Howard J. McKibben Elementary School

McKibben is doing a fantastic job of educating it students! Teachers truly care about the students and the new principal is great!. He has brought a new and exciting energy to this school that was definitely needed. He cares about the students' success and has offered them many enrichment opportunities such as Student Council and the Reading Olympics. He supports the teachers and listens to the parents' concerns! Due to outrageous budget cuts in California,there are many challenges that face our school which include overcrowded classrooms, not enough para-support for classroom teachers, lack of enrichment programs for students, and the pressure to meet increased testing standards. These factors make being a public school teacher extremely demanding! Unfortunately, many parents continue to blame the classroom teacher, and fail to see that what is needed is the support of the parents. Parents need to be advocates for the teachers!

I am so disappointed with the 1st grade eduction. My daughter started with McKibben in kindergarten and it was an amazing year. I was looking forward for another amazing year in 1st grade but sad to say that is not what happen. My daughter informed me that her teacher does not really speak to her because she has to speak to the other kids that need more help. I do not leave the full responsibilty of teaching to the school, I also work with my daughter on a daily basis but I would also like for the teacher to put some attention to my child. I would love for my daughter to stay at McKibben but I am not willing to risk another bad year. My family moved to whittier for better schooling for my daughter but its so sad to say that we had a bad year.
--Submitted by a parent

This year has been very rewarding for our family. We have found the teachers and staff to be very caring and helpful and willing to help our children in many ways. We just had a family movie night where our family was able to come and enjoy spending time with each other and with friends, The new principal is wonderful and started a Reading Olympics to reward our kids for reading. Our children have learned so much this year. We are very pleased with McKibben.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very disappointed with this school. My child's Kindergarten teacher was fantastic, but in 1st grade my child has been all but ignored. My child is not learning there. Most of what has been learned has been at home and from extracurricular lessons and activites. There is also the issue of classroom rotation to accomodate Spanish-speaking children. I am outraged by the way things have been handled here. My family has been paying taxes in this district for decades and there is absolutely no reason why my child should not have been able to receive a decent education here. The individual test scores are appalling; truly frightening. We will not be returning to McKibben next year. Let your child attend Kindergarten here, but then quickly get them out.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school. It is the best in the district. It has the best test scores. It is a fairly small school with class size reduction in k-3 grades. The school had huge improvements made a few years ago with modernization of classroom and restroom. I wonder where the person who said the school needs many improvements and is overpopulated is getting this information. I wish there was more of an explanation. Of course, childrens' experiences also depend on what our children and we as parents put into it.
--Submitted by a parent

I have seen both good and bad experiences with students at this school. My daughter is going on to 1st grade and I believe this school has a wonderful Kindergarten program. It is more successful when the parents become extremely involved in their children's school work and class activities. My succeeded and much of it was because the teacher and I kept in contact. We cannot put all the responsibility on the school, parents need to be involved.
--Submitted by a parent

Very unhappy with this school, many improvements needed, overpopulated, much need for improvement! Too much!
--Submitted by a parent

I feel this school is one of the best in the school district but there is always room for improvement these kids need a music program for K- 6th they also need to be more physical in organized actives during lunch recess make classroom teams to play against each other they can have a big game every Friday for Example.
--Submitted by a parent

I think that this is a great school for kids.
--Submitted by a former student