Rio San Gabriel Elementary School

My daughter has been a RSG student since Kindergarten and so far she has had great teachers. They both made a difference in her education and she is doing well in math and reading. I haven't had any negative experiences and the office staff is friendly. My daughter is proud to attend RSG and to be a Mustang.
—Submitted by a parent

If you begin by analyzing the data and see that they have dropped in API the last 5 years and is the lowest growth school in Downey Unified you would wonder why they still boast it is a distinguished school. The school has gotten worse each year since my children arrived. Before upper grade teachers rotated but now they don't. Instead using each other's strengths to help the students, they are not willing to rotate. It just seems to me that decisions are being made to keep adults (including parents) happy rather than what is best for kids.
—Submitted by a parent

School is ok. Most teachers and staff will not do more than necessary for the children.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended private school and now goes to RSG, we love it! The teachers truly love what they do! I was concerned that she would fall behind due to the advancement of the curriculum in private school, but her teachers have not allowed that to happen. I am greatful for that!
—Submitted by a parent

Current principal T.F. appears not to support her staff, which is evident in more and more teachers no longer volunteering their time as they had in the past. Many of the programs at RSG were ran by volunteer teachers and are still ran by volunteer teachers. But they are fewer and fewer due to the lack of support and appreciation from the current principal. For the students sake, and also for the teaching staff, I hope the current principal figures it out and turns it around.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the staff and school is great. Many parents have done a great job in stepping up and getting involved. The PTA is well establish and does a wonderfull job. I am happy my child attends this school. it's a great school and I woulld not switch back to private.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are always willing to go the extra mile and the principal and coordinator are quickly to respond to any issue. Unfortunately, academic success seems to be the parents responsibility as evident by the EL population and the special ed having low marks and the Gifted having high marks. Teachers will instroduce a standard or concept and if the student does not get it, it seems like it becomes the responsibility of the parent to teach it at home. This is not of course the teachers' or school leadership fault altogether, the district does not pay attention to this issue. Teaching is old school and no attempt by the district to provide teachers new strategies to address this issue. Hopefully with the population changing, the ranking will remain the same.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended a private school before going to Rio San Gabriel. He has learned so much more at RSG. The teachers are great! I highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by Andrea L., a parent

I am a working parent who's encouraged to participate in school events and happenings -many are held after school. The school caters to all families and actively seeks family involvement through events such as school carnival, school site council and PTA - just to name a few. The administrative, clerical and teaching staff is professional in every aspect. The school embraces individuality-cultural or personal. They have not only met but exceeded their API growth targets in all areas, continue to provide excellent (volunteer based) extracurricular activities such as a sports team aimed at winning the Carnival of Champions, music and drama clubs as well geography club. RSG offers academic support programs for the English learning and special learning needs populations. The environment is ideal for academic, social/emotional and psychological growth. I am very fortunate that my child attends RSG through our district's 'School of Choice'.
—Submitted by a parent

Good dedicated long term teachers. Parent involvement a must at this school. A significant achievement gap between persists between white students and latino students. Perhaps a cultural disconnect from a predominantly white teaching staff and culturally irrelevant curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

My daugter has gone to RSG since Kindergarden. RSG is a school where the safety of children come first and where each child is encouraged to do their personal best. Most of the teachers especially the experienced teachers are highly skilled and work hard to bring out the best in each child. My daughter's 5th grade teacher is one of their best teachers and will be missed as my daughter graduates this year. Their PTA is made up of very involved parents and their volunteer based music program is great and growing. Made up of two volunteer teachers, it could use district backing. In sports, they have taken the trophy at Carnival of Champions for the past nine years. Thank you RSG for bringing out the best in my child and giving her the encouragement and confidence she needs to go into middle school!
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent I was welcomed well and informed about what my child is going to learn during the coming year. I would like to stress to other parents to join to ask the district to have a full kindergarden day in this way the kids will benefit much more.
—Submitted by a parent

My son who just graduated from High School this year and attended Rio San Gabriel all throughout elementary school and my daughter who is entering the fifth grade has attended there. The school is very strong on academic competence and also has top of the line computer lab, playground equipment but, lacks social and psychological benefits for the children. The school is very competitive and has an aggresive culture. I believe along with high academic standards there should be a safe, caring and fair environment as part of the curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent