Madrona Elementary School

We chose which home to purchase when we relocated to the area based on the wonderful reviews of this school. We were very disappointed for two reasons. 1) The teacher to student ratio for grades 4 and 5 is 35:1. The lower grades has a better ratio of 25:1. With those ratios, and one teacher in the classroom, students fall through the cracks. 2) The second reason is the moral fiber of the school is low. Things go missing out of desks and backpacks and there is no interest in addressing the problem. The reply is "get better at protecting your stuff". Bullying on the playground is also very prevalent. The yard duty does try to help, but lots of bullying goes unnoticed. The reason they got the Distinguished School award is because a nearby school was closed and the students were integrated into this school. The test scores were very low the first year of integration. To the school's credit, they managed to enable the integrated student's success and the test scores got back to normal. The drastic improvement in standardized test scores is why they got the award.
—Submitted by a parent

We love this place! Our son is starting the 1st grade this year, and we have found the teachers, staff, and principal to be very involved, very caring, and very knowledgable about our child as an individual. Our son was there for Kindergarten in an integrated class with typical kids and special needs kids. Amazing teachers, amazing children (with and without special needs), amazing aids. This school is teaching kids more than just academics...they are teaching tolerance and understanding, and they are building character. We could not be more proud to say our son attends this school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is amazing. We have had such awesome teachers. Mrs Baird and Mrs Cole are simply incredible. We can't believe we used to pay for private school!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I love my school. I am in the 5th grade and have been here since kindergarten. I have learned so much.

When we moved to our new house we were not sure what to expect from our neighborhood school. Madrona has been a great place for our family.

I have three children at Madrona and have been thrilled with the programming they have received. The office staff is amazing too.
—Submitted by a parent

Madrona has been a wonderful place for our family! We feel lucky to be a part of the community.
—Submitted by a parent

Great PTA. Great teachers. Great kids. Great office staff. Distinguished School in 2012. Madrona is awesome!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

As a grandparent of ne of the students in your care, I just wanted to say "thanks" for caring so much about your precious little ones. It must be quite a challenge today to serve all the needs of parents and students, but I wanted you to know we noticed! You are awesome: teachers, adminstrators, office staff, after school care. We really appreciate your hard work. It has not gone unnoticed! F.O.R. 1

Quite frankly, I have been disappointed and wish I would have sent my son somewhere else. The school seems so big and impersonal, and has lost the character that it used to have a reputation for. I know other parents last year that wished they would have done the same, but we will stick out the next few years to see if anything changes. I had hoped our neighborhood school would have been less snobby, too.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Everything! Its a great school
—Submitted by a parent

I have 4 kids, 2 that have moved on to middle school, 1 at Madrona, and 1 starting next year. The teachers and staff are fantastic and parent volunteers are wonderful. My kids have been very well prepared for middle school, private and public. What a shame that it had to shut down their great 6th grade. :(
—Submitted by a parent

I have been so impressed by this school, the teachers, office staff, and the principal. It is hard to believe it is a public school. The PTA is amazing. The level of involvement of the parents is astounding. You just get a warm fuzzy feeling whenever you are at the school. Everybody cares. I moved here for this school, and I'll stay here for it as long as I can.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had 2 children educated at Madrona grade K-6. I couldn't be happier with all of the teachers my children have had, the caring and responsive nature of the staff, as well as the leadership of the principal. I thank all those individuals that have guided my children through their elementary years.
—Submitted by a parent

I believe Madronia is one of the best schools available to Parents/children in Thousand Oaks. The most important, in our opinion are programs that help students with reading, math, oral presentations, and Spanish. I am disappointed that more of the money allocated is not toward to these important areas. In the near future, Spanish will be the prodomient language. It is imperative elementary kids are fluent in Spanish and English. Tutors in reading and math were previously non existent. The are getting better, however. It is a shame parents are asked to vote on what $ to divert to: volleyball nets, or educational programs. The teachers are top notch and great with students. The only drawback is availability of educational tutoring, and more focus on todays challenges, not those that are antiquated (computer literacy and Spanish are just two), as well as important tools in todays business world, such as public speaking.
—Submitted by a parent

Madrona continues to improve every year. My children graduated from this school and have been very successful in college. Parent involvement is high and so are student expectations.
—Submitted by a parent

To add to my previous post... The staff in the office are a great bunch to work with! I have never had a bad experience with them even though my son (attending the past 3 years) has been in trouble a few times. No judgement or resentment towards my child or me. Madrona is not our neighborhood school so I had to fight like heck to get my son in there. And we are all so happy he did! My little one will be starting Kindergarten there (hopefully) in the fall. Thanks Madrona!
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent School in all guidelines.
—Submitted by a teacher

My husband and I love Madrona Elementary! My daughter currently attends and my son will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. This school has high standards for its students and it shows in the test scores. It also have many afterschool activities that our daughter has taken part in like tennis, art, mad science and spanish. It is a very well rounded school with a wonderful staff! I give it 5 stars!
—Submitted by a parent

I have had children at Madrona school for the past 8 years. It is a quality school. Almost every teacher is good (there may be an exception or two). Caring staff and Principal
—Submitted by Bill, a parent