Santa Rita Elementary School

Santa Rita is an amazing school filled with loving and caring teachers who are passionate about our children's education! My daughter has been going to Santa Rita for the last two years and everyday, she's excited about school and is eager for learning. She loves the teachers who are willing to put in the extra effort to ensure an A+ education. I LOVE SANTA RITA!
--Submitted by a parent

Santa Rita is a gem of a school as we benefit from an international student body without sacrificing quality in the classroom. There is a nice balance of very experienced teachers who have been at Santa Rita a long time and those just launching their careers. This mentorship model aids in both directions: the seasoned teachers advise on how to be effective in certain situations while the up and comers bring an innovative mindset. As a parent, I appreciate the insights of the teachers who have raised children themselves. They re adept at providing perspective (which many of us overly-educated parents often lose let s face it). The faculty works together to create an integrated curriculum, where, for example, math, science and English are weaved into one learning unit. For us working parents, there is good onsite care as well as after school programs to extend and/or enrich the school day (e.g. Mandarin, dance, crazy science, etc.). In summary, Santa Rita is a wonderful school if you want your child to benefit from an outstanding public education and you, as a parent, want to be part of the tight knit broader Los Altos School District community.
--Submitted by a parent

great school - care about kids, listen to parents feedback
--Submitted by a parent

We have a son in second grade and a daughter in kindergarten and both have received a high quality education. There are a myriad of after school activities for the students to enjoy from Spanish to Chess Club to Journalism Club to sports teams. I agree with many of the other comments that the parent community is very inviting and warm. I love that many of our neighborhood kids can walk to school together .. a rare treat in today's world!
--Submitted by a parent

I feel so lucky that that our children are at Santa Rita. The teaching quality is great and consistent. Despite the rigid requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the teachers are able to keep the curriculum engaging and creative. What I'm equally pleased with is the parent community, which is incredibly involved. Not only have my children gained wonderful friends, my husband and I have become quite close with many of the other parents. This strong sense of community is what makes a neighborhood school truly special.
--Submitted by a parent

Admittedly, we wanted somewhat of an academic 'bubble' when it came to public schools for our children. Therefore, we looked at Palo Alto, Cupertino and Los Altos schools and specifically chose Santa Rita. Not only are the academics superb but Santa Rita also has a unique quality of more diversity, without compromising quality in the classroom. In addition, the parent community is extremely supportive (without being 'over the top' competitive). The teachers are very experienced at keeping all levels engaged, enabling gifted children to move ahead. As a result, my children have flourished academically and socially. We feel fortunate to have landed at a school where our youngsters are so happy!
--Submitted by a parent

We moved to Los Altos for the schools and have not been disappointed. We love the diversity in the student population at Santa Rita. Both of our children have wonderful teachers. The children are challenged to do their personal best in all areas. 3 levels of math within a grade level allow kids who excel in math to move ahead and not be bored. And because it is so well funded, Santa Rita has all the 'extras' many public schools aren't able to offer. Santa Rita gets an A+!
--Submitted by a parent

Santa Rita is an excellent school with dedicated teachers and excellent programs
--Submitted by Massimo Carli, a parent

This school is wonderful! I cannot say enough good things about Santa Rita. The parents are great and the principal is superb! The teachers really care about the children and nurture a strong love of learning in the children. The focus is really on making learning fun and often the kids son't even realize they are learning as they are having so much fun. My daughter has ADHD and the school was instrumental in helping get her tested and into the proper programs. They took a kid who was falling behind and brought her up to grade level (and higher). The greatest thing about this school is seeing how happy the kids are when they are there. I give this school all 5's and would go higher if they let me :)
--Submitted by a parent

A top notch school comprised of a diverse student body and some truly exceptional teachers. Parent leaders and volunteers combined with generous parent funding of the PTA and Los Altos Educational Foundation enable extensive school day and after school enrichment programs. Academic and other school traditions such as the 1st Grade Teddy Bear Parade, 2nd Grade Campout, 3rd Grade Famous American Speech, 4th Grade Gold Country Trip and 'I have a Dream Speech', 5th Grade Colonial Days, 6th Grade week-long Walden West Field Trip, Witches Delight Halloween Carnival, Spellathon, Back to School Picnic, and International Day abound. My kids love their school.
--Submitted by a parent