Harold Ambuehl Elementary School

Posted: April 4, 2026

Ambuehl is amazing. It has exceeded all expectations. The teachers and staff are incredible and it is full of great classmates. We highly recommend.

Posted: April 4, 2026

Posted: April 4, 2026

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Posted: October 30, 2025

I have a 5th, 3rd, and 1st grader at Ambuehl and my family has had a great experience here. Ambuehl describes itself as "a small school with a big heart" and they absolutely live up to that description.

One of the most impressive aspects of Ambuehl's culture is that the teachers are very collaborative. Each year my kids get to know not just their own teacher, but other teachers in their grade and adjacent grades, as well as paraeducators, because they have opportunities to work in different groups that often cut across classrooms. This not only allows students to work in ability groups that fit their academic needs, but also gives kids the opportunity to have multiple caring adults pouring into their education each day.

Additionally, like all public schools, Ambuehl is sometimes dealt an unfortunate hand and has to make changes in staffing, programs, etc. due to funding shifts. This is always nerve-wracking as a parent, but the administration does a fantastic job of pivoting and allocating resources in ways that ensure continuity of the overall school culture and the supportive academic and social environment we have come to know and love. For example, this year there were several changes in the teaching staff and class sizes went up fairly significantly, which I'll admit caused some anxiety at the start of the year. However, after seeing how well my kids are doing academically and socially and talking to their teachers, my mind has been put completely at ease. Ambuehl has handled the changes in ways that prioritize both the students' well-being and their ability to rise to new heights academically.

I have found all of my kids' teachers to be very approachable, communicative, and willing to go the extra mile to make my kids feel supported. The small size of the school makes for a very sweet community feel amongst the parents, kids, and staff. Our family has been blessed to be a part of this great school!

Posted: October 30, 2025

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Posted: October 30, 2025

Posted: April 10, 2025

Great teachers, interactive classrooms, kids get plenty of exercise at recess, and the school does a good job communicating with parents.

Posted: April 10, 2025

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Posted: August 3, 2024

We've had a great experience so far with both of our girls at Ambuehl. It's a small tight knit school with parents/teachers that are engaged and scores that seem to keep going up.

Posted: August 3, 2024

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Posted: July 10, 2024

This school is such a gem. Our 2 oldest go there and have had a wonderful experience both academically and socially. My wife and I both have terminal STEM degrees and have been quite impressed with the our son's progress in math specifically. To be reading at 2nd grade level and doing 3rd grade math at the end of first grade is more than we could have asked for, let alone for there to be a significant number of kids in his class at or near the same level was so great to see.

I simple can not say enough about how well the culture of scholarship at this campus fits our family.

Posted: July 10, 2024

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Posted: September 15, 2023

We love Ambuehl! Ambuehl promotes and provides a great sense of community and connection amongst teachers and parents. We have had the most awesome and continuous communication and support from Princical McManigal. She doesn't hesitate to respond to parents when they have questions. We love her! The PTA is outstanding--- there are always fun activities and fun ways to get involved. Pocorn Fridays, Picnics, Movie Nights, Dine Out Nights, Meet the Masters, just to name a few. They have fun events all the time! This school is so enriching both for my child and for our family. Academically, I am thrilled with Ambuehl. It is obvious how much the teachers care about their students and helping them succeed. My child loves going to school so much she doesn't want to leave when I pick her up, lol. She is learning so much, so quickly. She brings home and wows me with the work she does. And I can see her love of learning carry over at home. I am thrilled with the academic progress she is making and the friendships she is developing. She told me she has so many best friends now that she can't decide who to play with at recess-- so cool! What a wonderful place this is. Thank you Ambuehl!!

Posted: September 15, 2023

Posted: September 15, 2023

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Posted: August 3, 2023

Both of my boys go to Ambuehl Elementary. The leadership is great, and the teachers are super awesome. Best school ever!

Posted: August 3, 2023

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Posted: August 2, 2023

My girls love this school! We switched from a charter school and have had a great experience with teachers, staff and the PTA. The teachers worked as a team to help my daughter improve in language arts. They have provided a learning environment where students feel safe, cared for and respected.

Posted: August 2, 2023

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Posted: August 2, 2023

Both my kids have loved their time at Ambuehl. They have highly enjoyed all their teachers they’ve had so far (as have we as parents!) and look forward to going to school.
The school/PTA offers so many fun activities both during and after school. They keep all the families very involved.
Having such a small school really benefits from knowing the kids, families, staff, and faculty. We love it here!

Posted: August 2, 2023

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Posted: December 9, 2019

Our time at Ambuehl was positive and special up until the 2019/2020 school year. The last minute change of principals over the summer left our community stunned. We miss our beloved Mr Bogle and the school seems to have taken several steps backwards. We hope to leave this school next year.

Posted: December 9, 2019

Posted: December 9, 2019

There are a few very good teachers but they are outnumbered by those that are not.

Posted: December 9, 2019

The efforts of the school to instill anything more than the bare minimum is not existent. They simply like to check things off of the required list. This wasn't always the case.

Posted: December 9, 2019

This school has taken a huge turn for the worst since the district removed Principal Bogle and replaced him with Mrs. McManigal and her assistant principal.

Posted: December 9, 2019

Ambuehl has a larger than most special needs program but those that run the classes and programs seem under qualified and unable to help students progress.

Posted: December 9, 2019

I'm not sure Mrs McManigal possesses the skills or personal development to handle a concept such as bullying.

Posted: May 27, 2017

Posted: May 27, 2017

Posted: May 27, 2017

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Posted: May 27, 2017

Posted: May 27, 2017

Posted: May 27, 2017

As a Ladera Ranch resident, we always bought into school ratings as being the most important factor for where our kids should go to school. When our son with special needs was assigned to Ambuehl we had some hesitancy as it wasn't rated quite as high as Oso Grande where our daughter attends. Before the school year started, while the staff was getting prepared for the year we decided to pop in to "see what's up" and were surprisingly met with by Principal Bogle who gave us a tour and even introduced us to our sons teacher. At that point, we had hope he was going to be in good hands. Fast forward to the end of the school year. We couldn't have been happier how things went for our son and how much progress he made. At Ambuehl, every morning it's starts with Principal Bogle greeting every student, most of which he seems to know the name of which is in itself impressive. Our son was in Miss Cornell's class where he absolutely received excellent attention. Miss Cornell and the teachers aids including Nikkie, Matt, Trish and Dana really did a good job helping our son through the school year. His speech teacher, Mr. A is very passionate and caring about helping his atudents really progress and do their best. He did this in a very effective, positive approach which made a huge impact on our son. Overall, the whole staff has been easy to approach and willing to discuss our sons progress at most any time even without preset meetings. In the end we have found out that it wasn't just our son that made huge learning strides this year. It was us parents that learned there is more involved in these school grading than simply test scores. If we as parents are engaged with our kids education, spend time getting to know their teachers and administration staff, you too will have a positive experience at Ambuhel Elementary

Posted: May 25, 2016

This school is amazing. It a small school, which is great. The teachers also love the school and the students. Our boys were at a much higher rated school last year, which had over 900 students, and are doing better at this school due to less students. Parents are very involved. PTA is great.

Posted: May 25, 2016

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Posted: May 25, 2016

Posted: June 9, 2015

Posted: June 9, 2015

Posted: June 9, 2015

Posted: June 9, 2015

I just love my small town school! My two boys made life-long friends and have fond memories of Ambuehl. The PTA is fabulous and work well with everyone! They provide some enriching assemblies, field trips, and help maintain both computer labs. The teachers are all so loving and caring. They know how to challenge my child without pushing more worksheets.

Posted: March 9, 2015

My kids transferred to Ambuehl this year and we are so very happy! My son is a second grader and has Mr. Coon who is the kindest and most patient man. My son is happier than he has been at school ever. My daughter is in fifth grade and she adjusted quickly and made friends right away. Mrs. Norgren is the perfect fifth-grade teacher and she knows how to deal with these kids that are not really so little anymore. The RSP teacher Mrs. Stone is really great and my daughter feels like she has learned more this year than she ever had in all the rest of her years at her other school. Both of my kids would tell you that their teachers are the best. If you are looking for a school with caring teachers and a laid back atmosphere that will remind you of how school used to be and this is the school for you.

Posted: April 28, 2014

Most of the teacher are great, principal is good , one of the has some difficulty with ethnicity issues one of the office manager is very rude with Hispanics

Posted: December 25, 2013

I completely agree with the previous parent who posted one star. The principal does nothing to correct issues. For any child with special needs, almost no help is given. District rules are followed but that's it. You have to push and push to get any issues addressed. My son's 3rd grade year was so bad that the teacher retired and 5-6 families left the school. We had enough. Behavior issues are ignored, bullying on the playground goes unaddressed. We finally had to force the principal to allow parents to assist with playground times just to be assured our kids were safe. The PTO is very involved and does a lot for the school. Many involved parents. It would be a wonderful small town school if they get better management.

Posted: October 16, 2013

My daughter is now in 5th grade and my son in 3rd grade at Ambuehl Elementary. I can say every year has been amazing. We are a fairly small school with an incredible family feeling. We could not have asked for better teachers and staff. Everyone is so caring and loving and shows real concern for everyone. I would highly recommend this school to everyone.

Posted: October 16, 2013

This is our seventh year at Ambuehl and we still have a few more years to go with our last of 3 children. It has been nothing but a positive experience for our family, both academically and personally. I look forward to our youngest experiencing what our older children have and feel fortunate and blessed to call Ambuehl our family's home away from home.

Posted: October 15, 2013

Ambuehl is a small, private school like public school with amazing teachers and parental involvement. My 2 kids have had an outstanding education there. Many people I know have left their private schools and come to Ambuehl when they realize their kids are behind and they are having to hire tutors to catch them up and also pay tuition. The school is top notch and parents should tour it and look past the olderish buildings and at what is really important; Excellent teachers and amazing extras like a science lab, music for all grade levels, an instructional aide in each class and an Artist program that focuses on the great artists of our times... all sponsored by the PTA! Don't miss out.

Posted: October 15, 2013

My school is Ambuehl Elementary School (aka Harold Ambuehl Elementary). This school has a great faculty, nice, safe neighborhood environment, and huge play ground and grassy areas. The active PTA supplies SO MUCH for the school that it has a lot of amenities that other schools may not have. Ambuehl has a science lab, roaming teacher's aide, music, art program, computer lab and great activities and programs all year long. I highly recommend it for a caring, educational environment.