R. I. Meyerholz Elementary School

Don't let the high API make you think that it has anything to do with the school or the teachers. Most of the kids that come to these schools have educated parents. They may also have a parent at home keeping them in line with school. Many of these students are from families that value better academic standards than the regular public schools. Most are either Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans , and very small percentage of southeast Asian such as Vietnamese Burmeses and Filipinos for all of the Cupertion Union School District. If your kid is not interested in learning or is above average than he/she will not get any better cuz the child along with their parents put in the most effort. The teachers are about 20% responsible. Just letting you people know and not to think that there is anything to do with the staffs. It is very expensive homes per square footage and also the rent is going crazy right now. My kids love school and are doing very well and that is the reason we stay.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful medium sized school with great academics and highly motivated teachers. The school has two different programs, neighborhood and Chinese Immersion. The neighborhood teachers are very caring, student oriented and easily accessible. The new principal is very good at motivating the teachers. I have already seen a difference. A new playground has just been installed for the students. Thanks Mrs. Hickey. The Chinese Immersion program however is using too much resources of this school. As a result, some programs for the whole student body such as chess has to be taken away. The Chinese program takes students from the Cupertino district. Teachers are mostly from Taiwan and the atmosphere is also Chinese. Parents involvement high. Teachers work hard, however, need to be more Americanized in teaching. Not for every student who wants to learn Chinese.
—Submitted by a parent

Very good school. Teachers are very orgnized and caring. Admin is friendly. Parents and Students are great. My daughter is very happy there everyday.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall Great!!! great parent participation, administratively very organized, caring staff and involved parents. My daugher loves it! and the YMCA that is on campus is rated the best in the system. Peace of mind.....
—Submitted by a parent

This school had two great principals the past years. But this year (2010-2011), there is a new principal. The Principal is completely unenthusiastic about adding more extra curricular programs. She has no vision of where she wants the school to progress. She is completely uninterested in betterment of the kids and the school. I would really think twice in enrolling in a school with such an indifferent principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Great immersion program, parents and teachers all working together
—Submitted by a parent

The community cares about its students and are willing to do what it takes to produce outstanding students. Parents, teachers, administrators collaborate to create the most conducive environment for learning.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is getting a good education there. Staff are caring and school is well organized.
—Submitted by a parent

Great immersion program and parents are involved in school activities.
—Submitted by a parent

Teacher don't do much in Meyerholz, they have high score is because the parents send the kids to after school tutoring all the time. We parents spend a lot of the money for our kids to have tutor, actually all the schools teacher in california are same standard, it depends on the parents in the area. If they family have money and time to spend on the kids, of course they will get high score. The new principle is so so also, not so nice and she thinks she is running the company.
—Submitted by a parent

I definitely agree with one of the past reviews about 'Chinese-style' learning with two kids in CLIP. This program is great for kids who enjoy and thrive in this style. For others who have a slightly different style or need a little more attention than others, this may not be the right place for them. Teachers always seem overly busy and don't have enough time to put in more than the norm effort. Heavy homework load and classroom curriculum seem like weed out strategies to only retain those students who have the aptitude to keep up and school/program scores up. 30:1 ratio for 1-3 next year won't help the situation and will only make it harder for the kids. On the other hand, great afterschool programs to promote cultural learning.
—Submitted by a parent

Both my daughters are part of the Chinese Language Immersion Program (CLIP) at Meyerholz. We have a new principal this year whose strong administrative skills are a benefit to the school. Parent involvement is high. PTA funds PE, art and music teachers (because CA does not). CLIP also funds Chinese art and culture classes. Extracurricular opportunities include chorus, musical and others. Teachers are great. Homework can be heavy -- in CLIP kids need to master Mandarin and English so it's to be expected.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent teachers and office staff. Many afterschool activities and teams for kids to join. I am very happy with the school.
—Submitted by a parent

The instruction is fairly good, and the Chinese Immersion program does a great job of integrating Chinese in the curriculum. However, the homework situation is way out of hand. A couple hours per night in the lower grades is the norm. (In spite of a school policy that says otherwise.) And to make it worse, it is usually filled with repetitive 'busy-work' tasks. It is clearly geared towards families that like Chinese-style rote learning who want lots of homework to occupy their kids at Kumon.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in kindergarted in the Chinese Language Immersion Program at Meyerholz. I have found the school to be a wonderful place for children to learn. The teachers are great - warm and dedicated. The parent community has been much stronger than I had expected in a public school, and I have really enjoyed getting to know the other parents even with my busy work schedule. The principal is very good. She does a fantastic job of pulling together the two communities at Meyerholz (the neighborhood and chinese immersion programs). Public education is desperately underfunded in California, and I think Meyerholz does a great job of educating our daughter despite the challenging budgetary situation.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great in academics as well as the environment. The teachers are excellent in making learning fun. There is Chinese Immersion program in this school and it is great to learn second language.
—Submitted by a parent

Principal is a strong and caring leader, she creates a good environment for teachers and parents and students to do their jobs. We've had wonderful experieinces with teachers, lots of focus on individual needs and the ability to manage a whole class. Especially good kindergarten teaching team. Mrs. Imada in first grade is master teacher, I felt like I was in public school heaven with her teaching my daughter. Ms Gradia is a perfect second grade teacher, firm and caring and fun all at the same time. The list goes on, great teachers, creative, authentic people who have your child's education as their highest priority. Great parents too. A musical put on every year is a great chance for kids to shine.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter enjoys the school. I think most of the teachers are great and it is well run. The academic program is good. I wish there was a better PE situation. I think my daughter gets PE once a week and it is taught by the teacher.
—Submitted by a parent

For the first time, after attending several pre-schools and kindergartens in several states, my child is happy with his school environment.
—Submitted by a parent

My son went to this school and spent 4 years there. He attended individualized education classes in teh first 2 years. We were very happy with the academic achievement there. The last two years he spent in regular classes - the transition was not very smooth. We thought that the school should have provided a little more oversight during this difficult transition process. Overall the academic programs are pretty good, they also have great science camps. The after school activities are rather limited: I believe the school should have provided more choices to the kids.
—Submitted by a parent