Madera Elementary School

The new Principal has been fantastic. He is a positive leader, who engages with the kids. He is out there most mornings greeting the kids and directing traffic. He is really down to earth and honest. The positive change is staff attitude is noticeable the moment you walk in the office. Only three stars because only time will tell if the new principal will stay longer than the last three. (Four principals in six years). Madera still has some some great teachers but there are just as many weak ones. Fourth, fifth and sixth grades teachers assign homework, but never check to see if it was done. Test scores have been droppings due to a loss of strong K,1,2, teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers are excellent, and really work with you and your child. Madera is one of the few schools in the district that offer both art and music to all students.
--Submitted by a parent

Maybe there is hope with the new Principle. The campus supervisors/ yard duties do not assist in establishing an enviroment that stimulates growth of desirable social and emotional habits for the children. This is there job description. Adults stand watching after school as the kids bully, they take no action and are generally accepting this as normal .
--Submitted by a parent

If you are ok with your child learning how to tie their shoes and count to 10 in the first grade then Madera is the school for you! This school falsely advertises high performance scores on their website. But all I see is my child doing is doodling cartoons at the bottom of his assignments because he completes them in 5min and sits bored the rest of the day. Every day that goes by I feel like my child's brain is being wasted by sitting in a classroom with underqualified teachers. I will be transfering my son to a private school for the next school year... Madera is the worst school I have ever had experiences with!
--Submitted by a parent

This school, at best, offers very little to a child s future and learning skills. My child has attended the school for many years and is soon to be leaving with very little to show for it... a few good teachers do not carry the weight of the rest of the staff, just waiting to retire.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been going here for the last two years and I can not say enough great stuff about Madera. The principal, Mrs. Wolf is very active on the community and with the parents. My son has been fortunate enough to have the same teacher he had in K for 1st grade in a special split class. His teacher Ms. Cogan is amazing with the kids. My son is reading at almost a 3rd grade level. She lets the kids use their creativity. The PTA is amazing. The parent participation is amazing also. So glad my son goes here and my next child will be here next year.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have attended Madera since 2006. We are entering our 4th year. One thing that impresses me so much is the parent involvement at the school. The PTA is outstanding and the staff is wonderful. I receive personal calls from the principal when my child has done something noteworthy and it seems that children are constantly recognized for their achievements & good charactor. In my opinion, these are the qualities that create a good foundation for children to build upon. The teachers, in my experience, are extremely dedicated & encourage parent involvement in the class as well as at home. Let's face it, kids like to see their parents at school...it can do nothing but boost morale! So hats off to all involved with Madera's success story.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an awesome school,, the staff are freindly, the pta is amazing and the kids all work so hard. My kids have been here 2 years and i would never move them,, if you can get in its a must.
--Submitted by a parent

My child use to attend Township Elementary, although I was happy with my child's progress we had to move because we were not from the area. Then I read comments about Madera and I have yet to be dissappointed. My son has shown great improvement in the area or reading and writing. His third grade teacher Miss Johnson is great! I can't say enough good things about her. The office staff and principal are very friendly and they have lots of family activities throughout the year. I love Madera and hope to enroll my younger son soon.
--Submitted by a parent

We came to Madera because we thought it was academically a good school. We have not been disappointed as my daughter has definitely improved over the last year. She has a natural weakness in her learning to read and I would say She is borderline Dyslexic, however because of budget cuts the school refused to test her independently which is what I wanted, I refused their own psychologist to test her because they really don't know much about these types of special need - so She has not been tested at all. However, Mre Kuntz has done an astonishing job at getting my daughter up to their third grade level standards and my daughter now enjoys reading chapter books - her reading has improved tremendously - her Dad and I are very happy with her progress at Madera. Sorry to be leaving as we are re-locating!!!
--Submitted by a parent