Balboa Elementary School

The standards, I feel, have dropped at this school since we started. At first this was a very nice little school, over the years, classes have gotten bigger, budget cuts made, teachers have left and the cultural mix becomes so diverse that I am often at the gate with no one else speaking english around me. My children all say everyone speaks armenian around them, and I think they feel isolated too. The teachers try hard, but we have seen this school really drop.
--Submitted by a parent

I don't know what school Dec 2008 was visiting - but it wasn't Balboa. Balboa is a fantastic school with a very dedicated Principal, staff, and much involved PTA and parent base. There are monthly activities such as Halloween Pumpkin Patch, Father-Daughter Dance socials, and Spring Fling Carnival to name a few. With a tradition of good involved parent volunteers who help bring Music and Arts programs to the classrooms and help the kids. Yes, the population is primarily Armenian. But we also have a large population of Hispanic and Asian. So it is by no means one dimensional. Speaking a particular language has never been required or stressed. And of all my years as a parent at Balboa - a child has nevered simply "walked out the gates." Is Balboa perfect ?- certainly not. But for a public school - I can not imagine much better
--Submitted by a parent

Balboa is a really good school. The teahers students and the staff are really nice. allthough the food needs to be improved. Everything else is great.
--Submitted by a student

As far as education goes this school is fine. However, culturally and socially this school is horrible. There is almost zero diversity at Balboa and students who are picked on for not being part of the majority get very little support from the faculty in those matters. I was even told that if I want my child to fit in I should enroll him in classes where he can learn to speak Armenian. The administrative staff has been unfriendly, unhelpful and even hostile at times and the lack of supervision after school is ridiculous. Children are allowed to wander out of the gates without anyone watching.
--Submitted by a parent

I pulled my daughter out of a private school and enrolled her in balboa last year during Kindergarten. I was very happy with the teacher and and the academics. She learned how to read and write in a 2nd grade level. I love the monthly spirtit rallies and the fact the principal knows every child by name. I made the best decision last year and am very happy with her 1st grade teacher this year.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a neighborhood school that truly feels as though the community is involved. My chidren have attended for the past five years, during which the scores and programs have continued to improve. The PTA is active, as is the Booster Club, though as is typical a small number of parents run the activities of both. The principal is strict and yet imbues a sense of fun into the academics, with monthly spirit rallies and theme days. Seasonal schoolwide activities also help bring out the comraderie among students. The vast majority of the teachers I have encountered are incredibly dedicated to their profession and the students, and find ways to teach the standards that still allow for creativity and fun in the classroom. I would highly recommend this school to anyone considering moving to this pocket of NW Glendale.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers and principal are caring and responsive. Facilities are nice. The school administration is somewhat disorganized as far as procedures for picking up and dropping off children. The cultural majority of the students is Armenian. The major drawback to this school is the lack of cultural diversity. This is especially apparent in the lower grades, where in my child's class there are only 2 non-Armenians in a class of about 25 students. If this school had a more diverse population, I would rate it much higher.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been very pleased with my son's progress at this school. His teacher is extremely helpful and approachable. The academics are good, the homework not unreasonable, and the principal is great! The spirit rallies once a month really encourage the students to try hard to achieve.
--Submitted by a parent

Great, caring, dediated teachers and principal at this school. It has a friendly feel to it. My kids are getting a solid education. There are some afterschool sports and a afterschool care program. Music for all kids starts in 4th grade. PTA is very active and welcoming.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school with a very dedicated staff and good support from the parents. The quality of the teaching staff is uniformly excellent. They know their population. I was on the school's site council for 4 years and can attest to the level, depth and and breadth of the faculty's commitment to providing the best possible education to you child.
--Submitted by a parent