Arthur Hapgood Elementary School

Posted: May 24, 2023

The overfed parents of these students continue to block all streets and parking in adjacent neighborhoods so they can continue to drive their overfed children to this school from elsewhere in this city. They stop and block the middle of the street so the children won’t have to walk a couple of blocks. Too bad the failed bond measure negatively impacts the students rather than the slovenly parents.

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2021

This school has a fantastic atmosphere that supports all parents and kids no matter whether English or Spanish speaking. Their dual emersion program is tops and really beings those classroom groups together to promote each other's success. The teachers and principal are very responsive.

Posted: May 24, 2021

Posted: May 24, 2021

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Posted: May 24, 2021

Posted: December 14, 2019

For all the effort my boy puts into his homework, causing him to miss precious outdoor activities, the homework isn’t even CHECKED! As long as it’s turned in, it could be written in Swahili and the teachers would credit it.

Posted: December 14, 2019

For the last two grades, my boy has had teachers whose teaching strategies were far below the necessary guidance for the grade they were teaching. Discipline geared towards kindergarteners is utterly useless in 3rd and 4th grade! As for academics, same problem. My boy is two years behind now. Despite my multiple requests for intervention on behalf of the school. I was simply told to have him spend time on a learning website at home. No. He needs a PERSON to help him!

Posted: December 14, 2019

Due to the lack of effective discipline and guidance, kids are allowed to basically do as they please with little reproductions. Knowing that there isn’t a consequence for bad behavior,
they swear, call their teachers names to their face, throw chairs, bully other kids.. completely out of control.

Posted: December 14, 2019

The principal is so busy being “politically correct” that the students are getting away with way too much bullying, acting out in class, etc. Teachers do nothing to correct bad behavior in the classrooms. Horrible.

Posted: December 14, 2019

I do see kids with special needs being assisted and cared for with kindness. They seem to get academic instruction suited to their needs.

Posted: December 14, 2019

Bullying goes rampantly unchecked in this school. Kids are instructed to sign “Stay Away Contracts” when a bully torments another child. The two students “promise to stay away from one another”. Really?!? If restraining orders don’t work with adults, why would one expect them to work with children??

Posted: December 14, 2019

I am disappointed with the dual immersion aspect of this school. As a traditional student, my boy gets frustrated that 85% or more of the ambient language and instruction he hears daily is not English. He has told me more than once that he “feels like the only white kid there”. Not from a racist standpoint, but from the aspect of not understanding what people are saying around him. And he is not even in a dual immersion class!

Posted: November 12, 2019

Posted: November 12, 2019

Posted: November 12, 2019

Posted: November 12, 2019

Posted: November 12, 2019

Posted: November 12, 2019

Posted: November 12, 2019

Horrible. My daughter was beat up by an older kid and the teachers didn't even notice.

Posted: December 13, 2018

Posted: December 13, 2018

Posted: December 13, 2018

Posted: December 13, 2018

Posted: December 13, 2018

Posted: December 13, 2018

Posted: December 13, 2018

Overall this school is great . The Spanish dual immersion program is amazing

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: January 24, 2017

Hapgood is currently a poor school. I went to this school when I was a kid (1980s) when Mr. Young was the principal and now my child goes to this school. I remember Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Knowles, Mrs. Kolakowsi, Mr. Tucker. What a difference a couple decades makes. My child will be going to another school next year. When I was a kid, there were all kinds of other kids around, Filipino ( i learned a little Tagalog), Hispanic, Black, Asian. Now the school is dominated (85%) by one ethnic group. Nothing against any group, but when 85% are of one group and a significant number of the students and parents do not speak English, our national language, it is concerning. I have empathy for all involved. Extremely low test scores at Hapgood as well. It's too bad. I wonder where over the years decisions could have been made to not end up where the school is now?

Posted: June 8, 2016

This school gets mixed reviews from me.
I have two children who I currently have enrolled in the dual immersion program. The premise of the program itself is wonderful since the language barrier is so major at Hapgood. It is true that there are many Spanish-speaking only children (and parents) and it seems to have much lower funding too.
The children's classes are made up of 1/3 Spanish only, 1/3 bilingual, and 1/3 English only students. They are instructed 90%Spanish and 10%English for the first half of their elementary career, then it changes to English dominated with some Spanish later. The goal is to have all students fully bilingual when they leave.
Every child is different and we have had two very different experiences with our children:
One child is flourishing. She enjoys practicing her new Spanish skills at home. She excels at math, English, and well, just about everything. She has many friends and is quickly becoming a poster child type student.
My other child has experienced the opposite. Formerly an overachiever in preschool- kindergarten in another area, she became withdrawn and stressed, not wanting to discuss Spanish or even read/ write in English while home. She gravitated towards math. She became passive and the bullies identified her as a target easily. The school did very little, although I must say that her teachers were kind and compassionate, we felt powerless. For two and a half years, I had to fight the district to give her an IEP for what I thought was due to a functional hearing issue. During all the testing, we found that it was a major learning disorder. It's sad to admit that if I had not pushed, she would have endured the stress and anxiety for the rest of her elementary career.
Next year, our child with the learning impairment will attend a different school. The child that is doing well will continue at Hapgood.
You really need to know your child's capabilities and stay active in your role in order to know how they will do. This school isn't for everyone but those who are capable should do well.

Posted: September 9, 2013

My daughter has been going there for 2 years I love the staff and she has learned so much in her t-k and kinder classes I have been there in the classes all last year and will be this year helping out I am impressed on what my daughter has learned just in the last year .... I love Hapgood

Posted: March 16, 2013

I pulled my kids from this school halfway through the first year. There are so many English as second language students that the teachers cannot teach because the majority can t keep up. The teachers may be good people and dedicated but the environment is too detrimental to students and parent that truly give a damn about their child s education. After 6 months my kids were speaking more Spanish than English, they teach no science, history, no music and the English and math they do teach is a full 2 grades below where they should be for even public school standards. I've since moved them to Las Cruses Elementary and they have gotten back on track to a meaningful education. The 80% Hispanic population at the school says allot about its severely low ranking on a state education level.

Posted: October 23, 2011

There are serious problems at this school. The school consistantly ranks among the lowest in Lompoc. They are so poor right now they only teach math and English. No science, social studies, art or music. In the morning the student are required to wait in the cafeteria. No parents allowed on campus in the morning so no chance for parent teacher interaction. PTA has only 3 people at the meetings. The staff is surley and the only kids that seem to get any attention or recognition are the ones who are failing or trouble makers

Posted: July 17, 2011

I love love love love love love love love love this school. So much better than Clarance Ruth !

Posted: March 12, 2011

Love this school! My kids also love it and staff and principal are oh so generous!