Dewey Elementary School

My daughter's teacher is enthusiastic with making sure that she will have the help she needs while attending Dewey to make sure she doesnt "slip through the cracks" like so many children do. The principal is very caring towards the students. My daughter is always happy about the activity that she has at the school on a daily basis.
—Submitted by a parent

My family and I just moved to San Diego from Florida. I'm not very impressed by Dewey. In comparison with other schools in Point Loma it isn't very clean and the office staff leaves a lot to be desired. My husband and I found the principal to be very rude and completely unhelpful. She brushed us off when we presented her with our concerns about year round school (which is completely impractical for a school with 90% military families). No one offered to give us a tour of the school. No one bothered to look at my daughters' records from their previous school. The only person who seemed to know what she was doing, the woman who takes care of enrollment, doesn't seem to work at the school full time. And there didn't seem to be much communication between her and the rest of the staff. I asked repeatedly for a school supply list and was never given one. The only reason I'm giving three stars instead of one is I'm hoping our experience with the teachers will be more positive. If you're considering moving to this area, try to get your child into Loma Portal Elementary. It's much cleaner, the staff is friendlier, the principal is knowledgable and their state test scores are better.
—Submitted by a parent

Dewey Elementary School has a Wonderful Principal who really cares about the students. With 85% of the children being part of a military family, the school is aware of the needs of the military child and has a access to resources to enrich and help with the needs of the student. Military Parent Coffee once a month helps parents become aware of all the resources for the family and students as well as brings a sense of community to the school. The PTO has paid for the first year of Art Corps art program and will continue to sponsor this much needed enrichment program for the students of Dewey. Parent Volunteers are not only needed but welcomed for a variety of activities from volunteering in your child's classroom, to raising funds, to assisting the office. Just remember, children will succeed in school when parents get involved in their child's education. If you are moving to the area, enroll your child in this school, come to the PTO meetings and get involved and you and your child will experience the best school ever!
—Submitted by a parent

We are undergoing a much needed bathroom remodel this summer! This is great news for us!
—Submitted by a teacher

Very good School for Special Needs & Military Families.They are careing and understanding. They try to met all the needs that come up with this unique famlies.
—Submitted by a parent

Great military friendly school. Caring and motivated staff. Excellent and highly involved PTO. We enjoyed events/programs such as the harvest festival, deployed parent support group, book fair and reading club.
—Submitted by a parent

Dolphin Pride all the way....it's hard to find another school like Dewey. Dewey students, staffs, and teachers are great. Our principal supports Special Needs & Military Families. Our students SOAR to the top.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son just started at Dewey as a Kindergartener this year, but I have to say we are so happy that he is going there. For months he told us how much he didn't want to go to school and could he just stay home with me all day instead? After 1 day he was eager to go back and couldn't wait to go to sleep and get up for day 2! He absolutely loves Ms. Allen and we are already dreading taking him away from her mid year when we move. I love that the school is secured throughout the day and feel wonderful knowing my son is absolutely safe when not in my care. We haven't met the principle yet, but she's already sent an email to the parents and the office staff is very friendly and on top of things. :)
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. A lot has changed since the introduction of the PTO this year, and a new principal. They have also installed security doors, and if you do not check in with the office, you cannot enter the hallways to the classrooms. My son loves his teacher, and I think she is awesome. The staff is incredibly friendly. The schools test scores are high, and actually improved a lot since just last year. I am so glad that I sent my son to this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son has been attending Dewey for the past 2 years. Overall we have had a good experience. His teachers have been wonderful and the expectations and test scores of the students are high. Some concerns are the lack of security, cleanliness and the all dirt playground. There is a large area that would be ideal for grass. Other than that, we have been pleased with our son's education here.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter just started attending Dewey this year. We are very happy with the school. the teachers and staff are really friendly and you can tell they really care about the kids. We are a military family and I find it nice that most of the children who attend are military children as well.
—Submitted by a parent

My child's teacher is wonerful., she really trues to help the kids any way that she can. The rest of the school is horrible. It isn't a very clean school, the office staff is very unorganized. There is no A/C in the school. And being year round they are still in school during the summer months which is hard on the kids. I know my child has come home sick because of the heat.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that we should consider it a little disheartening that 2 out of 3 positve reviews written for this school were written by a staff member or a teacher. The parents voices have not been heard. We are happy with the academic achievements of the students in Dewey. The negative reviews have stated things such as the lack of parent involvement which, as far as I can tell, is a direct result of it not being a welcome or encouraged part of the overall school. My childrens teachers are wonderfull, fun, warm people and indiviually encourage parent involvement. What we can use is something to bring the school together as a whole...Parents can help if they are given the opportunity. The other issue I have heard from Dewey Parents has been the lack of security. The front door being wide open makes us feel that our children arent safe.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are for the most part great. The principle doesn't really seem to care about her students and school safety is a zero. Anyone can walk right in to the school at any time of the day without being stopped or questioned. Test scores are high, but so is th eamount of homework. School could also use a good cleaning and garbage pick up once in a while.
—Submitted by a parent

My child's teachers are very supportive, caring and interactive. The test scores are high, the students are happy. There are plenty of parent's nights, lunch time cookouts, and other extra-curricular activities. Additionally, the before and after school programs and CDC should be taken into consideration when rating a school. These are very important programs that boost a child's learning and require the use of the facility and support of the elementary school staff. We are a military family as well, so please stop using that as a crutch for your child's struggles. I drive twenty minutes from East County in order to send my children to Dewey and while I do not always enjoy the traffic, in the end I know it is the right thing to do. I care about my child's education enough to take action, and not just complain.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal is unresponsive. She fails to have the knowledge to properly interact with both parents and children. The office staff lacks organization and doesn't provide or follow security measures regarding the students. A school should not be considered a great school just because of a before and after school program. My child enjoyed school before going here.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. My kids are doing great. They started at the Child Development Side (Preschool & After School Care) which is even better than the grade school. My only complaint is that the teachers do not dress professionally, which I think goes a long way. If the kids can't wear flip flops, neither should the teachers. A quality teacher would be given much more respect if they dressed the part. Even with that being said, if nothing else, but your preschoolers in the CDC. It provides a great foundation to their education.
—Submitted by Christina P, a parent

Dewey is a wonderful little gem of a school in a huge district. A National Blue Ribbon winner, Dewey strives to ensure all children meet and exceed their potential. The staff are friendly and supportive of their students and one another. The Principal is one of the most open, supportive and encouraging principals I have come into contact with. Yes, the school stuggles with its PTA- having such a high mobility rate amongst its military parents makes it almost impossible to keep a PTA alive and functioning, but every year they try. I would not hesitate to send my children here.
—Submitted by a teacher

School is not all about acedemic, it is about morale and teacher/parent communication. Which this school extremly lacks.
—Submitted by a parent

We are a National Blue Ribbon School (240 school selected from public & private schools - based strictly on academic achievement), recognized as one of the Best Urban Schools (18 were selected nationwide), Title I High Achievement School --- We are a great school, we hard working teachers & a hard working principal!
—Submitted by a teacher