Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School

Reading reviews online can be somewhat misleading due to the individual motivations and circumstances of each parent writing a review. I have had children at OPE for years and have found teachers and administrators to be very responsive to any concerns or questions my children or I have had. Bullying is taken very seriously at OPE and there has been a great deal of communication and education with the children and staff about its harmful effects. I would highly recommend calling the school office and scheduling time to meet the principal and tour the school before making a decision based on one person's experience.
--Submitted by a parent

Not a day goes by that I don't thank God that my kids are out of this school. I am grateful to the kid who beat up my kid who beat up my kid right in front of the principal while she stood next to me and laughed insisting they were playing. My son was clear that they were not. I pulled all 3 of my kids out of the school because of the constant bullying and disrespectful attitudes of the students and parents. I declined buying a beautiful house in the area because I didn't want my kids to be anywhere near the kids who beat them up. It's a big impersonal school where the teachers don't seemed too concerned about the individual student. If they don't do their homework or tuen it in, the teachers don't let yhe parents know.Too big for it's britches. Mediocre but likes to blow it's own horn. My kids are in better schools now, so I am grateful to the kids who beat them up or I never would have known how many better schools there are.
--Submitted by a parent

My niece and nephew attend this school and I am highly impressed with the quality education they receive at this school. It's a right balance of education mixed with strong family participation and fun. My niece and nephew are constantly showing me their homework and artwork they do during the shool year, and their recent 'Grandparents Day' was a hit both for the kids and the Grandparents. Reminds me of the Elementary School my brother and I attended back in Maryland. The kids will never forget their Elementary school experience.

Party central. Lots of involved parents, quite a few affluent families who host parties during the middle of the school day at their homes and have the whole class take field trips to see their child's play during the school day. STAR test not an accurate assessment because kids are prepped in exactly what they need to know. A week later they don't know it. Academically poor I would say. My kids are now in private school, and their teachers actually expect them to do the homework and hand in complete assignments legibly. Quite a shocker for my kids after coasting by for three years at OPE. Big problem with bullies too. Thumbs down
--Submitted by a parent

OPE puts the students first. The community and staff consistently show their support by participating in the children's future.
--Submitted by a parent

5 Stars doesn't mean this school is perfect, but it is a very good place for kids to be. Especially under the new principal, teachers are being re-invigorated and students are the beneficiaries. O.P.E. has tons of optional programs that enrich the kids, and is working to provide kids with challenge up to their individual levels. Most of the reviews below are from previous years, and I feel that the school has made great strides in the past 2 years! Here's to continued improvement!
--Submitted by a parent

The good news is that the school has new leadership as of mid-year after floundering under an interim [ weak] placeholder of an administrator. She appears very receptive and sharp. The challenge is in the intermediate level where they have not come to a common agreement as to what a student should know and be able to do exiting each level. A couple of real gems but many veteran educators worked so hard with so little support for so many years that they are just hanging on until retirement. They are the first to rebuff true teaming - preferring to 'work harder, but not smarter' and they opt out of any true professional development. They give lip service and then close their doors and continue to do the same thing over and over. Demanding parents with advocates drag on resources. Privileged kids do ok in spite - or get tutors
--Submitted by a parent

If you want to hire a tutor then this is a school for you! The teachers have a lot of fun with your child but the education they give your child is minimal. I have had 5 kids attend there and the upper grades are poor! It's unfortunate that the Digueno Middle School and LCCHS are better than the elementary school but in this case I can testify to it. I have had children graduate from all of these schools. OPE has gone down hill the last several years unfortunately. The only thing that keeps it alive is the parent volunteers! The parents are super involved here as they have to be!
--Submitted by a parent

A very mixed experience--depending on your child and the particular teacher. Some great educators and some that may not be a good match. Tons of homework and very short days. Principal is not effective with discipline.
--Submitted by a parent

The academic standards and parent involvement at OPE are excellent. The office staff is warm and caring. Most teachers have all the parent volunteers they need. The PTA is highly involved and because the economic level of many of the families is high, the school benefits from a lot of fundraising. I would also say that the teachers are generally excellent, although we had a bad experience. Although there is access to many after school activities, I would like to see OPE embrace interaction with the other schools in those activities, such as Artistry in Music, which received very little encouragement. We moved to this area specifically for the schools and we don't regret it. There is very little diversity at OPE, but I just want my kids to get a good education, which they weren't getting in Vista.
--Submitted by a parent