GreatSchools Rating
In the know: Get our expert advice on schools
Share with friends! Post your opinion of Alisal Elementary School on Facebook.
Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
Awesome school. Balanced - Not very demanding at the same time, not laid back. I meet the parents of some other supposedly "top" schools in the same district and they tell horror stories about theirs. I feel my daughter is getting developed in an all round manner. Love it!
—Submitted by a parent
My son went to Third grade last school year..I love everything about the school, except only one thing i.e they charge you more for class supplies compared to other Pleasanton schools..Most of the schools charge about $45 but Alisal charges between $65-75 per student, which I find to be very high..
—Submitted by a parent
Very high quality method of teaching. Basic skills being taught in Math, Science and English. Most students are smart and hardworking. I think the success of this school is due to parent participation in school activities and another factor is the high level of education of the parents. The amount of excitement i see t my daughter to go to school is speechless.
—Submitted by a parent
This is a really great school. The principal, teachers and support staff are incredible. They are very caring and concerned for the kids. Its a nice community to be a part of. My older child attended another school in Pleasanton which we also loved but there is something special about Alisal.
—Submitted by a parent
My child moved here this year after two horrible years in a charter school. I could not be happier about the care her teacher takes in providing individualized attention and true care for the students and their learning. The parent community is supportive and engaged in providing extra resources as the district and state are taking them away. The principal is incredibly present and welcoming. I could not be happier that we were "overflowed" to this school, and do not intend to leave.
—Submitted by a parent
This is an excellent school. My son attended this school for a year in 2009-2010 and he learned a lot academically and socially. The teacher Mrs Weeks is really a wonderful teacher, and the principal and the staff were all very caring and dedicated. Since my attendance area is in Walnut Grove, we just moved my son to the Grove but we missed Alisal a lot.
—Submitted by a parent
My daughter's are been so fortunate to attend such a great school. The teacher's here are extremely talented and creative. The principal is also very good about communicating with parents and dealing with any and all issues that may arise. Parent involvement is also very good.
—Submitted by a parent
We've been at Alisal for 5 years now, I have 3 girls attending. We are extremely happy and feel fortunate our girls can attend a school in Pleasanton and perfectly happy and satisfied with Alisal. Every year I have been impressed and very happy with the teachers my girls get. Even more important, they have always loved their teachers!
—Submitted by a parent
We are not happy with this school at all. From the principal to the teachers there is nothing but disfunctional behavior at this school. We are definitely looking to move next year! My child deserves way better than what they have received thus far!!!
—Submitted by a parent
I love the education my child is receiving from Alisal. This his 6th year and I've had no disapointments. Growing up in private schools I had my reservations at first, but now I am completely satisfied and I know I made the right choice.
—Submitted by a parent
My older daughter has attended Alisal for the past two years and my younger daughter will start next week. Alisal is a wonderful school with fantastic teachers, great students, and dedicated parents. I was amazed at the reading and writing level that my daughter was at when she ended First Grade and I think this speaks to the strong curriculum and hard work of the teachers. The teachers are lead by Principal Amy Simione who I am SOO impressed with. Ms. Simione started at Alisal in the Fall of 2006 and she is wonderful with the students. She makes herself very available on campus (she s out directing the drop-off traffic every morning and greeting students by name) and it seems that the staff is well organized and in strong support of her leadership. We have been very pleased with Alisal and look forward to many more successful years there.
—Submitted by a parent
Both my sons attend Alisal. I moved to Pleasanton based on their school district. I am very happy with the level of learning and with the dedication and suuport of the staff with my children. Not only the pricipal and teachers, but other parents willingness to help out ALL children succeed. Many resources available to children and lots of volunteering year-round. Ms. Simione is very approachable and dedicated to each child overall well-being and success. She has been working with me and my son and his teacher, and I see a spectacular and positive change in my son's attitude and behavior. She has (and the teachers) made themselves available for communication by phone and e-mail on a regular basis. My children love Alisal and their happiness is my happiness. My little one just finished Kinder eager to learn and explore, my oldest one will be entering 5th grade this fall.
—Submitted by a parent
My oldest went through Alisal and now my youngest is attending. I have had only wonderful teachers, who support my child and make sure that if he needs additional help, he receives it. The teachers work hard to make sure that students are challenged. The teachers and staff also work together to share ideas that work and are willing to try new programs to help keep up on the latest information and learning tools. The school has a very involved PTA who also stands behind the teachers and staff 100% and who is there to help parents when needed. I highly recommend Alisal to any family interested in their child receiving the very best education in a friendly, nuturing environment.
—Submitted by a parent
I have only one year of experience at Alisal but, it's been great so far. Teachers work together a lot and I like that. Our classroom had many parent volunteers and that made a big difference the teacher said. I do believe that in this day and age, parents really need to step it up and volunteer a whole lot more. Being a working parent is no excuse either, as many in our class were working parents who volunteered... including dads. Our class made great strides this year, above average the teacher said, in part due to volunteers and of course, involved parents. That's the bottom line!
—Submitted by a parent
I have not been impressed with Alisal at all. The principal seems to have a control issue. My child's teacher(s) have been a joke this year.
—Submitted by a parent
Alisal is a great school with great teachers and a lot of parent involvement (sometimes too much). My child loves his teacher and it is a safe environment.
—Submitted by a parent
This is the best school around. My son had gone through some difficult personal issues and the teachers were wonderful with him. They also had a counselor on site that he met with weekly. I have moved and my son will not be able to attend alisal. I hope his new school will be half as good.
—Submitted by a parent
My daughter and son attended Aliasl. My grandkids age 10 and 7 attend currently. It was a wonderful school many years ago and still is. A quality school is a school with great parent involvement. Alisal has that. The teachers are well rounded and disiplined. The District is one to be congratulated on a job well done.
—Submitted by Carol Withers
I don't think that I ever met anyone who loves their job as much as Principal Heisser. Her committment shows through in the staff she has cultivated. Very competent and proactive staff. Her dedication to provide kids with the best possible learning environment is truly inspirational.
—Submitted by a parent
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
The API reflects year-over-year schools performance based on STAR test score results from spring 2012.
The state average for English Language Arts was 58% in 2012.
105 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 64% in 2012.
105 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 48% in 2012.
95 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 69% in 2012.
96 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 67% in 2012.
111 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 71% in 2012.
111 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 63% in 2012.
110 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 65% in 2012.
109 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Science was 60% in 2012.
110 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 83% |
| Females | 85% |
| Males | 80% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 93% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 83% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 45% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 87% |
| Students with disability | 54% |
| Students with no reported disability | 87% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 85% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 75% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 81% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 97% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 81% |
| Females | 83% |
| Males | 78% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 93% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 79% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 45% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 85% |
| Students with disability | 46% |
| Students with no reported disability | 86% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 83% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 64% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 83% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 94% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 73% |
| Females | 78% |
| Males | 67% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 85% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 75% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 77% |
| Students with disability | 56% |
| Students with no reported disability | 76% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 76% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | 50% |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 55% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 78% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 81% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 90% |
| Females | 92% |
| Males | 88% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 100% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 91% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 92% |
| Students with disability | 67% |
| Students with no reported disability | 95% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 91% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | 92% |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 67% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 94% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 94% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 89% |
| Females | 89% |
| Males | 89% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 100% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 73% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 89% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 82% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 90% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 90% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 92% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | 82% |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 85% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 96% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 85% |
| Females | 84% |
| Males | 87% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 100% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 67% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 87% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 71% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 88% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 87% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 88% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | 73% |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 88% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 91% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 83% |
| Females | 90% |
| Males | 76% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 87% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 54% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 88% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 87% |
| Students with disability | 50% |
| Students with no reported disability | 88% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 86% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 57% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 85% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 94% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 82% |
| Females | 88% |
| Males | 74% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 96% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 50% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 85% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 83% |
| Students with disability | 45% |
| Students with no reported disability | 86% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 82% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 71% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 79% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 90% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 85% |
| Females | 88% |
| Males | 82% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 96% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 54% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 89% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 89% |
| Students with disability | 67% |
| Students with no reported disability | 88% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 88% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | 79% |
| Parent education - college graduate | 85% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 90% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
All students
Female
Male
All students
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
White (not Hispanic)
All students
Economically disadvantaged
Non-economically disadvantaged
Students with disability
Students with no reported disability
Fluent-English proficient and English only
Gifted and talented
Parent education - high school graduate
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)
Parent education - college graduate
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate
All students
| Ethnicity | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 57% | 28% | ||
| Asian | 22% | 8% | ||
| Hispanic or Latino | 12% | 49% | ||
| Filipino | 4% | 3% | ||
| African American | 2% | 7% | ||
| Multiple or No Response | 2% | 3% | ||
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1% | 1% | ||
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language learners 1 | 12% | N/A | 24% |
| Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 2 | 9% | N/A | 52% |
| Language | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish | 34% | 85% | ||
| All other non-English languages | 24% | 1% | ||
| Korean | 13% | 1% | ||
| Hindi | 4% | 0% | ||
| Farsi (Persian) | 3% | 0% | ||
| Filipino (Pilipino or Tagalog) | 3% | 1% | ||
| Gujarati | 3% | 0% | ||
| Japanese | 3% | 0% | ||
| Mandarin (Putonghua) | 3% | 1% | ||
| Russian | 3% | 0% | ||
| Arabic | 1% | 1% | ||
| Assyrian | 1% | 0% | ||
| Rumanian | 1% | 0% | ||
| Urdu | 1% | 0% | ||
| Vietnamese | 1% | 2% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average class size | 22 | N/A | 25 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average years teaching in district | 9 | N/A | 11 |
| Average years teaching | 11 | N/A | 13 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full credential | 100% | N/A | 96% |
| Emergency credential or waiver | 0% | N/A | 2% |
Tips for understanding school culture
Apply
Tell parents
more about
your school
Visit
1454 Santa Rita Road
Pleasanton,
CA 94566
Website: Click here
Phone: (925) 426-4200
To start a new list, click OK. Otherwise click Cancel.
Walnut Grove Elementary School
Pleasanton, CA
Lighthouse Baptist School
Pleasanton, CA
Hillview Christian Academy
Pleasanton, CA
Valley View Elementary School
Pleasanton, CA
Hacienda School
Pleasanton, CA
Fairlands Elementary School
Pleasanton, CA
About GreatSchools
Our mission is to inspire and support families to champion their children's education - at school, at home and in their community. We are a national non-profit with offices in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Washington D.C. and Indianapolis.
Find the great schools in California
GreatSchools, Inc. 160 Spear Street, Suite 1020, San Francisco, CA 94105
©1998-2013 GreatSchools Inc. All Rights Reserved. GreatSchools is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
Thank you! You will begin to receive newsletters from us shortly.
Great work! Only one more step. Now we just need you to verify your email address. Please click on the link in the email we just sent you to complete your registration.
Great work! Only one more step. Now we just need you to verify your email address. Please click on the link in the email we just sent you to submit your review.
Please click on the link in the verification email we just sent you to complete your change of email address.
Whoops! It looks like we still need to verify your email. To do so, please click on the link in the email we sent you. Can't find the e-mail? Click the button below and we'll send you a new one.
Thanks for registering. Welcome to GreatSchools, the largest online community committed to improving educational outcomes through parental involvement.
Thanks for verifying your updated email address.
Oops! You haven't verified your email address yet. To do so, please click on the link in the email we sent you. Can't find the email? Click the button below to receive a new one.
Oops! That email verification link has expired. Please click the button below to receive a new one.
Join GreatSchools to participate in the parent community and other discussions on our site.
Your review has been posted to GreatSchools.
Share with friends! Post your opinion of Alisal Elementary School on Facebook.
Welcome to GreatSchools!
For principals and school officials, we offer a special Enhanced School Profile (ESP) which allows you to update and add information about your school, as well as respond to reviews. If you are a school official, click Continue to start.
Please note that it can take up to 48 hours for your comment to be posted to our site. While you're here, we'd like to invite you to fill out a survey on your school's programs, activities, and extracurriculars. It only takes a few minutes and will help parents get a full picture of your school.
Continue to compare the schools you have already selected or Edit schools to change your selection.
Get started now! You have successfully registered and can now start updating your Official School Profile. The information you provide is extremely valuable in helping parents and students learn more about your school, so thanks for taking the time!
Thank you for registering as a school leader. We just need to verify your email address. We've sent you an email - please click on the link in that message to get started editing your school's information!

