Solana Santa Fe Elementary School

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

We wish we never came to this school.
I am very disappointed with the way the school handles recess supervision and student behavior. The teachers seem to take sides rather than being fair and impartial, which has created an unhealthy environment for the kids. During recess, the supervision is inadequate, and many kids are left unsupervised, leading to conflicts and unsafe situations.

The principal has not been proactive in addressing these behaviors or resolving situations effectively. This lack of leadership and proper supervision is very concerning. I hope the administration takes immediate steps to address these issues and ensure a safer, more supportive environment for all students. Bullying is bad in this school.

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

Posted: June 26, 2024

We wish we never came to this school, bad teacher who takes side and encourage bullying. Principal who does not admit to wrongdoing. They encourage kids tell on each other rather than solve the problem. Kids not being supervised during recess and lunches. It's more like a do it yourself learning. Most parents are nice but there is some crazy ones you have to watch out for. School Doesn't do much extra activities. Pick another school and save your child and yourself. This is a school for small group of people who love to gossip, the PTA though is amazing!

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: October 8, 2023

Its the besy i love it parents swarm

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: October 8, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

The best K-6 school my kids went at San Diego. Special thanks for Mrs. Campbell 1st Grade teacher.

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 13, 2019

While the school has a strong learning center, they are most concerned with the paper trail of the IEP versus actually trying to remediate the problem. Moreover, their reading program is fluency-based and they teach very little phonics which comes back to haunt the kids in the upper grades.

Posted: March 13, 2019

The school has zero disability awareness training. Its staff at times apologizes to typical students for the behavior of atypical but disabled students. It preaches kindness but does not practice it itself.

Posted: March 13, 2019

We wish we had gone to a different school.

Posted: March 13, 2019

It is a do-it yourself homework policy that does not correlate with the lesson plan. The only exception is third grade, where the homework is tied to the current lesson.

Posted: March 13, 2019

The school, and district, talk the talk about kindness, diversity, and anti-bullying, but they do not walk the walk. They are most concerned with forms and covering themselves, rather than actually trying to identify and remediate the bullying problems that are historical and deeply rooted in the history of this school. Some of this results from the wealthy and aggressive parent population at this school, with corresponding offspring. Some of this stems from the clicky and gossipy teacher population. There are many teachers’ children attending this school and this adds to the problem.

Posted: March 13, 2019

Leadership has improved with the arrival of Mr. Frumovitz. He is not afraid to take action or make decisions. Nonetheless, the school is haunted by its history of pushy teachers and pushy parents. It does not feel calm and welcoming like a normal elementary school.

Posted: August 14, 2017

Posted: August 14, 2017

Posted: August 14, 2017

We are going into our 3rd year at SSF. We are very happy here and look forward to another great year. Our daughters have done well here. They love the discovery labs a lot. The work they do in art is amazing!!!! I frame all of their pieces and have their sculptures on the mantle. We love the PE teacher and the STREAM program is very challenging and engaging. All of the teachers and staff are caring, highly qualified people. We cant wait for what 3rd and 6th grade brings!

Posted: August 14, 2017

Posted: August 14, 2017

Posted: August 14, 2017

Posted: August 14, 2017

Posted: January 9, 2016

Great, small school tucked away in a beautiful area. Nice, fair principal and the staff is caring. The academics are standard, public school. But the stream program, music, computers, PE and art programs are the highlights of the school. We are very impressed by the art our son has done with the art teacher.

Posted: July 5, 2015

Pros: 1. Small class size (16-22 in the lower grades) 2. Well funded compared to other public schools. The school asks for a hefty donation from each family at the beginning of the year, and most families comply. Cons 1. Lack of before/after school care- If you are a dual income family, be prepared to STRESS like no other on what to do with your child while you work, especially after school and during the summer. The only option right now is to be bussed to the community center, which closes at 5 and very few children do it. 2. Lack of differentiation- I agree with previous posts that teachers have low tolerance for children who are "out of the box." Same with bright students- they will likely get bored. 3. Ipads- I wish it would serve a more useful purpose than to "babysit." Parents spent so much money on these, and students are playing games while the teacher focuses on a small group of students. In regards to Stepfordville, to each his own.

Posted: April 24, 2014

Our two children have done very well at this school. Solana Santa Fe is what a school should be: an organization that helps those who earn the right to an excellent education, and does well to remove students and other elements that might distract from the betterment of the whole. Overall, we can't imagine how any other school could do a better job in today's increasingly difficult and more competitive arena. Our children have been encouraged and driven to excell, and that they have. Thank you Solana Santa Fe!

Posted: November 23, 2013

My son has an IEP and the team at SSF has been amazing. Almost every teacher, aide and staff member in the whole school is bright, interested and innovative. He has HFA and a very high IQ so offers odd challenges and they meet them with grace and enthusiasm. Principal Bering is great!

Posted: May 4, 2013

Welcome to Stepfordville. Please enjoy your stay. This school is filled with Real Housewives who come to the drop off and pick up in skimpy tennis wear with designer bags. Their priorities and value systems are success at any cost, and the school caters to this perfectly. There is zero creative or independent thought at this school, it is teach to the test. Kindergarteners learn how to fill in bubbles with their number two pencils within the first few weeks of school. While the school certainly has a great policy against bullying, and I am pleased that the poster's child's bullying problem was addressed, the larger issue remains as to why the child was bullied in the first place. The answer, I believe, is because the school sets a competitive, win/succeed at-any-cost atmosphere and defines very narrowly what it means to be successful. There is not a lot of tolerance for those who are different or who think outside of the box. Moreover, this comes not just from the students, but from the teachers. I personally have observed children in distress emotionally whose needs were ignored by multiple staff members in close proximity. Not a caring environment.

Posted: April 16, 2013

Solana Santa Fe Elementary has an excellent staff and parent involvement. This school's no tolerance on bullying is something my child experienced first hand. Although my child's experience was being bullied in a lighter nature, the teachers and staff addressed it immediately and with appropriate action. If you want your child to succeed in life and do well in their educational career, this is the school for you. This school prepares you for learning, test taking, social skills and having great life skills they will need long term.

Posted: January 21, 2013

If Bentleys, iPads, and good test scores are of the utmost importance to you, then this is the school for you. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a kind and loving environment for your child, think twice before enrolling your child at this school. The school pushes, pushes, and pushes, all in the name of those test scores and an excellent front page write up in the Rancho Santa Fe Review. This push at any cost attitude results in students who learn to take a test, but may be devoid of any critical thought process. It also results in a lot of frustration in the lower grades, when good students become frustrated that they are not perfect, and when those that are developmentally slower (dare I say normal) feel downright dumb. All in the name of the great race to nowhere. One wonders when these kids will burn out, if not in elementary school, surely by the seventh grade. Many of the parents have tutors for their kids, not because a child has any particular deficiency, but simply to keep up. There are certainly some good teachers here, and a lot of parent involvement, but the culture is go, go, go, and please think only in the box.

Posted: September 12, 2011

I feel so lucky to send my kids to this amazing school! It feels like a private school, the teachers are amazing, I love and respect the principal, it's just an overall excellent school environment and every day I feel thankful this this is where my 3 kids will go from kindergarten through 6th grade.