R. Roger Rowe Elementary School in Rancho Santa Fe

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	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	8/10	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: March 2, 2026

Our family had a wonderful experience at Roger Rowe School. Both of our children attended for elementary and middle school, and we truly couldnt have asked for a better environment academically or socially.

The teachers were exceptional caring, engaged, and supportive. Our kids genuinely loved their teachers, and as parents, we felt the education they received was outstanding and well-rounded.

We especially appreciated the small class sizes (typically under 1520 students), which allowed for individual attention and strong connections. For such a small school, the after-school sports programs were impressive and added so much to the overall experience.

Our children are still close with many of their classmates, which speaks to the strong sense of community. While Ive seen some negative reviews, they do not reflect our familys experience. For us, the school was truly exceptional.

Posted: March 2, 2026

Posted: February 19, 2026

The school is looking for money and admiration.

If you want to see academic progress that work will have to be done outside of the school.

Bullying was a giant problem. we had to involve the sheriff. I had talked to the school already, but they didnt even investigate the issues in the bathroom and the fighting, I had contacted the school multiple times, so had other families

It came out that kindness is seen as weakness. If youre getting hit, its because you deserve it.

Another ongoing issue the teachers reward for not going to the bathroom. The engineering teacher rewards children for burning themselves with glue guns.

Core classes, the kids are taken out of to go to extra curriculars for extra time without a parent knowing. Thats not even legal kids have to be in those classes for a certain number of hours per year.

Also, recess is supposed to be 30 minutes. It can be broken, but not mixed with eating and they dont do that.

Getting to the bathroom is frowned upon they ignore requests and hold kids after class so that they cant go without being late to the next class

The music teacher is really aggressive. He tells the children theyre terrible regularly and claps. in their face. He calls the kids out of other classes to come back and doesnt release them on time.

Theres a lot of screen time if you try to communicate with the teacher about how your child is doing its generally about a day wait and you can tell theyre just copying from some program.

Posted: February 19, 2026

Posted: February 19, 2025

School was horribel for my daugther and she would cry every day because of the kids that this school that would bully her!!! the teachers did NOTHING to help her and pushed away her problems making the bullying get even worse and we transferred her after a while because it was so heartbreaking to see as a mother. i would NOT recommend this school. THEY NEED TO DO BETTER!!!

Posted: February 19, 2025

Posted: May 31, 2024

Great elementary school but middle school was just something else. There are some good teachers, but they get outweighed by the large number of really mean and unsupportive teachers and staff. When you hear about bullies, one might think student to student. I would actually say its more like staff bullying students and singling them out. So so so happy that my eighth grader is finally done with that school and we never have to return

Posted: May 31, 2024

Posted: December 20, 2022

Our son and daughter attended Roger Rowe K-8th. Their experience was outstanding from the facilities to teachers to community support. They continued on to Torrey Pines H.S. and were well prepared educationally and emotionally. Upon graduating one attended the #1 public university and the other the #1 private university in the nation as cited by the Wall Street Journal. We moved to the covenant of Rancho Santa Fe because of the exceptional quality of the public schools. We are so thrilled we did!

Posted: December 20, 2022

Posted: October 12, 2022

The school is run by below average administration and a revolving door of teachers and paraprofessionals. Most families have opted for private schooling after getting a feel for the chaotic and unorganized environment. Other public schools seem light years ahead in terms of curriculum content and social emotional programs.

Posted: October 12, 2022

Posted: August 16, 2022

Teachers are great; however there is very little representation of parents concerns (but much with foundation donors). Very conservative board and one gets a feeling this school is stuck in the 60s with their lack of awareness/addressing of societal and emotional issues affecting children today (racism, classism, bullying, drugs, world issues, environmentalism etc).

Posted: August 16, 2022

Posted: May 13, 2022

Bullying is a huge problem at Roger Rowe. The administration is inept at handling it. Cliques with scary bad behavior are rampant starting in the elementary school. This is part of the huge attrition problem going into middle school here. Parents and teachers have spoken out about this for years. Do not send your children here.

Posted: February 22, 2022

Communication to parent community is nonexistent. There is only a very small amount of opportunities for parent involvement. Bullying is rampant, the administration excuses it away. Intolerance towards LGBTQ+ is accepted. The administration is weak, is pushed around by the parents to get what they want. School decisions are based solely on what a group of vocal parents want, not what is in the best interest of the students education or health/safety. If youve had your kids in another school district, you will quickly discover how watered down, basic the curriculum is. If youre child is an average student, they will be a high performer at this school. If your child is already a high performer at another school, enroll elsewhere. They will learn nothing new, will not be challenged. Half the teachers care. The other half doesnt. Maybe its because the administration doesnt ever have their backs to busy pleasing parents.

Posted: October 14, 2021

This school is unfortunately in decline since the mass firing of teachers/administration for budget reasons in 2019. Academically, the curriculum has been completely watered down and access to advanced material is extremely limited. The administration and many of the teachers are inexperienced and it shows in how they manage the pandemic, bullying and parent engagement.

After a difficult two years for everyone, I want to be sympathetic, but so many of the problems are self-inflicted. There is a lack of control over what happens on campus. Most kids are very nice and focused on being good students, but there are a number of disciplinary issues that are not managed, emboldening the kids to behave even more poorly. Whatever your thoughts are about masks, the reality is that the State requires kids to wear them while in classroom, yet compliance rates are low and the kids just don't seem willing to listen to teachers/administration.

Communications from teachers and administration is almost non-existent and you are somewhat left on your own to figure it out. High teacher dissatisfaction/turn over due to several factors such as less competitive pay, fewer benefits and lack of respect demonstrated by students. Many long term subs of questionable quality on campus because they cant fill the positions with hired teachers. This year, staffing shortages have closed the library and and half the playground during recesses, which is less than ideal during Covid.

Posted: April 21, 2021

As much as the school has good teacher to student ratio. Quality quality of teachers are great. The General Ed program at the school is very good but the special education program is equally bad.They had a teacher for 20 years of experience in special education. She was excused from her services due to injury at work. They upgraded an aide to teaching position with no credential in teaching only as an instructor with less than two years of experience and no experience with ADHD autism and other disabilities. When I approached school they said shes the only option available thats not true they did not look or advertised for a teacher. I wish I could post pictures of my sons classroom work and how bad the teacher was engaging him on zoom. I had to pull my son out because school refuses to do anything about it. Both said the same thing she was the only person presented so we had to except or they didnt even I guess check the credential that she doesnt have teaching credentials. If your child is a special-needs I would not recommend to school at all please check the teachers credential online before youMake your decision.

Posted: April 21, 2021

Posted: August 24, 2020

Roger Rowe School is the reason we moved to the Covenant of Rancho Santa Fe! Our kids went K-8 and had a fabulous experience and cherish the friends and teachers to this day.

Posted: August 24, 2020

Posted: February 28, 2018

This school is really something special. We have had our children in other top-rated public schools with very high test scores and in private schools, and R. Roger Rowe is by far the best school we have experienced in every regard.

Posted: February 28, 2018

Posted: January 23, 2018

Having been at private school in the past, we have been thrilled with our experience at this public school that feels like a private school!

Posted: October 26, 2017

Great learning environment. Very supportive faculty and staff.

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: September 28, 2017

Saying your great but showing your great is another. The elementary has NOT been one of the top 5 schools in the county for years! Yet it has so much support- small class size and large parent donations .

Posted: September 28, 2017

Posted: May 29, 2017

This school is great! class ratios are perfect and small sizes. Mrs, Carp is the best teacher my daughter loved her and had the best year!!!!

Posted: May 29, 2017

Posted: September 21, 2014

This school is Amazing! No class has over 20 kids in it when most public schools in CA have up to 35 per class! The parent community cares about the kids and helps to make up for public funding shortfalls by supporting the education foundation. My kids are getting an excellent public education for a FRACTION of the cost of private school. This district impresses me so much - I just found out that the board members have no pay - they work for free! They felt it was wrong to take money from the kids! Where else does that happen???

Posted: September 21, 2014

There are people posting on this forum who clearly have an agenda. It just smacks of politics. So disappointing. If you're looking for facts, why not get them? - The Foundation DOES NOT have $5 Million in reserves. The money is managed by the Endowment, a separate entity governed by rules set in place by the original donors. If you need more info, ask. The money cannot simply be used. - The District is 100% transparent. Instead of playing the game that you are, why don't you walk into the Super-indendent's office and ask her for information? Or is it that you'd rather gossip monger here? - You don't have to donate $10000 every year. You don't have to donate anything. This is a public school. But the more of us that band together, the more we can change public school education and give our kids some pretty amazing opportunities. That's what YOUR kid is getting here, right? - Where does the Foundation money go? The money goes directly to the teachers and programs that take the school a level above most public schools. There is an annual report on the website. Bottom line: this is an amazing school. Your kids are being educated here and you should be supporting it, not fighting it.

Posted: September 20, 2014

I'm confused why the district was going to ask for a $18mi bond for a new school gym, then I open the paper and read they have enough money to purchase land for fields and parking lots. Why not take the $5 mil you would have purchased for parking and update the gym and not ask taxpayers to foot the bill? Where did the school get all that cash?? Let's keep the dollars in the classroom and stop asking for more money. The Foundation has $5 million in reserves and the School board has purchased a house on that they rent out. Why not sell the house? Should School Districts be Landlords? Let keep to education.

Posted: February 22, 2014

I am a former parent and I am surprised yet encouraged to see the discussion in the previous posts about the Foundation. I believe my child would have had a far better education had there been no parent funding. It sounds like a great idea but the money ends up compensating for poor teaching, bad curriculums and weak administration. They have more money than most schools in ca without the foundation help but just can't seem to deliver. We are much happier in private school. As for the previous post, the things listed are provided at most public elementary schools in North County and if those parents are even required to contribute financially it is a much, much smaller amount. I think every Rowe parent needs to ask themselves why they give this amount of money to the school. What are they expecting in return? Obviously parents feel they get something - why else would you give over $10,000 a year - but it is not for what the Foundation advertises as these things can be provided with little if any additional money.

Posted: February 6, 2014

I AM IMPRESSED. The staff and teachers are amazing. I had my child in a private school $15/yr. To switch our child to this school - It was decided with much research & examination. The academic program, reading- writing program is impressive. The enrichment classes & lunch clubs offered are fabulous. The children are taught to be responsible for their actions & their work at a young age. Children are very prepared academically for the future - the results (via scores & where children go on for HS & College) speak for themselves. The school goes above to enrich: Nasa engineer speaker (last month) etc. Partner with the Scripps & Birch programs - being taught by marine scientist. Academic competitions, DRAMA, ART, PE, MUSIC.. even the lunch program is modern-forward thinking - a recycle bar for kids and the garden! The school works hard to promote KINDNESS thru various programs other schools do not. What impresses me the most is to hear or see kids that see another not so nice act, and the KIDS step UP and say - hey thats mean - thats not OK. That and those kids will make the difference and I want my son to learn in that environment. There are bullies everywhere in life.

Posted: December 16, 2013

There are some great things about the school but they certainly waste our money. If you don't donate to the foundation at least fair share you are ostracized and your children may suffer.

Posted: July 17, 2013

This school is OK. I did not care for the way things were handled when we had issues with our child.

Posted: May 8, 2013

Academics are first rate. Very responsive teachers and administration. There is a bullying problem on all levels that hopefully the school will address. A major problem is that there is a full handbook of specific rules for the school that just isn't enforced in any manner whatsoever. Teaching the kids it is ok to ignore the rules. To be fair, many of the parents act in the same manner. Many of the children are a bit unruly, unchecked by parents that don't care or have no idea what is going on. You wouldn't know if by meeting most of the kids, they are well schooled in putting on the respectful face for elders, only to turn around and be quite different in reality. A school full of Eddie Haskels. Of course this does not apply all the kids, but there is enough that it rubs off on many off on many.

Posted: March 18, 2013

Bullying going on...nothing is being done. Kids are scared, parents are in denial, and there is no policy regarding zero tolerance that is being practiced. Disgraceful!

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Torrey Highlands	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	4.6 mi
2	La Costa	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	6.4 mi
3	Rancho Carrillo	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	6.9 mi
4	Windsor at Aviara	Apartment Complex	Carlsbad	CA	7.5 mi
5	Shadowridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Vista	CA	10.7 mi
6	Palisades Pointe	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	11.2 mi
7	Mira Costa Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Oceanside	CA	13.3 mi
8	Spectrum Center Blvd, Kearny Mesa	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	14.1 mi
9	St. Cloud	Condominium/Townhouse	Oceanside	CA	14.6 mi
10	Montecito village apartments	Apartment Complex	Oceanside	CA	14.8 mi
11	Canyon View	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	15.5 mi
12	Riverfront Condominium Rentals	Apartment Complex	San Diego	CA	17.7 mi
13	Santee Villas	Apartment Complex	Santee	CA	18 mi
14	Del Cerro	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	18.4 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Torrey Highlands	San Diego	CA	4.6 mi
2	Encinitas	Encinitas	CA	5 mi
3	Mira Mesa	San Diego	CA	8.3 mi
4	Wine Country area of Scripps Ranch	San Diego	CA	10.7 mi
5	University City	San Diego	CA	11.3 mi
6	Carlsbad	Carlsbad	CA	12.5 mi
7	La Jolla	La Jolla	CA	12.6 mi
8	Downtown Oceanside	Oceanside	CA	15.6 mi
9	Serra Mesa	San Diego	CA	15.8 mi
10	Santee Trolley Square	Santee	CA	18 mi
11	Del Cerro	San Diego	CA	18.1 mi

Base	Distance
Miramar MCAS	11.1 mi.
MCRD San Diego	19.5 mi.
San Diego Naval Medical Center	20.5 mi.
North Island NAS	22.3 mi.
Naval Base Point Loma	23.3 mi.
San Diego Naval Base	23.9 mi.
Coronado Naval Amphibious Base	24.1 mi.
Camp Pendleton	25.6 mi.

R. Roger Rowe Elementary School

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

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