and I were really impressed with the school and staff and have nothing but good things to say about the school. I am amazed at how much my daughter has advanced in so many areas in just one year all the while having fun doing it! The children in her class are all very respectful and sweet. The families at the school are also great! The school has a real small town feel and isn't hectic and chaotic as other schools appear to be.
—Submitted by a parent

Buena Vista is definitely a school to watch! Since Principal Howard has been in leadership of BV, nothing but good has transpired. Test scores have risen, numerous awards have been awarded, professional development was provided to all teachers, school-wide activities have increases, and an overall feel of community is in the air. This, I believ, is due to principal leadership, dedicated teachers and staff, and fabulous students and families.
—Submitted by a parent

BV is a hidden little gem. My Kids are thriving academically and socially at this school. Because we are smaller than other elementary schools the atmosphere is like a small private school. I love knowing the other families and students. The leadership is focused and produces results. We have Ipads and a comprehensive program for all our students. It has been a great learning tool. Once you visit you will want to be apart of our community.
—Submitted by a parent

Buena Vista is a wonderful school in every way. I actually chose the school and moved to the area based on the data I had read on Great Schools, and I've never regretted the decision. The teachers and staff are warm and wonderful, and have led our students to continually raise API scores, and this year we are recieving the State of California's Distinguished School Award. Every student gets to benefit from weekly Computer Lab, iPad Class, Music, Art and PE that are mostly funded by the PTA and community support, so we don't need to depend on the state's ever dwindling shool $$, and are things that most of the other local schools don't have. In addition to the academic and technological advantages that BV has, it is close to the freeway but tucked away in a quiet neighborhood so picking up the kids is easy and safe. There is a fabulous school garden (my son just brought home a piece of fresh sugarcane as a treat for helping to weed), new playground equipment, and the playground and many of the classrooms have a view of the ocean. All of this combined with the involved parents and happy kids make it like getting the benefits of private school without the cost. We love BV!
—Submitted by a parent

I definitely would recommend this school to anyone with children in the area. It is a good school. It is a smaller school K-5 and has a good principal. When little children run up to hug the principal - you know she is a good, caring principal! They are starting to get more teachers aides in the classroom, so that means extra help for our little ones. The kids who go to this school are good. They are friendly little kids. The parents and teachers ( and principal) care about this school and it shows!
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are wonderful at this school. I like the open-door policy at this school, and feel all teachers are available when I need to talk with them, and they listen and care! I think the principal is great. She too, is always available when I need to discuss something. She has taken care of all of my needs whenever I've needed help. She's a strong leader, and wants to make it a great school. I'm very pleased with all of their efforts at this school. They care about the children. I am unhappy with lack of parental participation. Always same group doing everything.
—Submitted by a parent

Prompted to write this because of the disparity in rankings on previous reviews. I have 2nd & 3rd-graders in the 09/10 year. Mrs. Howard is in her second year as a principal. Though test scores greatly improved, I'd dare to speculate that it is because it is a small school (270 students) and those higher-achievers are from more well-to-do families and haven't been hit by the foreclosure crisis. I agree Mrs. Howard is aloof, I saw her out more later last year. We are not going to wait for the school to teach the kids, we start at home. We'll let the teachers 'polish them off.' We like the teachers so far. The 'Kids Care' after school program is more of an 'supervised play' program but is very helpful to our family.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a severe disconnect between leadership and teaching staff. There is a much more severe disconnect between leadership and the students. I have had the fortune of being a parent at another school and have something to judge principal involvement by. The kids love their teachers and most of the kids are genuine. Parental involvement is lacking and, I might add, it is directly a result of the leadership of the school. If I had the money, I'd move to a better part of the district and move the teachers there with me! A note about many of the teachers: They've been there for a long time, most live in the area and had kids who attended BV.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children that attend Buena Vista and I can't begin to tell you how much we LOVE the school. I have been involved in PTA for the past 4 years and spend alot of time at the school helping in any way that I can. I love that we have a family feel at buena Vista and that the door is always open to speak with Ms Howard and the teachers. The school has been working hard to improve testing scores and to get more parents involved,and I am looking forward to the many great things that are to come for our school. I would recommend Buena Vista to any parents that are looking for a school where your children can really feel at home, make long lasting friends and have teachers and a principle that really care.
—Submitted by a parent

My twins are in kindergarden at Buena Vista and we absolutely LOVE this school. Any and all special needs are addressed and met by the teachers and staff, and BV has a lot of programs that are no longer available at the other public schools. The school is small, so it's like getting the benefits of a private school without the cost. While I do agree with the other parents comments about the Principal, Mrs. Howard, she does have a softer side that she doesn't show often. She has a bit of a superiority complex and considers her opinions as an 'educator' to be much more valuable than those of the parents. I get the feeling that this is true with the teachers as well. If she were more in tune with us about class placement, etc and spoke to us as equals, BV would be a perfect 10!
—Submitted by a parent

The school was Great when Mr.De Anza was the Principal, Now Mrs. Tina Howard is the Principal it has gone down hill pretty fast, One thing I have noticed is that Mrs. Howard does not have the People skills that are needed for this Job, Tina Howard talks down to the parents, does not Respect to the Parents, Teachers or the students. I am very Disappointed in the way the school is being ran, There are no Friday assemblies, no more positive encouragements, I am at the school daily in the mornings and after school the kids don't seem as happy as they have in the past, The reading count program is actually a great thing but the kids don't have the time to do the testing during class. I have been kicked out of the comp lab area by Mrs.Howard, she said they are to do the tests during class.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is finishing kindergarten at BV, he has had a wonderful year. Both kinder teachers are exceptional, and I am super excited about both first grade teachers. BV could use a lot more parent involvement, a core group really make things happen at this school. The principal is wonderful. The art and music teachers are amazing. Way to go BV.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is finishing up Kindergarten and is in the after school program (Kids Care). The teachers are amazing as well as the volunteers. I wish the Kids Care did homwork time, but I don't mind too much, because my daughter always comes home well exercised from her play time there. I always see the principal and other staff. Everyone cares and is super friendly. The after school activities and fund raisers are fun!
—Submitted by a parent

Buena Vista has been a wonderful fit for both my GATE student and my struggling student, providing an active, responsive partnership between the principal, teachers, tutors, and my family. As a small school with a diverse population (ethnic, economic, and cultural), it reflects the big world yet on an intimate scale. At Buena Vista we truly have felt that every student matters, and each person can make a significant difference. A core group of dedicated and active parents has ensured a variety of experiences beyond the core curriculum. We re proud to be B.V.!
—Submitted by a parent

Buena Vista is a small school with a small town feel to it. Where many schools have given up on extra curricular activities, Buena Vista has fought to maintain its music and art. The small class sizes in 1st through 3rd grade are also appreciated. Exceptional caring teachers make it a neighborhood school I am proud to be a part of. Due to its size, your concerns are heard and responded to. As a parent of a bright child, I feel blessed to be able to attend Buena Vista.
—Submitted by a parent