Arroyo Vista Elementary School

Great community of parents and teachers all working together to give our children a wonderful education.
—Submitted by a parent

I love the school and its teachers, and my daughter enjoys it more than any school she has ever gone to. Arroyo Vista is her third school she has attended in Elementary, her father's job moves us around sometimes . . .
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to South Pasadena so that our kids could attend the schools here, and we have been extremely pleased with AV. The new principal is outstanding, and the teachers and community support are wonderful. I am delighted to be a part of the AV community!
—Submitted by a parent

I am constantly blown away by this school. The teachers and staff find creative and artistic ways for my daughter to learn every day. I feel like she is getting a private school education at a public school and parent involvement is like nothing I have ever seen. We could not be happier! We feel lucky to have her enrolled at Arroyo Vista.
—Submitted by a parent

Great little school. With good teachers and staff. My child is learning so much and the involvement of the parents is outstanding. Very picturesque little school.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers and academic starndars.
—Submitted by a parent

I am interested in moving to the scool district and this school.
—Submitted by a parent

While this is certainly still an above average public school, much has changed in the last year. We began over 3 years ago and were embraced by an amazing principal who had cultivated an unusually supportive and unique culture and community. The new very young and inexperienced principal is sweet and earnest but lacks the vision and forcefulnessthat could have moved this school even further - upward towards 5 stars. The school district has been very ineffective in finding the replacement so we had 2 interim principals before finding the one we now have.
—Submitted by a parent

We are really happy with Arroyo Vista- the parent community & PTA is so involved & committed to excellent, the school itself is excellent academically & our experiences in the 1.5 yrs we've been here with the teachers & the principal (old & new) have all been really positive. The GATE class is stellar. Highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

A wonderful school with a positive vibe. Parents are very involved and there is a feeling of cooperation with staff. The principal is outstanding -- very accessible and hands on. Drama and music are available. Art docents contribute to various classrooms. Academic standards are stressed and are somewhat competitive. All in all a good learnig and growing environment.
—Submitted by a parent

Two yearly book fairs, an Art fair, a science fair, jogathan, all-city track meet, Sports Day, etc., are all sponsored by PTA. A nice little school.
—Submitted by a parent

High expectations, friendly staff, involved parent community
—Submitted by a parent

Great School! Active parents, diverse community, fabulous principal. Highly recommend!
—Submitted by a parent

AV has wonderful parental involvement, and therefore a great community spirit. The principal knows all of the kids by name and is always very visible on campus, with the kids and the facutly.
—Submitted by a parent

High expectations for students, teachers assign the work, but don't prepare the students to do the work in all cases. Need more arts in the curriculum. Extra programs are pay as you go, very little available for gifted students. Criterial for identifying gifted students needs to coincide with National standards. Parents expected to fund and run programs. Lunches served at school are very high fat content, high ratio of teachers leaving every year. School site full to the brim with extra classrooms being placed in children's play area.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents work so hard to make this school work, providing countless hours of involvement, driving to field trips, assisting teachers, and donating thousands of dollars every year. We are lucky to have a school board, especially Tammy Godley looking after the interest of the parents, students, and staff in making South Pas. better than it ever was. The school board donates thousands of hours every year without receiving a salery and not much thanks, but their hard work and proven integrity as well as a committment to students is invaluable. The new superintendent, Rob Arias is a breath of fresh air, a much needed welcome relief to S.P. He has the courage and the conviction to lead this district to the top. He has already started modeling a pattern of excellence in how to deal with parents and students with respect. This a positive change.
—Submitted by a parent

Very positive community, staff works well together, friendly office staff, clean campus, displayed student work everywhere, well-organized.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school with significant parental involvement. The principal is especially good and very responsive. Each of the teachers I have encountered has been very good.
—Submitted by a parent

I had been looking for a good public school district and South Pasadena is definitely that. Everyone had talked to me about Marengo specifically not Arroyo Vista and it is certainly a wonderful school. However, both my sisters' kids go to Arroyo Vista and spoke so highly of the principal, Mrs. Jennings and the entire staff. There is such a feeling of community and support that I am really looking forward to my daughter attending in the fall. Even the preparatory meetings have helped enormously with both my daughter's trepidation at starting a new school and my own accompanying nervousness. We are looking forward to a great year.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Arroyo Vista from 4th on up. He has a learning disability and this school was outstanding in working with him. Very dedicated teachers and staff. I loved everything about this school and wish that my son could have been there longer.
—Submitted by a parent