Apricot Valley Elementary School

Apricot Valley is a good school! There are steps and strides that need to be made to make it a great school. I agree English Language Learners are holding down our API scores, they should be a separate subgroup accounting with the special needs kids. I do agree that these parents need to be held more accountable, most spanish speaking parents don't even try to learn English or teach English to their kids, they leave all that up to the schools, which is highly unfair for the kids who are born here and speak English. Our kids are the last in line most of the time for funding or any advanced programs, why is that? The state needs to revamp the No Child Left Behind Act, because American kids are getting Left Behind!!!
--Submitted by a parent

We are new to this area and are very happy w/ Apricot Valley. Our Son is in Kindergarten and he loves his teacher Mrs. Coehlo. She has always been very helpful when ever I have questions and seems to care a lot about how our son is doing. He also loves the after school program. I am impressed w/ the many things they do w/ the kids. Teaching them to cook, going on feild trips, bringing in others such as the Police Dept., Fire Dept. and even a Karate instructor to teach them different things. The only complaint I've had is a dirty bathroom which my son will not go # Two until he gets home because he doesn't want to sit on the dirty toilet seat. I don't blame him. But this is towards the end of the day in the after school program after a full day of use.
--Submitted by a parent

We have had an exceptional experience at Apricot Valley. I have been beyond pleased with the challenging curriculum, the school policies of respect for yourself and all others and the passion the school staff has for our childrens education and future. My sons first grade teacher has been amazing and goes above and beyond! The principal is ever present and involved. You can find him helping in the front of the school guiding traffic and helping the kids cross the street. Every person who works/helps at this school genuinely cares about the kids. We came to this school and to Patterson unsure but open minded and we have been blown away in such a positive way. I could write a novel about it, but I will just say that I am proud that my kids and I can be a part of Apricot Valley and it's continued success.
--Submitted by a parent

Of all the schools in Patterson I am pleased that my children were able to attend AVE. My children have attended AVE since it opened and over the past few years I have seen marked improvement in the way that it operates; from the principal to the teachers as well as the PTO. I have seen them rise to the challenge of having a large number of English Learners and to the constant change of students from year to year as a result of our economy and transient community. Our PTO has played a in big part in helping to make this a great school by raising money to provide field trips, educational assemblies and necessary play equipment for the students. The teachers, principal and staff consistently challenge our children to rise to the occasion and to prove that we are best school in Patterson. Kodos on the 803 API score.
--Submitted by a parent

I was not pleased at first going into this school. As it was my fist time going to a year round school. I have 2 daughter whom went there and I went in open minded. So I was very understanding.. Over all the school is good.. I was not pleased about my daughter didn't have a good kinder year. I was not happy at all. The class had alot of special need kids that took everything away from the rest of the class. I feel my daughter would of been more ready for the 1st grade if there were no hold backs. They had no kind of party and ceremoney for them graduating from kinder. I feel the school should get together and have ceremonies for the kinder who are going to the 1st grade and the 5th leaving. This school did nothing.It's a big deal. Kids work Hard too!
--Submitted by a parent

We had Mrs. Christenson for part of our 3 rd grade year. She was wonderful and I feel that we were lucky to have been a part of her class. She encourages her kids to be create and fueled their interests. Thank you for doing more than just pushing curriculum!
--Submitted by a parent

Our school is not perfect, but the teachers and volunteers do as best they can. We are on our 3rd principal in 3 years and we are still making strides in the right direction. Visit Northmead, Grayson, or Las Palmas Elementary. You will thank your lucky stars your children go to Apricot Valley. Our school is up to date while theirs are stuck in the 40's or 50's. Academic responsibility...let's place the blame where it squarely belongs, on the parents.
--Submitted by a parent

I'd like to respond as a parent at this school. You know our school has the highest test scores in the district. We have the ability to be over 800 in our API scores, but it is a little known fact that the reason we aren't is because a subgroup (the groupings of kids that are used to compute API scores), is not making growth. This group is the English Language Learner group. Let's look more closely at that and put more accountability on those parents to bring their students up to par. This is accurate information, not hearsay. Our principal has this information on file. Keep in mind, if this group does not make growth, even though all other sub-groups do, our school will go into program improvement (PI) which means the state will come in and take over...as part of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
--Submitted by a parent

I wanted to respond to the post submitted by a parent in July. When that post was submitted, Apricot Valley had the highest test scores in the district. Since then, 2008 scores have been released and we made an 18 point gain and continue to be the highest performing school in the district. Therefore, I am not sure what this individual meant by stating we have low test scores??? Furthermore, the 45 minute period mentioned is a time when GATE and Advanced students get a special 'enrichment' time each day. Of course, students who need extra support do get what they need during that period as well. Apricot Valley is not perfect, but it is a pretty great place for kids to be.

School is well below average as can be seen by their low testing scores. The teachers try to do the best they can, but the parent involvement is minimal and the school seems to be treated as a free daycare. The idea of setting aside 45 minutes of each morning to address the students that are having trouble passing state tests to improve overall scores is ridiculous. While this may improve overall scores, it does not improve, or enrich my childrens education, nor does it reward the students that are meeting state goals. The quality of the school, and the realization that the school is getting worse, is the main reason we have decided to leave Patterson. The gang issue is also a concern as you progress through the Patterson Unified School District.
--Submitted by a parent