West Valley Elementary School

I am mostly pleased with this school. This is our 5th year and we'll be here for another 4 years. There are some teachers in each grade who are phenomenal and there are some in each grade who should either retire or rethink being a classroom teacher. I wish the teacher quality was a bit more even in the upper grades so that I didn't have to hold my breath when the classroom assignments come out. We have a new principal this year and she's gotten mixed reviews. The principal who left (went to a school closer to her home w/ later start time) was mostly well liked. Our new principal seems very concerned with following the rules and she pays close attention to management and the district office. Doesn't seem as flexible as the last principal. I haven't noticed a change in the amount of parent involvement since the new principal came, but I think her decreased flexibility and stiffness has put some parents off. I think the principal is trying to make things better, but I'm not sure all the parents agree that what she's doing is making the school better.
—Submitted by a parent

West valley is a great elementary school it has a great API score. Well I know about the new principal but still this school is great school.

The new principal has absolutely wrecked this school! She knows how to manipulate and play the school system. Can't wait til my kids start Middle school. The teachers are split between those that are awesome and those that want to be the Principal's best friend. Everything is focused on the API at the cost of everything else.
—Submitted by a parent

West Vallety is an amazing school with high star testing scores and wonderful teachers like Ms. Suh Mrs Jarrar ASnd Mrs Freiberg! five stars for west valley and tren out of ten ! my child got a six hundred on her star test in third grade! she is now in sixth at Cupertino Middle! She loves West Valley and could not be happier in any other school! "West valley takes a stride in being full with pride!"
—Submitted by a parent

Since the new principal came to the school, it is apparent that she is only concerned about the teachers' welfare, not the students. It's a shame. It was such a good school. Result? Parents feel unappreciated and parental involvement has dropped dramatically. This has had a negative effect on every school program because (no surprise) they are all parent-run. Teachers just aren't interested. Also, a handful of the teachers are so apathetic that they are leaving the parking lot before parents have even picked up their kids - same teachers every day. PTA has had only ONE (wonderful) teacher interested enough to come to any meetings in at least seven years. Where is the teacher involvement in PTA? They just don't care. On the positive side, there ARE about 8-10 teachers who ARE loving, dedicated and just plain wonderful. I was honored to get to know them. Hope you get them, too.
—Submitted by a parent

I have my children at 2 different elementary schools due to other matters. I think Mrs. Brown is a very balanced principal. I am impressed in regards to the parent involvement and harmony of the school. I am looking to bring my other child back to this school due to the state budget cuts. The helpfulness in parents helps Tremendously. Too many families think it is up to the teacher to teach; this school focuses on the 'whole' and family is part of it. Surprised, 20 parent helpers per week this one teacher gets weekly! (2 am kinder, 2 pm kinder (32 kids total)) Children are happy and love going to school.
—Submitted by a parent

WV has achieved impressive improvement on the API this year (941), already better than some of the elite elementary schools in Palo Alto district. When the API improves, teachers have no need to defend the low API any more. Really no need to claim that WV is better than other schools such as 'well-rounded, balanced' - there is no prove. All the good schools nearby have own merits. Also please do not discount the importance of API. Why do you think California Educantion Department spend so much efforts preparing for the test every year?
—Submitted by a parent

WV is a great school. We are pround of this school. The teachers are great and the amount of homework is adequate. The API scores have also improved in the last two years. It seems some of the parents reviews were deleted and only the teacher's responses can be seen. I hope my review will not be deleted.
—Submitted by a parent

Learn Chinese? Since when does WV teach Chinese? We have a very diverse student population. The majority of students and parents are fantastic! The focus on API scores is a waste of time and money! That is a tiny snapshot of a school year. It is better to look at a student's achievement during a complete year in all areas, not focus on API scores!
—Submitted by a teacher

WV school met their API target growth for the last school year, so there is no disappointment there. Much of our school population prefers not to do homework everyday for 5 hours! They prefer to be well-rounded, balanced students who have afterschool activities as well as homework. The students are involved in all sorts of sports, leadership camps, and charity events. Their learning goes beyond the classroom. This kind of learning is not measured by the API scores!
—Submitted by a teacher

very high API score. Located in a good area to live. Not diversified student body. Teacher is above the average. Too focus on academic.
—Submitted by a parent

The parent involvement is great. Organizing for an upcoming year is great. School campus is big and has quite a few facilities. Expectation for K students is unreasonably high.
—Submitted by a parent

WV is a good school, especially if you want to learn chinese.
—Submitted by a parent

The staff at west valley elementary rate among the best that I have ever seen. Their dedication to the students welfare is more than 100% and the parents are equally supportive and enthusiastic about their involvement in helping the children to achieve academic and extra curricular excellence.
—Submitted by sunita dhar, a parent

I think that this school has exellent teachers and is a very good school. We learned a lot about many different things and there were many extracurricular activites.
—Submitted by a former student

This is an average schools that happens to get decent test scores. If that is what you are looking for in a public school, then it's decent. We are disappointed in the general lack of leadership and guidance. Basically, this is a very average school that does not excel in any one area.
—Submitted by a parent

This school may fall under the cupertino school district umbrella, but it lags far behind other elementary schools in the area. You cannot just look at API test scores to make an informed decision. There is no leadership or vision foe this school, and it is aparent. I believe year over year the school's quality all around has gone down -- and it is evident in enthusiasm of parental involvement as well
—Submitted by a parent

We had two children at this school, and after two years, we have decided to move them to a private school. I wish I had better things to say about this school. The lack of true leadership and direction is disppointing. A general sense of community that one expects from an elementary school is missing. The school does not provide a very nurturing environment. Only Adequate standards in academics, parent involvement and availibility in music, art, drama, computers and sports programs. Teacher to student ration is acceptable.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. I use to go here from third grade to fifth grade. The teachers are great and the fund-raisers. The walk-a-thon was a personal favorite. The staff are nice.
—Submitted by a former student

We have 2 children at West Valley, and have been very pleased with the caliber of education and the supportive, positive school spirit. There are many devoted parent volunteers, who run enrichment programs like gardening. The library is excellent, and the music program (funded by the p.t.a. and the Cupertino Ed. foundation) is great. We've been very pleased with the school.
—Submitted by a parent