Silva Valley Elementary School

If you have a smart kid, this school is not for you. I feel we are wasting my daughter's time not learning much. I have to give her extra work at home because the school never challenge her at all. We have to meet with all the people in charge but they didn't do any single thing. How sad that school gives a lot of help to struggling kids but not to advance kids. If I have money to put my kids to good private school I would have done it.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughters arrived to this school in grades K & 1 . They didn't speak or read any English and understood verbally very little, having been born and raised overseas. They are now in the 2nd & 3rd grades, and are doing very well, thanks in large part to the quality and care of the eduction they have received. There's a lot of homework handed out typically, and parents need to stay on top of it pending the tendencies of each child (my two are quite different.) The principal was wonderfully responsive to our concern that our older daughter was misplaced in her 2nd year. She was initially misplaced in a mixed 2d/3d grade class her 2nd year because she's bright and a very good, disciplined student. But hearing instructions aimed separately to the two class levels was too much for her after only one year of steady English. The principal investigated herself, and agreed with our position and moved our daughter to a more appropriate class of all 2nd graders. Just one example of how well this school is run.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a student here at Silva Valley and it wasn't an ordinary school. Every year at my new class i think to myself, I am not going to leave this school until I am done with this grade. During the summer before my 5th grade year I moved without telling anyone. I came back to that school in about 3 months and I walked outside. All the 5th graders were screaming my name. I haven't noticed how popular I have been since kindergarten! I moved back and every night I cry to my parents, when are we going back! This school deserves a good, no amazing rate from everyone!

We have the greatest teachers, and the best parents. Everyone works together for the benefit of the children!!!
--Submitted by a parent

Our family moved here at the inception of the 08/09 school year from overseas. Our two kids aged 6 and 5 started 1st grade ad kg barely speaking any English. The finished the school year sounding like natives. The first grader had a string of 100s on her spelling tests the last trimester. Needless to say we commend the school, the teachers, the other parents and students for welcoming our little foreigners and getting them up to speed. This is a wonderful school, and I have taught grade school successfully at different levels for 10 years.
--Submitted by a parent

Two of my childen have been at Silva Valley for a year. We love the atmosphere at the school. Most of the teachers are very good and the school has been supportive of our children's extra learning needs.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a child in 4th grade and one in Kindergarten at Silva Valley. My 4th grader has been there since Kindergarten. My 4th grader is very gifted in math and is currently working at a grade level ahead. All of his teachers have been eager to challenge him where he needs it and he has never been bored for long. He has learned organizational skills and responsiblity very quickly from his teachers. I wish that there were more projects in the upper grades, ie history fair, science fair, parade of states, etc. The after school programs are fabulous. All of the teachers are incredible. We feel very lucky to live in this area with such wonderful schools. I don't think many private schools could compare to Silva Valley Elementary.
--Submitted by Dawn Sheridan, a parent