Casa De Oro Elementary School

Spring Valley, CA 91977

Phone: (619) 668-5715
Fax: (619) 668-8337
District: La Mesa-Spring Valley School District

3

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 320 students

Casa De Oro Elementary School, a public school located in Spring Valley, CA, serves grades K-5 in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 3 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Casa De Oro Elementary School is a public school located in Spring Valley, CA. 320 students attend Casa De Oro Elementary School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 3/10 The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth 2/10 The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

My daughters have attended Casa De Oro for three years. The school has many dedicated and hardworking teachers and staff who consistently go above and beyond for their students, and that commitment is something I truly value.
However, I feel it is important to note some challenges, particularly for families with neurodivergent children. For students who are autistic, have ADHD, or are dyslexic, navigating social interactions can be especially difficult. While the staff are caring, the peer environment is not always supportive, and at times, harmful behaviors between students go unaddressed. Because of the school’s high number of frequent daily incidents, communication can occasionally fall short. This sometimes results in parents not being fully informed of situations, which prevents meaningful follow-up or accountability.
My daughter, who is on the spectrum, faced significant difficulties over her three years at the school. Despite my repeated efforts to raise concerns, little progress was made until the situation escalated. While I acknowledge that I did not handle one incident as well as I should have, it was disheartening to see that the challenges my child endured were often minimized. This left her feeling excluded and unsafe, despite her efforts to be part of the school community.
In summary, Casa De Oro has many wonderful educators who care deeply for their students, and I am grateful for their dedication. At the same time, families of neurodivergent children should be aware that the social environment can present substantial challenges, and ongoing advocacy may be necessary to ensure their child’s needs are met.

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

I love Casa de Oro Elementary! My son has a disability and has been attending since he was three. He also attended the TK session offered due to his age. The school is small, charming and everyone is extremely friendly. The principal is fantastic and has a personal relationship with my son- he even knows my two year old from brief interactions at drop off! The teachers and special education staff are also great. I appreciate the OT and SLP being aware of the importance of neurodiversity and honoring my wishes to avoid ABA-like goals. In addition, the Extended School Services are really great! Especially the school breaks which rotate to other local campuses. I’m hopeful my children will have many great years at this campus.

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: December 27, 2022

My son has gone to this school from kindergarten to 5th grade. We have had nothing but good experiences. I love the staff. All of the teachers are well experienced and they all care deeply about the students. They have an excellent ESS program. The school grounds are clean and well kept. I like that the school works with the parents and it feels like teamwork. They plan a lot of family events and field trips, which I've always valued.

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Pick up and drop off and no communication to the parent on your child’s day or progress.

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: November 8, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

For the past almost 2 years, my autistic son had been in the preschool program and had just started kindergarten. For preschool, 1 year was virtual, then TK was in person. The TK class was not too bad, they had a hard time communicating about my kid to me and always felt like I had to be the one to ask about my kids day or to even get feedback on how he had been doing through the year. It was rough at first but the teacher really loosened up by the end and my son seemed happy. However, this year he was starting kindergarten 2022 with basically the same group (except a teacher change). Explain to me how they have 1 teacher and 3 paraprofessionals (teacher aids) and they lose my non-verbal autistic son during school hours ON THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL. Then don’t even realize he is missing until his father was at the school to pick him up. And no, he did not wander (as he never does). He was left in a fitness class (Motorlabs) and never accounted for when they left (there is literally nowhere to hide in this room as I’ve been in it) during almost 100 degree whether. They only realized he was gone when his father asked where he was while standing in front of them all at the pick up gate. I have reported them to the district and made complaints wherever I could when it happened. They are lucky I haven’t taken legal precedent. Will never recommend this school and suggest everyone stay far from it. ESPECIALLY with your special education children.

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: September 10, 2022

Posted: May 30, 2015

I love this school. This is not our homes zoned school. We requested a transfer so my daughter and son would be in the same school when she did the tK program. I'm never returning to my home school! This place is a cut above the rest. The teachers are gems, over qualified, and so invested in the kids. You're getting a private school quality education with some of these teachers. I wish they had the funds to reduce classroom sizes by hiring more teachers. 30+ kids in each class is typical, but hey, a mom can dream right? The principal mrs. James is awesome! So involved in the everyday. The kids just love her. And the parents do too! There's events throughout the year and themed weeks and school wide gatherings every Friday morning. Kids are given awards and recognized for academics as well as citizenship. A free soccer program throughout the school year, science club, sunshine club. And the office receptionist, mrs. Karyn, is superb! Friendly, helpful and ..........ah, I love this school.

Posted: January 23, 2015

I like how the school has the EAK program. As well as after school program.

Posted: September 24, 2013

The Principal mrs. James is amazing and has lots of energy and enthusiasim and is very invloved. The kindergarden teacher mrs. West is amazing, i was lucky to have my child in her class and she is a great teacher. The only thing is that the ESS program is not so great, the leaders are too young and they let kids run around and shout and yell and everytime i had to pick up my child, he wasnt ready, their backpacks are outside and always would lose his stuff and wouldnt have the kids ready to be picked up by 6 oclock. There was a kid who wasnt all normal which should have been in a special education class becuase he was always bulling my kid and i had mentioned it couple times and nothing was done about it, so i took my child out of the school and he loves his new school. They have a anti-bulling thing they do at this new school which ever school should do.

Posted: August 8, 2013

CDO is an amazing school. I am particlarly impressed with the sense of community and the strength and enthusiasm of the teaching and support staff. The principal at CDO, Mrs James, knows all the students , and all the students know and respect her. I would never go to another school, my children are flourishing there, and what more could you ask for than that?

Posted: July 26, 2013

I have a child at CDO and we both love it! We live out of the district and I will keep my child here until he graduates. The teachers and staff are amazing. They care about the students and parents. Parents are always welcome to participate in school events and activities.

Posted: May 15, 2013

This school has had an incredible improvement in the last two years. We have been there for three years and our children love it. What one parent said below about the school in 2011 was true. The old principal was not very engaged and the spirit around the school was a bit gloomy. Now the new principal has been there for two years and she is amazing. Test scores are going way up, the teachers and the students are energized, and at the risk of sounding flighty there is just a "spirit" of hope and learning at CDO now. One of our children went to a highly rated elementary school in the area for a time, and it just wasn't as nurturing as CDO. The kids are held accountable both behaviorally and academically, and I see in my kids as well as in other kids the *desire* to succeed. That's all I could hope for and more out of their elementary school.

Posted: April 20, 2012

I have 2 children at Casa de Oro Elementary. Both are excelling academically due to some amazing teachers there. They are excited about learning and have built friendships with their classmates. I am out of the district and CDO was my first choice for them.

Posted: April 3, 2011

My child has been at casa de oro for 3 years. I loved the school. The principal Dr. parsons was the best. Dr. parsons is not at the school anymore. Allot of changes have been made and the school is not what it used to be. My child is unhappy and so am i. Lots of bulling and teachers have to big of classes to, take the time to hear the kids. The principal is always out. It makes me sad to remove my child from this school. Everyone wants there child to be treated fairly and this isn't happening here.

Reviews provided by GreatSchools

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