Glen Cove Elementary School

My son attended for kindergarten only. He was moved into a combined k/1 class that was extremely disorganized and disfunctional. His teacher attempted to do the best she could but the students were vastly different in ability that both grades suffered. I volunteered regularly just to ensure there was some progress in his learning. My son was reported as truant after us taking a short trip for his birthday. We let the teacher know and got his work for the time he would be absent to be surprised a few weeks after returning that we had to attend a truancy hearing. My main concern was that no one phoned to see if my 5yr old was ok after not showing up to school and they claimed no calls. But they sure were upset about classroom funding lost by his absence. I felt that his education was supposed to be done by the teacher in class not by parents at home. Unfortunately Vallejo's budget woes will leave a mark on the future for years to come.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a disaster. The problem seems to be tenure. This school can't seem to get rid of bad teachers. Teachers keep expecting parents to take control of their children's education but teachers are getting paid to do the job and it is not getting done. They blame children, parents, community anyone but their own inability to teach. Having taught I think it is terrible that we all enable this corrupt system. a system which continues to pass around the bad apples and lemon teachers. Lets get rid of teachers that only want a paycheck and could care less about education. I think the school attitude starts with the principal. Anyone so afraid to take on bully parents will not take on bully kids. Time for a change all the way around. We are moving and I am taking my kids to a 5 star school with an 8 out of 10 rating. Time to step up as parents and if you can change schools and if you can't complain. It is time to take on the tenure system. There is a reason that charter schools are thriving.............
--Submitted by a parent

The 3rd grade teacher Ms. Bravo is incompetent, picking up your child is a lesson in road rage in the parking lot, and the administration staff is ridiculously RUDE and tend to give unwanted "advice" when you ask the simplest of questions. Next year we are going back to HOMESCHOOL!
--Submitted by a parent

Last year 2010-2011 was my 3rd graders first year attending Glen Cove School. Although, my daughter's 3rd grade teacher and I had a few misunderstandings during the school year, I found her to be a strong teacher in the classroom. Also, Mr. Allison is a dynamic and caring principal. I do not believe that any school is perfect, especially in the public school system, I believe my child received a good and well organized 3rd grade education during the year. I believe that in order to obtain a quality education for one's child, parent involvement is key, and parent's must reinforce the curriculum and skills taught in class at home. Parent's must micro-manage their child's education, and become very familiar with the grade's curriculum. Parent's must not rely solely on the teacher, school or school district to educate their child, parents MUST become involved. So, before anyone bashs Glen Cove Elementary School,the teachers, office staff or principal make sure you have done all that was expected of you on behalf of your child's education. P.S. every school is dealing with bullying and disciplinary issues.
--Submitted by a parent

What on earth is the principal thinking on having the kids out in the cold sprinkling just to practice for chorus? Wow he had a umbrella to cover his piano but what about the kids? Dont get surprise if your kids get sick.
--Submitted by a teacher

The school has a lot of potential. I have a kindergarten in the school and he learned qutie a bit but I do have to teach him at home also to re-enforce the topics he's learning. The reviews have gotten worst the last few years but I don't think it's entirely the school's fault. I'm sure the state's school budget affected the quality of education. Unlike Alameda, Orinda, Moraga, and other cities that have additional local taxes to support schools, it's tough when class sizes grow to 28, and maybe even 32. Can you imagine one teacher handling 28/32 often undisciplined students in a public school with no additional help? I can't, so I volunteer a lot. Good luck to everyone.
--Submitted by a parent

i had the worst experience at this school it really seems to me like the teacher my son had this year just did not care or want to be there i saw her on several occasion screaming at a little girl in his class. She also came up to me one afternoon and told me my son had failed there reading test so i asked her what can we do to help him is there a class you can put him in and she said "NO THAT THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN " that's why when i went and talked to the office and they set me up the the help my son needed she also lied to me on an occasion and the lady in the office and the principle also know about that so needles to say i will not go back and i will move from this area to get him a better school and teacher that actually care if he succeed.
--Submitted by a parent

We had our reservations about sending our daughter to this school, but after talking to some other parents we decided to try it out for a year. We will not be going back. The teachers clearly care about the students, most parents are involved to some degree, but the principal only cares about himself. He seems to be unable to stand up to his teachers when necessary, and flat out lied to me when I confronted him with an issue. He is short with the children, and the most important thing to him seems to be Jazz. I agree that music is important, but every week there seems to be another Jazz assembly.
--Submitted by a parent

I reviewed this school 2 years ago when my child was in kindergarten. In my opinion, in the past two years the school has gone downhill. We get NO communication from the teacher/principal. Bullying is a HUGE problem at Glen Cove. My family is moving, and so are MANY other families that I have talked with. The parking lot situation has improved, however.
--Submitted by a parent

The Principal DOES care about the children and does things that I dare say no other Principals would do in this district. There are so many things that the staff here do that go above and beyond the call of duty. Mr. Allison holds a singing choir every Friday with ALL of the grade levels, He also organizes such things as Ocean Night, and really great science nights. There are problems here, but 90 percent of these problems are with 2 percent of the PARENTS! The parking lot is poorly designed and as such makes for a frustrating and often times dangerous place for the children. One of the parents has taken the inititive to do something about this and has greatly improved both the safety and the logistics of the lot. I would recommend this school highly, it is a great place to learn and seems to get better every year! Glen Cove is a wonderful place for children...they blossom here!
--Submitted by a parent