Cottage Hill Elementary School

I absolutely LOVE this school. I also love the principal that took over. She works together with parents and is hard on any type of bullying that arises. She gets the kids to realize how they would feel, and gets results. The kids are great overall, the teachers for the most part are amazing. We have been so happy and our kids have flourished at this school. There are also constant activities set up for the kids, and great parent involvement. In my opinion the rating does not do the school justice, as I think it is one of the best schools in CA that I have seen. Also, a great community. My only negative would be that it can be a bit clicky as far as families and kids sticking to their own groups. But that is a small town environment. At the same time, the parents in this community encourage the kids to get good grades, excel in sports and a ton of activities, and the kids for the most part as not bored and getting into trouble, and instead are always busy.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has a fantastic parent teacher club - Lead by a husband wife team - just amazing. You want to make a difference get involved, Everyone can help in some way - Cottage Hill welcomes it all!
--Submitted by a parent

We moved here from a so called top rated school district in Pleasanton Ca. The individualized care we have experienced is night and day compared to our previous school. My son was diagnosed with autism has a incredible IEP team at Cottage Hill. The IEP team consists of 9 administrators, and educators who all know him inside and out compared and want whats best for HIM. Our last districts IEP team consisted of one administrator and one teacher who keep calling him the wrong name and recommended medication.
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school!! We moved here from Elk Grove in Sept. 07 and our son goes to Kindergarten.. He has the best teacher and class -size and even though when I talk to my In-laws in the bay area who's child is being challenged by doing 2 hours homework everyday in Kindergarden, I feel blessed to be able to say that my son is living a great childhood without being pressured to much at an early age. He loves to go to school everyday and he learns how to read and count at a more playful level. He loves to bring his libary book home every week and read it with me.... I believe that it is very important to have your children like going to school , and to be curious about life ,and wanting to know things..... thank you
--Submitted by a parent

Wow. Is all I can say. This is the school we have been looking for. My oldest son (10) had lost interest in school and it is back now in spades. I do not agree with the complaints listed below. I believe that the parent who wrote it needs to find out why their child is bringing home so much homework. Or why it is taking so much time to complete it. There is also homework club after school a couple days a week where they can complete their homework and get one on one help. The teachers are amazing, the administration staff is very helpful. The principal is very hands-on. I have no complaints and am so grateful that we found Cottage Hill.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved 2 years ago from Sacramento. My kids are delighted with the quality of life and peace of the school. The school has human beings, all working together for the success of the children. Not the other way around. I have seen also an increase in arts activities, a subject that was very week a year ago. Homework and disagreements with the teaching style will always exist in any school you go. It is a matter of finding solutions, not problems.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been reading several complaints regarding the high level of expectation from the school and teachers. I happen to hole-heartedly disagree. My family arrived in auburn 2 years ago. Previously, my children attended a private school...If you think cottage hill's expectations are 'too high' you are kidding yourselves (or greatly underestimating your child's true/hidden potential). If homework is taking 1-2 hours then maybe a teacher-parent conference is in order(several different options/solutions are available if one is open to them). In addition, quite possibly, homework is piling up at home because 'class time' is being waisted by the student. It is always easy to blame the teacher (bless those wiling to teach). As our kids grow, school is not going to get easier. The competition is out there... Waiting. A parent has the ultimate influence on a child's outcome in life! start acting not reacting. Our kids are watching!
--Submitted by a parent of 3 boys, a parent

I have to agree with the previous review about overwork for the child. This is so unrealistic, as I research more and more I believe the district is more concerned about artificial ratings than the children's success itself. I have been involved in education a very long time. If you cannot teach the child within a regular school day what they need to know, and still have to send 2 to 3 hours of homework then there is something fundamentally wrong with your system. Teachers you can change this and you know it...be courageous and make the system better. Don't just enable it. think about it...
--Submitted by a parent

I do not agree with Cottage Hills teaching. The kids are over worked and under appreciated. The children come home nightly with at least 2 to 3 hours of homework and whatever class work the teacher didn't let them finish in class. And what really bothers me the most is that if a student is struggling in class they do not have one on one time to fix the problem they just assume the child has a learning disorder and contacts the parents. Any other school thinks your child is briliant.
--Submitted by a parent