Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary School

Posted: December 19, 2025

The principal is engaging and the students seem to really connect with him, which is great to see. I’ve been a little (a lot) disappointed with engagement for new students/families though. We moved so this was a new school for us. Both teachers seemed very annoyed right off the had that we didn’t know certain things about the school. My oldest child got zero help with his student number, Chromebook, getting lunch, etc. He played by himself at recess for several weeks because no one even knew he was a new student. Other schools have always had a buddy program for new kids to show them around but my kids were left to fend for themselves. The scheduling is INSANE. Early out days are fine, but SOME early out days are completely different than others and you’re just supposed to magically know the difference. Sometimes I get the aeries messages/announcements, someone’s I don’t so the system is unreliable to say the least. Why doesn’t “early out” always mean the same thing? Who decided that was a good system? Overall the communications at the school is severely lacking and some teachers are clearly ready to retire and have completely checked out. I don’t blame them, teachers get treated terribly, but kids don’t know that and it doesn’t help their experience.

Also PTA is impossible to get in to. You can pay your dues and sign up for the emails and never receive a single one. No response from anyone to get involved unless you’re always a part of their inner clique.

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 26, 2024

My neighbors kids go there and they say its a great school. Being military parents Im very comfortable of their opinion and choice for their children to attend there. I myself have visited the school its fantastic and very clean. I would love for my daughters to attend kinder and 1st grade there to start. Its 1 block from home and feel safe to do so. I would recommend this school with all I have seen and heard so far.

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 26, 2024

Posted: December 7, 2012

My two younger children attended Buchanan. My son attended from 3rd grade on and my daughter from K-5. Both had excellent and caring teachers who had high academic standards. My children loved going to school and loved their teachers. They were well prepared for higher level learning when they promoted out of 5th grade. As a parent, I especially appreciated the sense of commutity. The principal has a strong presence aroung the playground and usually knows each student by name, even though there are over 1,000. My son struggled with some impulsive behavior on the playground and Mr. Lorimer was very helpful in working with him . Parent involvement is valued and there is a strong PTA that works hard to provide additional learning experience for the students.. The office staff is very congenial to parents and students alike. We had a great six years at Buchanan.

Posted: September 18, 2012

I really don't know why I haven't transfer my son to another school, the teachers are ok i don't have a problem with the teachers we had in the pass or the present, but just want to point that last year a teacher had her dogs on her classroom wich I find that no so professional but that's how it works there, I had to point about the dogs on campus all the time to the principal, to the distric, and guess what people bring their dogs on campus anyway ( big dogs ) and is not so pleasing to see them on top of the picnic tables that children use for lunch, this only happen at buchanan I haven't heard a school that lets dogs inside I don't think tthe school understand about safety... sad,

Posted: August 11, 2012

I was a fifth grader here three years ago and have to say that the teachers there are great and have a involved PTA. The principal is alright but could become more involved. After third grade they treat you like it's a prison. The teachers are always there to listen. Aside from the principal this is an amazing school.

Posted: January 9, 2012

I feel this school has become a little too focused on what the children do wrong, even if it is a small thing. They should be working on the positive instead of making them feel like bad children. My children are doing fine, but they aren't praised for their amazing things they do, but they have to miss recess if they forget an assignment one time. Who is perfect all the time? Maybe a 3 strikes on missing an assignment could work better? My kids used to love going to school, but they have been going to Buchanan now long enough that they hate it. There are too many kids for the teachers to care and it absolutely shows. I can only imagine the stress teachers undergo with so many children in their classrooms, it just doesn't work for my children!

Posted: November 7, 2011

My kids still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of their horrible experience at Buchanan years ago. Staff discriminated against the handicapped. Bring a witness when talking to staff or get it in writing. They transferred the teacher that hit me. I should have sued them, after school staff left my daughter unattended, stepped over her, and would not let her get help due to diabetic complications. Instead they made me look like an out of control parent after dealing with their mistreatment for several years in a calm manner. This school also sent kids outside during a major fire when ashes were falling down. I had to contact the health department, which now advises them since they don't know any better.

Posted: September 12, 2011

My son repeated kinder last year after going to AHES first because i put him in at 4 years old and he made the cut off but really needed to wait another year. So then i put him in Buchanan and he didnt get the recommended teacher frm the other school but i thought this teacher was very enthusiastic and positive in the beginning of the school year. she was receptive to our religion and advised me that she had 16 years experience in teaching however, when time came to make an alternative assignment to holiday creativity that had nothing to do with academics or learning she never asked for my opinion or had him do anything different. She just gave him the samething to do which went against our beliefs and she was very stuck in her way of no way and that is not a good teacher to me because she was not flexible to the needs of the student and parent. I took him out at the end of the year and put him back in Antelope Hills which is so much better and they have high expectations but really work with individual needs!

Posted: August 28, 2010

My daughter started Buchanan with Kindergarten and is now in 3rd grade. She has excelled with the help of her teachers and staff and she loves school. My son is in Kindergarten this year and he can't wait until the weekends are over and he gets to go back to school. By some magic, he was able to get the same Kinder Duo (McKenzie/Davis) as my daughter and they are phenomenal teachers. Couldn't be happier with where my kids attend school.

Posted: August 17, 2009

Posted: August 6, 2008