Valley View Elementary School

Excellent, devoted teachers and active parents. High quality, neighborhood school.
--Submitted by a parent

I love the parent participation, school activities and natural setting.
--Submitted by a parent

Valley View has great teachers and an awesome parent group always looking for ways to enrich the students education, however the school is old and in need of TLC. Money is a huge issue, we are desperately seeking ways to squeeze more out of what we don't have and being rather successful too!
--Submitted by a parent

This school continues to be a great choice for our daughter who is now in 1st grade. She is learning in such an effective way. I attended private elementary school and was worried about going public with my kids, but I have to admit the education my daughter receives at Valley View is better than I received in private school.
--Submitted by a parent

I really like the school and staff. Principal is great. Little to no traffic because 2 people always there to speed things along. Best of all lots of parent involvement. I wish the after school programs were free like at my kids previous schools but if that was the trade I wouldn't change them because the education is much better here.
--Submitted by a parent

I currently have three children at this school and I wouldn't change that for anything. The teachers are great, the principal, Mrs Cotton, is the best ever! I plan on my children continuing in this school until they go to middle school.
--Submitted by a parent

My son started kindergarten this year & really enjoys this school. I am impressed by the high level of parent/teacher/principal involvement here. Great school! Valley View walks its talk and believes it takes a village to raise/educate a child well. They actively embrace a concept of partnering with parents, and not against them. It's also in a great neighborhood setting. As public schools go, class size is small 20 - 30 students. My son is a very active typical 'all boy' type child, so he would probably do better in an even smaller class -- or where the teacher had an assistant so young children could receive more attention. However, Mrs. Farrell the K1-am teacher does a terrific job on her own and I can't imagine anyone handling the challenge of 20+ 5 year olds all alone any better. A solid/friendly teacher - a little tough on obeying 'rules' but understandable.
--Submitted by a parent

When we were looking for a good school for our four children we did our homework and found a little gem right here in Richmond. We had to work very hard to get them all in here because Valley View is not our neighborhood school. The staff is welcoming of parent volunteers, thorough in their work with the children and promote a happy learning environment. The school principal Ms. Cotton is very accessible, friendly, and easy to approach. The campus is older, that is a good thing and also a not so much good thing. I appreciate the grounds being older. They have really big well established trees and a lot of open space. These newly developed or rebuilt schools are all cut up and black topped and sterile. But, the facilities are older. But not in need of major repair. We have a whole community supporting this school. It's Great!
--Submitted by a parent

Valley View is a school facing many transitions (which they seem to handle fairly well) The teaching staff is good this year. The Special Ed department needs a huge makeover in my opinion. The school is in a beautiful setting, the children seem happy (although I personally know of families that are not doing well and it seems that school is the only place for these kids where they are paid attention to.) I feel the Principal shows great leadership while facing the reality of this State's cutbacks and shortages. It is sad actually - when I went to school the school was a building. Now there are Modules for classrooms. Schools now have a sense of impermanance about them - which on the positive side encourages the value of flexibility. I believe Valley View creates a sense of foundational permanency, in an ever increasing impermanent world.
--Submitted by a parent

My son will be entering fourth grade this year, and this will be his second year attending Valley View. He truly enjoys it! If it was not for the parent involvement and the great principle, we may have had to move him to another school. I look forward to the new year 2008'-2009 and the next few years to come, to be a great experience for our son. *Remember parents: YOU are your child's first teacher. Without your involvement in your child's education, your child will be 'left behind'. Please do not think that teacher's are able to educate your child alone. Have a wonderful school year all!!!
--Submitted by a parent