Cole Canyon Elementary School

Fantastic community school. We moved to Murrieta in January and were concerned about our daughter's transition into another kindergarten, but her new teachers did a wonderful job of helping her get oriented and settled. The school has great community partners that help it raise extra money (Be sure to bring your cash on Thursdays for Juice It Up!) The principal if well-loved by the kids in my daughters class. He is very nice. Ms. Miller and Ms. Gonzalez do a FABULOUS job with their kindergartners. They are good communicators and partner with parents to reinforce skills at home.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to this specific area to be in this school zone and much to our dissapointment, we found that Cole Canyon is overcrowded and is the typical "one size fits all" education.
—Submitted by a parent

All three of my children have attended school here since kindergarten since we live in the neighborhood. I have had mostly positive experiences with the school and teachers. All of my children's teachers seemed to genuinely care about the children, but they are held to a very high and rigid expectation for performance which makes them a little stressed out. The same can be said about the new principal. There are many entitled and mean kids at the school, but I don't blame the school for that. They have implemented a character counts and anti-bullying program at the school, so hopefully that will help. I haven't been happy at all with the homework. The math is ALL thinking and very little rote practice. I would like to see more balance or a return to the Saxon math from a few years ago. On the other hand, they have helped my middle child with issues through their group counseling program and they have an absolutely wonderful band program and choir program. They even have an art club and yearbook club for fifth graders and big year end events. This year they implemented a fifth grade science camp and online skills practice program. So overall, I think this school is great.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved here Dec. '09 and I am not very happy with the way the kids are allowed to treat one another. My daughter hasn't had too many problems, on occasion she tells me someone wasn't being very nice on the playground, but my son is in 4th grade and has had a lot of problems with other kids being mean, unwelcoming and bragging about how rich they are. I am currently in the process of changing his class because his teacher (Mrs.Waller) is horrible!!! She is mean and is well know for it. She told the class to tell on and to tell my son and his friend that they are not allowed to speak to one another in class or on the play ground. So in other words she's not only allowing the other kids to bully my son, but condoning it! Needless to say I am not a happy camper! My son cries at night because the children are being so mean! On the other hand my daughter has had amazing teachers k-2nd grade. She is in Mrs.Jaspersons class and she loves it! She is a great/caring teacher. I recently had an issue with a little girl saying mean things to my daughter on the playground and the principal never returned my calls. So, I'm on the fence about this school.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to Murrieta in June and I spent a lot of time researching all the elementary schools in the area. I selected Cole Canyon based on all the positive reviews. What a huge mistake. My daughter started first grade on Aug 11 and was bullied by 2nd graders on the playground for the past 3 weeks, she finally got the courage to tell me and I spoke with her teacher about it and she reassured me it would be taken care of. That day my daughter came home and said one particular second grade girl made her afraid to play on the playground, afraid to use the bathroom all day and this girl called her names and put her down and made rude comments about her clothes as well. My daughter suffered there for 3 weeks and no one cared. To make matters worse when I told administration why after that day I moved my daughter to a charter school they walked away from me claiming they were too busy and did not have time for this serious matter. I guess it was not serious to them. Thisgirl should never be allowed to intimidate someone like this and the school did not even care what this has done to my daughter. I would think twice before sending anyone to this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Traffic is a NIGHTMARE. Parking spaces are very few for the number of students attending there. The neighborhood is overwhelmed when it comes time to drop off and pick up kids each school day. Other than that, it is a good environment for the kids. We had a good experience there. But we are glad to be moving on to Middle School now!
—Submitted by a parent

the teachers are fantastic! The academics are one of the highest in the state
—Submitted by a parent

My Daughter has attended Cole Canyon Elem. since 4th grade and is now in 5th grade. The school is excellent academically and they continue to challenge her and push her to do her very best at all subjects. She has had very good teachers and the parent involvement is very high forming a very positive environment for the childern. I have had my childern attend murrieta unified schools since 1998 and I have to say this is the best school we have attended and the most positive environment for developing young minds.
—Submitted by a parent

I haved my daughter last year and she learn a lot on this school, this school is the best in Riverside County. I am very sad to move her to another school but we move to another town for my husban job.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers my child has had have been wonderful. My child is reading, writing and doing mathematics at a higher level than most his age from other districts. I greatly appreciate the teachers for the effort they give their students each day. The school could work on extracurricular activities for all ages not just for the older kids. I also would like to see something done about the parking drop off and pick up not exactly a safe one.
—Submitted by a parent

My first three children have all attended Cole Canyon from the first year it opened in 2000/2001 and we could not be more pleased. The faculty is top notch, caring, and dedicated. It helps that there is a tremendously high level of parent involvement.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has attended Cole Canyon from first to fourth grades. The quality of the teachers is excellent. The principal and teachers strive for the best in the students and provide any help needed to get them to their best. Everyone is very caring and the parents are very involved.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at Cole Canyon for 4 years now. We all love it and are very pleased with the school. The parent involvement is amazing and we have had incredible teachers every single year!
—Submitted by Heather, a parent

My son has atttended Cole Canyon Elementary from the middle of the 2nd grade through the 3rd grade. CCE is a school where the children come first. Each child is encouraged to do their personal best without being labeled as the smart or dumb kids. The teachers are highly skilled and work hard to bring out the best in each child. The principal is kind and knows each child by name. She attends parent conferences and is involved in what they call interventions. Student interventions consist of the parent, teacher, principal, and two other staff members who all meet together to discuss the best possible solutions to help the students achieve their best. Teachers give extra attention to students who need it, and offer an early class once a week for students who need the extra help in a particular subject.
—Submitted by a parent