San Jose Street Elementary School

My daughter attended this school for a little over 2 years. The first year and a half I was happy with my daughters education. She has a learning disability and struggles to keep up. her 3rd grade teacher worked really hard with her. Unfortunately, this school does have a bullying problem and the yard duty staff tend to look the other way. I pulled my daughter out the school half way through the 5th grade because my daughter was being bullied daily and when her teacher made fun of her in class, I was fed up. Its bad enough for kids to be bullied by other kids, but when the teachers starts bullying too. its wrong.
--Submitted by a parent

We are in the highly gifted magnet and have found a clearer picture of the varying opinions. The 5th grade class was extremely large, 31-33 students. Several with behavior problems. That is too many students for one teacher to handle, and affected more than half the students negatively. These parents are rightly unhappy. We, in the 4th anf 2/3rd grades have been lucky with class sizes around 20-22 all year. A difference of 10-11 kids (some with behavior issues) can make the world of difference to any class. The Grade 2/3/4 parents seem happy, the 5th grade parents-not. Caution to incoming parents: it will depend upon enrollment and the make-up of students to really determine the quality of the experience. All other comments about being pressured to donate are true. Small grungy school is also true. Unless parent pays extra, there would not be some of the extras. I also would prefer my students spend much more time in class with teacher, not taking neuroscience, drums and other things not very fun. Ms Garcia's 4th grade play the last week of school was AWESOM--we need much more of that! We pray the enrollment for next year stays small so our kids can keep enjoying it.
--Submitted by a parent

Main reasons we recommend the highly gifted: 1. Amazing teachers who go way beyond run-of-the-mill topics. They keep working parents in touch by email 2. Fun student-led projects done in class, not at home by parents 3. Less homework, quality more than busywork, so we have time for sports, music. Most kids at San Jose play musical instruments. 4. Mostly well-rounded kids who consider "nerd" a compliment. 5. Interesting extra classes we're more than willing to pay for. We like some more than others but there's something for everyone. Let's hear it for the active parents who make this happen. 6. The campus is grungy, but the program is much better than private school we had, minus the huge tuition and constant fundraising. Overall, a great move. My child's very happy.
--Submitted by a parent

Our magnet experience has not bee that great either. The teachers are very nice and we like them a lot. Tthe program leaves a lot to be desired. We came from a larger school where there was music, PE and other offerings. At the magnet school, parents are pressured to donate money to pay for everything as extra fees. A small, very active, board makes all the decisions on how the money is spent, planned from the previous year, mostly. Some of the extra programs were a waste of class time, I would prefer my child spend more time with the wonderful teacher and let the teacher plan extra activities. I did not realize that the main school pays for things like music and PE - NOT! So the smaller school has much less to offer. Fewer yard supervisors because of cutbacks makes bullying a problem. Overall, disappointing.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been attending SJ Highly Gifted Magnet for part of 4th grade this year, and we've been nothing more than impressed. The teachers are knowledgeable, patient and they truly understand the special needs of the highly gifted. We've felt welcome by the administration and parents from the first day. My son has finally started making friends and doesn't feel ostracized for being a science/math/chess kid. Yes, the school is short-staffed like every other school at LAUSD, but any issues we've had have been addressed immediately and satisfactorily. Yes, the magnet asks for money from the school to pay for enrichment programs, but the amount is half at what we paid at our previous "distinguished" school, and I actually know where it's going to - not new playground equipment and fancy smartboards, but to actual classes for the kids (this year, Shakespeare, yoga, neuroscience and the like). Most parents pay. Some can't. Just like at all schools. And there are no fundraisers (where the school usually gets a fraction of the money that comes in). My son and my family are extremely happy with San Jose HGM.
--Submitted by a parent

Extraordinary! Better than the best money can buy but at a public school. I cannot believe San Jose Highly Gifted Magnet was a LAUSD program. I am not sure why Los Angeles does not use this program to showcase what they are doing. All the talk about Charter schools and different programs and yet we found out about this program after three months of research. San Jose Highly gifted is a gem. We are so fortune that our daughter was accepted into the program! Coming from one of the top home schools we were hesitant at first. The drive and leaving a great home school people were fighting to get into. But we know we found the right match after the first week. The program transformed a shy kid into a chatter box of knowledge. What a difference a right setting can make.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm fascinated with the plurality of opinions of the Highly Gifted Magnet expressed here. It just proves that good schools are about good fit. We've been at San Jose for two years and my child could not be happier with the engaging and challenging work, the kids who relate, and the extra classes, some of which parents also paid for at his previous school and some of which are new, like neuroscience. I hear they'll get opera next year. I would just like to point out that in almost every public school in LA, parents now have to fundraise for PE, arts and "enrichment" classes, and many families to not contribute elsewhere as well. Last I heard, 80% of the San Jose Magnet families donated this year. My husband and I are happy to give what we can, so that ALL the children in our child's class can participate and so that we don't have to sell chocolates, go to MacDonald's, or do a different fundraiser every few weeks, but most importantly, so our child gets a great, diverse education!
--Submitted by a parent

The San Jose Highly Gifted Magnet Program is providing our son with a GREAT education. We feel that he is getting an education beyond the typical LAUSD curriculum which helps to expand and contribute to his capabilities. The variety of programs such as Shakespeare, world drums, yoga, field trips are wonderful. We were always having to supplement his learning because he was at least 2 years ahead of his peers, now we can focus on alternative learning techniques and let him be more of a typical 9 year old boy. I am happy to be an advocate for this program and what it provides to other families that have a child that needs this program.
--Submitted by a parent

We are so happy with the San Jose Elem Magnet program. With her high academic capacity and low social skills, our daughter was struggling at our resident school. Her previous teachers focused on her challenging behaviors and she received very little feedback on her accomplishments. At this school, the teachers, administrators and other staff put forth the effort to nurture her strengths. Now she has a good time at school, and she is learning in a way that will serve her well for a lifetime. If your child qualifies for this program, you must give it a try.
--Submitted by a parent

I am completely convinced that my nine year old son is rewceiving the best education he has ever ecperienced at San Jode Highly Gifted Magnet.. I'm so happy that he was accepted into this program, as we Ifind it to be just the educational experience we ( his parents ) were hopiong for for our gifted child.
--Submitted by a parent