Agua Caliente Elementary School

The good first: the most important factor in education is the classroom teacher, and the ones at this school are caring. Now to the not-so-good: the school lacks direction, it lacks proper integration of technology, there is no enforcement of behavior. The school is located in a gang neighborhood. The school is very old and rundown. Good luck ever talking to the administrator, as you'll be continually referred to speak to someone else from a secretary to teacher to aide. The arts/physical education/character education/ are non-existent. The focus of this school is teaching to "the standardized test" as that is all that seems to matter. Teachers here even offer a "limo ride" for students who score perfectly on the standardized test. What message does that send? It's all about the test? Or maybe, "perfection" is what you should strive for in life? Get real, nothing is perfect and sending this message to our children is WRONG. . Now that I think about it, so is spending the entire year teaching to one test. I wouldn't send my child here if you paid me.

The teachers at this school (most of them) receive 5 stars for their dedication, perseverance, and knowledge of the profession. The principal receives 3 stars - intelligent, caring, and proactive in the field of education but is deficient in enforcing behavior and the school's uniform policy. The school receives a 1 star "unsatisfactory" score because it is located in a very dangerous, gang neighborhood, the infrastructure is beyond dilapidated, and the school itself is essentially segregated - 98% hispanic and the district makes no effort at making this number more representative of the demographics of the Coachella Valley.

3 of my grandchildren go here and I personally think the teachers andDr.Medina set the examples of what all schools should try to be!

Agua Caliente Elementary School's mission is that 'every student be proficient' and through collaboration between staff, students, and the community they have made significant progress, every year, towards achieving this goal.
--Submitted by a teacher

Since my daughter starting attending Agua Caliente, I have seen her blossom. She has goals and believes that the sky is the limit to her dreams. It takes a strong educational program to promote success for all student.
--Submitted by a parent

My children come from privlege and with the housing crisis recently we had to move to this area. I have to admit that I was frightened of this school. but much to my surprise it is fantastic. The teachers are brilliant and compassionate. My daughter had learned so much here. For what they have to work with I am impressed. Cugdos to Agua Caliente! Bravo!
--Submitted by a parent

My son Attends here and has learned so much.
--Submitted by a parent

While it is true that this is a mainly Hispanic group of children, office personnel are mostly bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish as needed. In the classrooms, children are taught primarily in English, unless the parent requests that their child be prompted periodically in their native language in order to facilitate learning. Also, the majority of teachers at A.C. do not speak Spanish.
--Submitted by a teacher

This school has teachers committed to success and a principal with a vision that all students will succeed. I understand that some of the teachers at this school even have their own children attend it.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is primarly Hispanic and speaks spanish in the office and in the class room. My child did not know spanish and was made to feel slower than the other children who did not speak english. This school is not good for a child of a english only back round in my opinion.
--Submitted by a parent