Chaparral Elementary School

Amazing school community. The teachers are creative, hardworking and nurturing. The parents are very involved. PFC makes it possible for lots of technology, art, PE and music program!
—Submitted by a parent

VERY DISAPPOINTING! Educational approaches are traditional. Many teachers are just coasting - teaching the same dry material they have for 20 years, with minimal interaction and creativity required from students. The culture at school is warm, but there are many disgruntled parents who feel let down by teachers and administration. Our kids have friends at other local schools who have great art and music classes in school and can't understand why Chaparral does not offer these opportunities.
—Submitted by a parent

A top rate school with excellent teachers. One of the wonderful things about Chaparral is that it is the center of the community and the kids grow up together.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is excellent. Home prices have stayed stable in a bad economy due to everyone knowing about the great public schools in Calabasas. Teachers and parents and grandparents are all caring. Our grandsons love school and maybe the mother who complained should have volunteered to know more of what is going on. Our grandboys have started with K and now in grade 4 and grade 1. What a wonderful environment to learn. Teachers can be emailed and promptly answer parents concerns.

The families are obnoxious, with poor values, the former principal very visibly cared little about anything but herself, and while some of the teachers are very good, some are mediocre. My daughter had first grade teachers who had NO reading groups and days went by when no reading instruction went on. My child is on grade level only because of the amount of time I put into helping and teaching her at home. It's like the hours she's there are wasted. And their "enrichment" program that the ridiculous PFC is always begging for money to keep consists of games played at PE and the same musical singing program at the holidays that all schools have done for generations.
—Submitted by a parent

Great environment. Teachers and parents that care. Great fundraising for programs that have been cut in other schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Chaparral is a great school. The teachers and staff are caring, and I know my children will get a great education.
—Submitted by a parent

Chaparral has wonderful teachers, very involved parents and a great sense of community!
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, great students and great parents.
—Submitted by a parent

I love chaparral elementary school because the parents are so involved and the teachers are great!
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, great parents!!!
—Submitted by a parent

All staff at Chaparral are AMAZING! Beautiful and clean school. My children excel in every subject due to the great teachers and environment.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school in every way.........
—Submitted by a parent

All around a great school, with great teachers, parent Involvement and a wonderful staff...
—Submitted by a parent

sommer harding is inaccessible to anyone but the parent faculty club. she is not child oriented. she is trying to move up the ladder to administration. however after how she has treated people at this school as well as ac stelle as vice prinicpal and as a teacher in agoura, she has unfortunately made may enemies. try to get your kids into another school in the district until she is gone...
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school. Parents are very involved.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a terrific neighborhood school. The teachers truly care about the individual students and the parents create a warm community. The principal is doing an amazing job with the limited resources available to public schools.
—Submitted by a parent

I think Chaparral is a terrific school. The teachers in my experience (two graduates and one current 5th grader having gone through the school) have been very largely supportive and enthusiastic and I have found the administration to be supportiveWe have We have had 3 kids go through Chaparral. The administration and teachers have largely been enthusiastic and supportive. If I could choose from all the elementary schools in Calabasas I would have my kids at Chaparral. I truly think it is the best.
—Submitted by a parent

Given the state of public education, I think it's too easy to look back whimsically on our own childhood experiences and expect the same. Sadly, it's a losing comparison. This is a wonderful school, with caring teachers and engaged parents. Too often comments from parents seem to address the way they think the school should be run, rather than viewing it through their kid's eyes. Mine love the school and thus so do I.
—Submitted by a parent

Chaparral, like any other school, has both attributes that can be improved upon and appreciated. As a teacher, I'm disappointed that the reviewers can't appreciate a strong leader that supports her staff. We wouldn't think twice to 'drop by' and 'chat' with a lawyer and a doctor, yet an administrator that is managing 550 students and over 50 staff members should have an open door policy. Somer is a hardworking, fair, and thorough admin. who aims to balance the needs of teachers, parents, and students while maintaining the high expectations that LVUSD stands for. As adults, we might not always agree with decisions that are made, but I think it's imperative that remain objective. Chaparral is a great public school that aims to meet the needs of ALL of it's students and we are lucky that we have a new principal that can be actively involved in changing and improving the school.
—Submitted by a teacher