Harmony Elementary School

This could potentially be the greatest elementary school. The teachers are the best! The new principal seems more concerned with test scores rather than the individual child. There have been valuable staff members "pushed out" only to be replaced by people less involved with the "whole child" child concept. It is said to be a school built around Place Based Learning. That is becoming less and less the reality of this beautiful school. It used to feel like a private/parent involved school and now it's becoming just another public elementary school. I hope the administration sees this and "turns the ship around". The sense of fairness that once was, is definitely gone due to the new principle and others. I am very concerned, and continually looking for alternatives, although I truly don't want to.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school that really cares about a well rounded child. The STAR testing varies greatly by the students in the 2nd grade - the teachers teach to teach. They don't teach to the test like they do in other schools. You can see the results in the achievements of the older students. The children at our school have enrichment that no other school offers in the public sector. My son in second grade has Spanish teacher come in twice a week, a full garden/science program with garden teacher, a music teacher taught class, a science class by a science teacher, and a reading teacher that tutor kids individually every week as needed. The parents are very active in this small school. The schools property sits on 60 acres with nature trails, redwood trees and a creek with an observation deck to watch the salmon run upstream
--Submitted by a parent

The academic progran are horrible they have no real extracurricular activities. The administration is unorganized and as are the teachers. I was so disappointed with this I pulled my children out.
--Submitted by a parent

We recently moved to Sebastopol from San Francisco and looked around at several good schools in the area. However Harmony/Salmon Creek stood out as the greatest school. We were given a very informative tour, met several teachers and the principal. We have 2 girls at Harmony both just finished Kindergarten and 2nd grade - it's been a great year for them. Not only have they come so far this year academically but also have learnt so much about the arts because of the great extra curriculum activities which are provided. My 2nd graders has science, garden, PE, poetry, art, music and Spanish as part of the curriculum every week. My kindergartner has had a safe fun fulled year with exciting field trips, Spanish, library and music, she's now reading and loves it most importantly.
--Submitted by a parent