Birney Elementary School

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

Posted: August 18, 2024

My family struggled when Ms.Amanda was running the school. She has thankfully retired, giving Birney a new start to become the school it's students deserve. We are hopeful for positive changes and collaborative problem solving going forward. Our teacher this year is outstanding. We loved our teacher last year and we adored our kindergarten teacher as well.

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Posted: March 11, 2024

Ms. Amanda’s leadership leaves much to be desired. The school suffers from a lack of trust, ineffective meetings, and complacency. Parents are dissatisfied, and students deserve better. A change in leadership is overdue.

Posted: January 28, 2020

Posted: January 28, 2020

We have been thoroughly impressed by Birney, it's curriculum, teachers and leadership. Principal Amanda has always been quick to respond. In my last 3 emails to her, she has replied back within the hour. I am not on the PTA, we do not have a special relationship with her. We are just parents with a Birney Bee. Keep up the great work!

Posted: January 28, 2020

Teachers are understanding and flexible to the needs of the students.

Posted: January 28, 2020

Teachers are firm and flexible. They strive to do their best for the students.

Posted: January 28, 2020

Having seen Birney students interacting with other students, our Birney Bees are polite, respectful and compassionate.

Posted: January 28, 2020

Ms. Amanda replies quickly to emails and she is a strong principal that makes decisions for the best of the students. She has built this elementary school over the years to be one of the best in the city.

Posted: January 28, 2020

Posted: December 13, 2019

Bullying is against school policy and you can report it to the teacher or online.

Posted: December 13, 2019

Homework reviews what is taught in math. Children are also expected to read each day and can access educational apps at home. Occasionally they engage in project-based homework.

Posted: December 13, 2019

There are some true gems at this school. It's nice when you feel the personal connection with the teacher.

Posted: December 13, 2019

Birney is unique in this area. The many international groups represented in this school innately teach kids respect.

Posted: December 13, 2019

Haven't gotten to know the principal very well. But she always seems unhappy--never smiles at parents or greets them at gate. Aside from that, she organizes nice family events at the school.

Posted: December 13, 2019

Not great from what I've heard from other parents, but I don't have personal experience to comment on this. I think it partly depends on the teacher.

Posted: December 13, 2019

Birney is a unique school with its IB curriculum and its wide array of students from various backgrounds. There are many ways to connect with other parents through school festivals and fundraisers. Wish the principal was friendlier. Overall, a great school.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Teachers are usually very helpful in dealing with any bullying that goes on. Because the school values kindness and diversity, there is emphasis on being caring and not bullying.

Posted: November 8, 2019

There are so many great things about this school--the community-building events, the specials teachers, the dedicated classroom teachers. However, our experience with the leadership was just too stressful. Ms. Amanda was not helpful or a problem-solver when we needed her to be, and we couldn't deal with her rude behavior anymore, so we left.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Homework amounts seem reasonable and keep parents engaged in what the child is learning in the classroom. Parent guides are sent home for math so parent knows how to assist child if needed.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Most of the teachers are dedicated and love their jobs. They truly care about the students' development. A few are ineffective, poor communicators, disorganized, or clearly tired of teaching.

Posted: November 8, 2019

The school is an amazingly diverse group of kids and staff, and the specials teachers and parent organizations model respect, creativity, and community through their various events and classes.

Posted: November 8, 2019

On the surface, Ms. Amanda appears to be a great leader and very involved in the school's various activities. However, if you come to her with concerns or issues, you quickly get blacklisted and help is no longer available. It's hard to be at a school where the principal intentionally tries to intimidate certain parents she doesn't like. That is her way of trying to avoid dealing with problems that come up.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Posted: May 28, 2019

I have never had an issue with bullying, and I have had 2 children in this school. I have full confidence that if we did have a problem the teachers and principal would nip it in the bud instantly.

Posted: May 28, 2019

We have had the most amazing, creative, kind, teachers at Birney. They are all outstanding and have made my children's learning experience top-notch.

Posted: May 28, 2019

The IB learner traits are woven throughout everything they do - the students are kind, caring, compassionate learners who "think globally and act locally".

Posted: May 28, 2019

Principal Hammond-Williams is an outstanding leader and a hands-on principal. She is always present and makes sure that everyone feels welcome and supported. She is an excellent problem-solver and I always feel that she hears me and addresses my concerns in a very timely manner. She is also clearly a great boss because she attracts amazing teachers and keeps them. She is truly outstanding.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Posted: May 28, 2019

Homework consists of 30min of reading every night and usually 1 worksheet of either math or writing. It is totally a reasonable amount of homework.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Our experience at Birney Elementary has been outstanding! We transferred our older child from a charter school and are kicking ourselves for not choosing a neighborhood school from the start. The high standards of education and the level of rigor are superb, yet the staff are also caring and understanding. The IB Program is phenomenal and we will continue on in the IB tract through middle school and high school. Our older child is now excelling in IB Middle School and that's because of the preparation and high standard of education received at Birney. And our younger child is THRIVING at Birney! We love the IB curriculum, the specials - garden, spanish, art, and PE, the teachers, staff, and administration. We also love the community that is formed by the parents, families, neighbors, and community partners who all work together to make this school a true gem. Putting my children in Alice Birney Elementary was the BEST decision I ever made for my children's future!

Posted: May 29, 2018

Absolutely, no one wants to be a bully. Kids get to have assemblies that show them what to look out for and what they can do if they witness bullying or are subjected to bullying. The principal really takes this to heart.

Posted: May 29, 2018

It is in the IB Traits. They don't just put posters up and call it a day. There is an IB cone that floats around in the classroom. Each day the last kid to have the cone observes his classmates and if they find a kid demonstrating an IB characteristic at the end of the day they make a little speech in front of the class saying " I observed so and so helping others and that demonstrates compassion" the cone goes to the next kid and it sits on their desk for the next day. I love it!

Posted: May 29, 2018

All employees have a strong sense of ownership . And they all genuinely like each other. I see them hanging out together going for walks after school and showing up to afterschool events. They are part of the village.

Posted: May 29, 2018

Amazing! Great community of parents, of educators... everything here is lovely. This school is so good that people come in on year 1 by renting in the neighborhood, move out after a year and then lie about their residency to stay at the school. If they did a sweep I'm sure at least 40% of these kids would be pushed out. The principal refuses to have parents prove their residency so the school has a problem with over enrollment.

Posted: May 29, 2018

As the kids transition into different grades, the homework amount changes along with their grade. No more packets, just a weekly writing assignment that my kid loves to do and adds in extra pages because 2 pages is never enough to say all she needs to say and a daily math sheet that gets done quickly. My 1st grader still gets a packet, but we can manage our time better and she gets it done. It teaches her not to procrastinate.

Posted: May 29, 2018

The teachers in each grade work together in a group and specializes in different areas. 1 teacher will teach the kids in Song, they come home singing math songs, 1 teacher focuses on teaching with technology and the kids get on the iPad and are learning math in a game sort of environment, and 1 teacher teaches word study. This team approach ensures all kids in the grade get to experience all different teacher styles and gets them moving from classroom to classroom.

Posted: April 11, 2018

Posted: April 11, 2018

My daughter has attended since Kindergarten and is now in 3rd grade. I would never go anywhere else. Once you find it all you dont need to search any longer! The staff, the teachers, the PTA , the programs SAY and PRIMETIME, they are all wonderful! We love the principal, she is involved, caring and attentive to everyone's needs. A 5 star all around!

Posted: April 11, 2018

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Posted: April 5, 2018

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Posted: April 5, 2018

Posted: April 5, 2018

We love birney and all the staff!

Posted: May 17, 2017

My daughter has attended this school since Kindergarten, and has thrived. It's an excellent, usually well organized school, with teachers that are attentive and knowledgeable.

Posted: May 17, 2017

Posted: May 17, 2017

Posted: May 17, 2017

Posted: May 17, 2017

Posted: May 17, 2017

Posted: May 17, 2017

Posted: May 13, 2017

IB traits are emphasized in all they do.

Posted: May 13, 2017

It's all in Ms. Amanda, Coach Lord and amazing teachers and Say staff. They all work well together. The principal is always available and attends nearly all events she even does all the school tours. She writes the weekly buzz and robo calls so parents are always on the know.

Posted: May 13, 2017

Leap program groups kids by ability and accounts for differences in learning.

Posted: May 13, 2017

My daughter was being bullied by her friend for weeks, the teacher tried to intervene but wasn't successful. The principal jumped in and mediated the situation and the bullying finally stopped.

Posted: May 13, 2017

They have a program called leap which groups kids by ability not just by age or assigned classroom. This gives gifted kids a chance to be grouped with their academic peers and provides struggling kids a support group that feels less competitive and provides more one on one attention. Also my kids teacher gives my daughter inquiry notebook where she can ponder life's big questions and do research to find the answers. It keeps her challenged.

Posted: May 13, 2017

Best school we've ever attended. We hope all of their schools into the future will have this level of commitment to the children and the community.

Posted: May 13, 2017

Teachers provide two types of homework. Typically 1 math sheet and 20 min of reading and a monthly choice board with small project based activities. My daughter loves doing both and does it all without assistance.

Posted: August 26, 2016

My children are going into 4th and 2nd graded this year. I love this school. The IB emphasis helps create well rounded people. It also has a great breadth and depth of learning. I love that the children ate taught to be problem solvers, creative and empathetic. I love the diversity of the families at the school and the way the school celebrates and honors multiple ways of learning. The science scores are very high and the specials make for more fun learning. The organic garden is award winning and provides the children opportunity to connect with the earth that is hard to do in a multi unit dwelling. The staff is responsive and caring. With the drop off situation, after the accident, the school solicited imput from parents and created a drop off zone protected by cones and staffed by parent volunteers who monitor traffic and greet the children at the car door. You have to drop your child off before school to use it. I have used it and it is very convient. The school was built prior the use of the drive through parking lots. There is a strong sense of community and investment in the children at Birney.

Posted: August 25, 2016

I can't make a blanket statement - I had one good one, one not-so-good one. But I can say that I didn't see either work and individual solutions to student's issues.

Posted: August 25, 2016

Our evenings are overshadowed by homework. It was just too much, especially when study after study shows that it's ineffective.

Posted: August 25, 2016

Posted: August 25, 2016

I have loved Birney for the first 2 years, but for us, it's time to go. The extra programs are excellent, but last year, I had several issues with our teacher, and after emails to the principle, nothing was addressed or resolved. The homework load is WAY too much, and very little is done to manage students as individuals.

Mostly though, I'm really concerned with the safety of the pickup procedure. It's a complete mess - parents drive up, have to basically abandon their cars in front of the school, run in to the classroom, run out, to put their kids in the car and drive away. There is no pickup line or orderly fashion - cars are driving every which way with kids running between them. There was a woman hit by a car during this procedure last year, and it's only a matter of time before there is a bigger tragedy. Yet the school refuses to fix it.

Posted: May 23, 2016

Posted: May 23, 2016

Posted: May 23, 2016

Posted: May 23, 2016

I chose this school for my daughters after touring the facility and being blown away by the principal's leadership and the implementation of the International Baccalaureate curriculum. So far I have not been disappointed. The quality of the teachers is top-notch, the level of passion from the principal extends down into all the staff and I have been very pleased with the well-rounded education my daughters have been getting. I can't recommend this school enough!

Posted: March 27, 2016

The leaders and parents at the school think that getting involved in the community and doing everything they can to engage and educate the students is of the utmost importance. My child is always coming home with positive things to say about his teacher, his classmates, and the interesting things they have done in class and in the "specials" program. He is getting a well-rounded education and is also learning about helping others, respect, and how to be a good citizen of the world. We love Birney Elementary!

Posted: November 19, 2015

I am the principal at Birney! I see a lot of 5 star ratings, but there is not an overall rating for my school - can you explain why? I appreciate all the comments from our parents. I am baffled by the most recent comment about not being friendly to children with special needs. We have just over ten percent of our population with IEPs and 504s, we have an excellent team of professionals who go above and beyond for our special needs students. I hope the parent who posted this feels he or she can come talk to me about what is needed for his or her child. Our team includes a half-time school psychologist, 4 education specialists, 4 special education assistants, 2 speech language pathologists, adaptive PE, physical therapy and occupational therapy time and a school counselor 2 days a week.

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

The homework may seem like a lot to some, but to me it's just right. I want my son to learn well with our help, to be a better learner in class, and the amount of homework seems right for that to happen.

Posted: November 18, 2015

They teach the children about integrity, morals, and being independent learners and thinkers. My son is 6 and always talks about problem solving solving when ever there is an issue.

Posted: November 18, 2015

The teachers are serious about their purpose to enrich the children with the best learning experience. The principal has the school in wonderful shape and with all of their wonderful activities such as gardening, art and Spanish, it's just all the better.

Posted: November 18, 2015

They are engaged in the learning process, and are committed to assisting students. All of the teachers find ways to make the learning fun and effective, and to be sure students understand expectations.

Posted: November 18, 2015

Too be honest, my answer is more about the adoption of the Common Core standards, and the amount of work those entail, much of which I think is redundant and misleading.

Posted: November 18, 2015

The IB learner program encourages this within the curricula, and children are rewarded for behaving in an IB fashion.

Posted: November 18, 2015

It is a wonderful, warm environment that is very conducive to learning. Also, the parent involvement makes so many extra programs possible.

Posted: November 18, 2015

The teaching teams work exceedingly well together. The funds from Birney's foundation allow grade-level teachers to collaborate as honest teaching teams to work effectively and offer differentiation in their classrooms.

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

It's very structured and teaches kids principles and values such as tolerance, respect, honesty, empathy, and accountability.

Posted: October 17, 2015

Great parent involvement. Very hands-on caring principal, great teachers that are very caring and are on the ball with cutting edge teaching techniques. Love the variety of classes the kids have during the school day and after school. The fact it is very diverse and they have a high score says a lot about the teachers. I like the structure and how they teach the kids about principles and values.

Posted: August 31, 2015

This is a great school for kids with special needs! The school actively practices inclusion that is tailored to each child's ability. The SN team is awesome and caring, very professional! The principal is involved and proactive in making sure that all kids in the school are treated equally. My son has blossomed in this environment, he is involved in the drama club, running club, and Spanish ! He has more friends than his twin since we made the move to choice to Birney! It is an amazing school with involved parents and wonderful caring kids. The IB teachings create compassionate kids by encouraging their natural inclination to be awesome. I would recommend this school to every parent regardless if you have a GATE kiddo or an IEP kiddo, they will both do well here. My kids have a countdown to school calendar, they cannot wait to return to school!

Posted: June 27, 2015

Posted: December 1, 2014

The school doesn't take children with disabilities well. They treat them poorly and refuse to help the parent out with iep's etc.... If you want a school that cares about your child and the other children then this isn't the school to have your child enrolled in. Also this school uses your child to get money for the school. If you want a great school seek a different one.

Posted: October 4, 2014

I have two sons that started here this year. One is in TK and one is in 2nd. We transfered from the school that my older son attended for k and 1st., because we never felt like part of a community. There was so much emphasis on academics, that social interactions and issues went unnoticed by the teachers, whom I felt were overwhelmed. Birney had been highly recommended by a parent, and I'm so happy I took her advice. From the first time my husband and I went to the school for orientation we have felt welcome, and our kids have been treated with care and given encouragement and proper guidance, when necessary. I feel excited about my kids going here; they are motivated to learn! My older son no longer anxiously asks each night if he has school the next day. In addition to the common core curriculum, they are learning art and Spanish. Speech therapy is also being provided for my 2nd grader. The principal often walks around campus. She's acutely aware of what goes on at the school and genuinely wants parents feedback. Part of Birney's mission as an "IB learners school" is to treat others with kindness, and encourage curiosity and acceptance. So far, we LOVE this school.

Posted: July 13, 2014

This school has served us well for 3 years, but it's time to go. We had issues beginning of the school year that was put to the side by Amanda. It's disappointing to see how she just brushed us off to the side and didn't really address the issue with the teacher that was never present in class. Amanda is more concern about attendance and the amount of money lost if your kids do not come to school. I'm sorry but kids get sick and you do have to keep them home to avoid getting the other kids sick. I do have to say the special programs at Birney are outstanding. They provide language learning, gardening, and arts. Parents involvement are also awesome to see. We will miss the friends we build at Birney, but we're excited to the future without Amanda.

Posted: April 14, 2014

A unique school that teaches to the whole child. The International Baccalaureate program at Birney teaches tolerance, respect, risk taking, compassion and other core values while engaging in project based learning. Both my sons have thrived there, both as learners and as moral, compassionate learners and citizens of the world. The principal is driven to excellence and knows every kid by name. The parents are involved, and the study body is wonderfully diverse. Everything you could ask for in an urban, high achieving school!

Posted: April 14, 2014

Birney is a diverse school with an amazing International Baccalaureate Program - teaching students the good values to build a better world. This school has an active parent population and several staff that bring their children to the school because the quality of education is valued. The school has a Spanish, Art and Garden (also known as Agriculture and Environmental Sciences) Program that would impress any parent in addition to a very strong PE program. Students come out of Birney more than prepared for the next step - as well rounded community members. Come check Birney out!

Posted: April 12, 2014

The teachers here are excellent at every grade level! I truly believe that the children at Birney have an advantage over non-Birney students by being part of an incredible hands on IB program. I didn't know much about the IB program before we started at Birney, but now I see the advantages that the children are gaining. Some of the amazing classes here at Birney are Garden (earth science), Art, and Spanish. The principal Ms. Amanda, is a strong leader that continues to lead this little elementary gem to new successful platforms. I took a chance having my children go to Birney instead of the highly reputable charter schools and I am glad I did. The academics are truly amazing.

Posted: April 2, 2014

My son has gone to Birney since Kindergarten. I am so glad that he is a part of a school that prepares him for future success. The specials program really gets the kids involved and the teachers and principle really cares for the children. They recognize the children who have done great as far as IB learning and I'm proud to say this was a goal we set for my son to make it on the list and he finally did. He is also going on the limo ride with many other kids who had perfect attendance. They go to a local ice cream shop to get ice cream for working hard to keep perfect attendance. I'm excited for my daughter to be joining Birney this Fall. I love how a lot of the parents are involved and we do a lot to raise funds to help keep the specials running. My son loves specials. I'm a very proud parent to have my kids attending Alice Birney Elementary!

Posted: April 1, 2014

We were so fortunate to be allowed to choice to Birney Elementary. Its unique philosophy and specials programs sets this school apart from any school in San Diego. The IB component of the school encourages these children to explore the world around them, think outside the box, be risk takers and discover new things about themselves and others. The garden program is out of this world. Due to the amazing garden program at this school, I feel the kids at this school have such a leg up on understanding science and biology. My Kindergarten son uses scientific terminology and has a true understanding of nature that I never had. The school grows their own food for the cafeteria and produces hardly any garbage due to the amazing compost program. My son eats amazing foods now including kale, fennel, beets. The principal and staff are caring and passionate about their school and I was blown away by the parent of involvement. I could not have asked to be helping such an amazing group of parents that care so much and put so much effort in making this school the best elementary school of San Diego. I am truly thankful for our family to be able to be a part of this school.

Posted: April 10, 2013

Birney is an amazing school. If you really want to embrace diversity, there's a whole world on the blacktop at Birney. The staff and teachers are all focused on those long-term IB goals: not just doing what the students need to succeed this semester, but what will support them through the rest of their academic life. When we were looking at schools, we kept looking at test scores and demographics. A lot of comparable charter schools showed demographics where most of the parents had at least Bachelors if not graduate degrees. Birney is not that way--some kids opt in, for some kids it's their neighborhood school. The demographics are accordingly across a broader range; it's in a high poverty neighborhood. When we looked at the test scores in that light, Birney's population--where a high percentage of kids eligible for free/reduced lunch and not every parent has a college education--was doing as well or better than similar schools where almost every parent had a college degree. To us, that meant that the teachers and staff at Birney were doing more for a broader swath of the population than the other schools that were more self-selecting. That's been true so far in our experience.

Posted: October 1, 2012

We have been at Birney for 2 years and have nothing but positive things to say about our school !!!! ---- I spent a year looking for a great public school for my child. I visited and compared statistics for many schools. I chose Birney for the entire package it offers. The principal was involved and her strong leadership was evident. The IB principles were integrated through the curriculum by IB trained teachers. Although Birney was not at the top academically yet, their scores have been climbing every year. I saw a good school rising to greatness and I wanted my child to be involved in the ascent. ---- Growing parent support and involvement can be witnessed in the continuation of special enrichment classes. As the education budget is cut, parents have rallied and funded the programs themselves. ---- I am proud to be part of the Birney community !!!

Posted: May 24, 2012

My daughter goes to Alice Birney Elementary School. She loves her school. I really think this school's principal is excellent. She recognizes all students and their parents. She is so friendly and attentive to all her students and parents. This school offers IB program ( International Baccalaureate primary year), which teaches students for globalization, inquiring, and knowledgeable. I also need to mention that our PTA has been doing great job!! Although San Diego schools have budgets cut problems, Our PTA manages a lot of fun raisers to get funds for Birney school. Finally, I am glad for my dauther to go to this school.