Sandia Base Elementary School

Posted: February 15, 2024

I’ve seen the principle(Mrs. Garcia) scream at the children, I can’t fathom how she still has a job.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Posted: October 21, 2023

The teachers are all wonderful and try their best. The principal Mrs. Garcia is the equivalent of Miss Truntchbull from Matilda. A horrible, confrontational woman. The kids are not believed when they are victims of bullying until it is confirmed on camera. Even then there is no apology from her. Glad to be leaving this school.

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 17, 2018

Posted: October 17, 2018

Posted: October 17, 2018

They don’t care about their students, they only care about test scores.

Posted: October 17, 2018

Posted: October 17, 2018

Mrs. Garcia is a bully herself so that says a lot.

Posted: October 17, 2018

Horrible, we refused to let our kids come back here so we found them a much better school where they are happy and excelling.

Posted: August 30, 2018

Posted: August 30, 2018

Posted: August 30, 2018

Posted: August 30, 2018

The principle is a bully. Not only to the parents, but to the kids and the staff. To the point many teachers had to quit because they couldn’t handle her rudeness.

Posted: August 30, 2018

Posted: August 30, 2018

The principle is the fine example of this. She treats everyone as if they are below her.

Posted: August 30, 2018

O. Horrible experience. Will not refer at all. Take your kids elsewhere.

Posted: April 16, 2018

Posted: April 16, 2018

Posted: April 16, 2018

Posted: April 16, 2018

I've had a horrible experience with this school, but all the problems with the school & it's faculty combined don't hold a candle to the principal, Jude Garcia. This wretched woman is the most unprofessional, condescending 'educator' I've ever emcountered. I honestly can't figure out how she still has a job at all. She is a disgrace to her profession, and posseses absolutely no class or integrity.

She walks around all day gossiping and spreading rumors of what she's "heard", about this parent or that parent-- right in front of the children! The staff is completely terrified of her, as are the children, and she abuses her position of power on a daily basis. My very first interaction with her was being called a liar in front of the Admin office.... in front of faculty, parents and MY SON! I had never met her before that moment, but she apparently overheard part of my conversation with an Administrator, misunderstood what we were talking about, and (rather than handle it in a normal, mature manner), she interrupted us and yelled out that I was LYING and how she knew. The Admin girl informed her (with fear in her eyes) that she had obviously misunderstood what we were talking about, and that I was in fact NOT lying about anything.

I waited until my son was in class and approached her about the horrific scene she just made at my expense (although she ultimately only embarrassed herself). I was shocked to hear a very fake, insincere apology in which she was "Sorry if it offended me" and immediately justified her actions because it was a misunderstanding. First of all, anyone would be "offended" by that interaction, regardless of the circumstances-- but factor in this was the first interaction with their CHILD'S PRINCIPAL?? Horrified is more accurate.

Since confronting her that day, she has made sure to glare at me in the hallway, make condescending remarks on a regular basis and give my son a hard time. This is definitely the most reprehensible thing she does... (and I've recently learned from other parents in his grade that I'm not alone) She loves her power and loves intimidating/bullying those around her. When she encounters a parent who isn't scared of her or stands up to this behavior, she resorts to emotionally hurting your child in order to control you. This has been reported by several different parents, year after year.

Posted: April 16, 2018

Posted: April 16, 2018

It has been a nightmare ever since encountering that principal.

Posted: January 8, 2018

First off, the principal is the bully at this school. My child was constantly bullied at lunch and recess. The ratio in each classroom is very high so don't dare go to Mrs. Garcia. You won't have a chance to share your observations. She has a ton of excuses. There should be a bullying pledge.

Posted: January 8, 2018

Absolutely no integrity, compassion, and respect. Maybe for their Kindergarten classes. I participated in the P.T.A. and you be amazed how that is run. I really didnt have a voice. We all just have to go through the motion. Sadly, it's all about money! The kiddos are really forgotten. They are the ones to make a difference.

Posted: January 8, 2018

Common core doesn't really support learning differences. It's pretty standard all the way around. It's really up to the parent to encourage positive learning. The teachers are like over-worked bots. They are fearful.of Mrs. Garcia when they make any suggestion to developing strategies. Sadly, you are on your own.

Posted: January 8, 2018

Absolutely no homework for my child, while other schools have weekly homework assignments. My child will definitely be behind.

Posted: January 8, 2018

They each follow the common core curriculum but my child's class are 3 to 5 weeks behind compared to our friends schools in other place. Even Wherry Elementary is on target! A school that has a poor grade but yet teachers are highly effective there compared to SB.

Posted: January 8, 2018

Very unpleasant. I am glad to have my child in a new school outside of New Mexico. My hope is that Mrs. Garcia retires soon. The teachers need a new leader. I regret enrolling my child there. The PTA officers never change and it's always the same each year.

Posted: July 12, 2016

Teachers show interest in every student in their classroom. They offer a wide range of subjects that the students find fun, entertaining, which makes it easy for students to retain the information of the subject matters. It is also nice to know that the school is very safe for faculty and students.

Posted: June 29, 2016

My daughter went here from Kinder to 4th grade. All of her teachers have been wonderful and caring. Once the principal was changed to Ms. Garcia the school completely changed for the better! Parents were kept well informed, students excelled and communication was opened up for parents. Issues were addressed when Ms. Garcia came to the school. She came into a very broken school and did a fantastic job fixing it!

Posted: June 29, 2016

All of my daughters teachers have been hard working and helpful. They have taught my daughter so much! She has never felt uncomfortable going to her teachers when she needs help.

Posted: June 29, 2016

Posted: June 29, 2016

Posted: May 24, 2016

Started out ok, but if you are not in "The Circle" you might as well not come into the school. It is convenient if you live on base, but there are far better schools out there. My children will definitely be transferring.

Posted: May 24, 2016

Posted: May 24, 2016

Posted: May 24, 2016

Posted: December 18, 2015

Mrs. Garcia has done an amazing job with Sandia base! Parent/teacher involvement is great as well!

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

She is great with the students knows each and every one of them by name.

Posted: September 28, 2015

I have been on the fence about this school from the beginning. Unfortunately, I haven't found any redeeming qualities. I am constantly treated like a child by teachers and the principal. Like they actually bend down, put their hands on their knees and tilt their head while speaking to me. I feel that everyone is in desperate need of total control. It's suffocating. This may sound weird, but I am concerned at the amount of pressure they put on the kids academic standing. It is my belief that learning should be fun and enjoyable! But these people are so focused on looking good on paper I worry about how it'll effect the kids and how they view education/learning in the future. It's sad to think that SBES was worse in the past.

Posted: September 28, 2015

Posted: September 28, 2015

Posted: September 28, 2015

Posted: April 26, 2015

We are finishing our first year at Sandia Base Elementary School (SBES) and couldn't be happier. This school reminds me a lot of our previous experience within the DoD school system. It is a small school so all the teachers know each other, the students and parents. The PTA is very involved in helping to make up shortfalls that funding from the school district cannot cover such as buying planners for every student. There are always family friendly events (dances, bingo, parent-day out) being scheduled that help to form the amazing sense of community. My son has participated in the free afterschool clubs program for two different sessions and loved every minute. There is a diverse student population (mainly from military kids) the benefits of exposure to cannot be quantified. My son's teacher and teacher's aide truly care about his success and have worked with me as part of their team so that I can facilitate it at home as well. I am looking forward to next year at SBES!

Posted: February 7, 2015

This is my children's first year at Sandia as we just moved into the area this past summer. I was very nervous about sending them to Sandia based on the reviews I had read and also comments other parents had made. However, we have been very happy with the school and my children's teachers are wonderful they go out of there way to make sure the children are challenged and learning as much as possible, I couldn't say enough positive things about there teachers. The school has a fun after school club that my children fully enjoy and it's a great club that is free of charge a big thank you to those who run it. From the cafeteria to the school nurse everyone is great and we don't have any complaints.

Posted: January 29, 2015

This school does not receive much praise. Several years ago, it was not a vet impressive school. Since the new principal arrived 3 years ago, she has done a remarkable job in turning the school around. She has continued to make improvements that are much needed. It saddens me to see this school not receive higher marks. As far as a learning environment for my children, I could not be any happier.

Posted: January 29, 2015

I find the previous reviews on Sandia Base and the principle VERY inaccurate. They seem to be from parents who do not spend enough time at the school to really have a full understanding of its principal, staff, and its policies. The principal is by the book and follows rules to the "T". Forgive her for making sure YOUR CHILD'S safety and academic experience is well established and taken care of. Parents who complain on sites like this are no where to be found at school meetings, and they certainly do not make appointments with the principal to address concerns. The principal has a very open door policy and welcomes all concerns brought to her in a civilized manner. Take the time to understand policies and the "method to the madness" BEFORE running and blabbing that Sandia Base is 'the worst school ever'. The principal runs a tight ship and takes no nonsense, from anybody. Forgive her for expecting parents to take the responsibility of setting the example of following the rules. I leave my children at Sandia Base with confidence every day, because I know "the method to the madness" works and it will keep my children safe and provide an excellent academic experience for them.

Posted: September 23, 2014

Most of the teachers at this school are great teachers and are great people. However, I do NOT have anything positive to say about the principal. She is very rude and disrespectful to not only the parents, but her faculty as well. Just hope that if your child attends this school that you never have to deal with her. If you have a disagreement with her about her treatment/discipline of your child as compared to other children in similar situations or that may have been involved and you call her out on it, expect your child to take the brunt of what comes afterwards and expect your child to have a target on their back for the remainder of the school year. My son and some of his classmates overheard the principal talking bad about some her faculty to other faculty members out in the open and was cussing in the process...setting a great example for my son and the other students. Just a little background, Sandia Base Elementary is now stuck with her after she was removed from her previous school. Her previous school's faculty threatened the school board with resignations if she was brought back as the principal. She is one of the biggest reasons we chose to school our child elsewhere.

Posted: August 6, 2014

This school has become increasingly better each year. We have had three children here with my youngest now starting Kindergarden. I had my older children in private school before and the education they received here was better.

Posted: April 24, 2014

I have to say I am impressed with the teacher my student has, she's a first year teacher but you could not tell that from the way she teaches and from the students behavior in her class. She really cares for her students and about them being SUCCESSFUL. I am GLAD my child is in her class. I couldn't have asked for a Better First Grade Teacher. She's always available to help when needed. I hope she comes back next year.

Posted: April 22, 2014

Our kids have been in SBE since 2012, and I have to say that I have loved the support that my kids have had in this school. I truly think it depends on the teachers your kids have. I have always felt that my kids were safe and really encouraged to learn. My son's teacher makes the effort to give him harder work when she felt that the work she had planned was too easy for him. Both of my kids are also in the gifted program, and we have great open communication with all teachers. We are supposed to be zoned to bandelier elementary but we still choose to drive them daily to SBE. The secretary in the front, Ms. Alexis, is super nice and she remembers my kids names, among hundreds of other children. definitely recommend!

Posted: March 11, 2014

I have to agree with the other about how horrible this school is. I hate taking my kid here. My kid is behind academically and when I confronted the teacher with questions about what I could do at home with my child the teacher didn't know what to tell me and just shrugged their shoulder. I am also hassled every week about some sale they are having (cause the school lacks funds) whether it is a pickle/popcorn sale or book fairs, non-stop photo sales, catalog sales, after school events for dinning out, I mean it never stops. If they would put more focus on education instead of trying to sell something and turn our children into salesmen maybe our kids would be doing better academically. And Ms. Garcia is a very rude individual. If you confront her about any issues she does not listen to your concerns and talks at you like you are a student. I'm sorry, but this school is getting funding from my child right? If I want something addressed shouldn't it be? And the school times are 9-3:45. After homework there isn't much time left and he is exhausted. And forget it being military friendly! They could care less if you are military. Civilian children are allowed here.

Posted: March 10, 2014

I do not want to go into a long detailed list on what is wrong with this school I will just say it was enough to force us to finally make the decision to homeschool. If you are ok with your children primarily just being in daycare all day, a dark dingy depressing environment and staff that could care less about the children especially military children this is the school for you. It is pathetic more pride, money and effort isn't put into this school which is ON the base. That being said however, my daughter is flourishing in homeschool and I regret ever even putting her in SBE.

Posted: January 10, 2014

Sandia Base ES is part of Albuquerque Public Schools which is in the midst of a leadership crisis. The School Board just voted to not extend the Super's contract due to his ignorant actions on the job and in his home environment. The district is a mess and all the schools are floundering because of this and the fact NM pays their teachers poorly and allows their principals to run the schools as if each were the HMS Bounty. Staff are not allowed to ever disagree with district policy and are removed if they dare to try and inject new concepts into a concrete foundation of bad administration. If you have the money, private schooling is really the only way around this problem. There are charter schools in town, but they are run by the same leadership as currently operates the district. In particular, Sandia Base ES is a rather sad and pathetic environment for children and parents to pprogress. Parents and children coming from DOD schoolswill be really shocked by the lack of material support and quality instruction provided to this school. The principal of the school appears to add nothing to an oppressive environment and rules the staff as though they were slaves to be abused.

Posted: January 9, 2014

Coming from a different state (Maryland) I would say the school system here is far behind. I believe they are not challenging our kids enough and if I could I would send my daughter somewhere else. I also dislike the fact that every wednesday children get half a day.

Posted: April 16, 2013

This school has undergone many changes in the 5 years my children have attended, but I have to say by far this has been the worst year. I would not send my children here if I had an option. One parent said it best it is very depressing to walk into the school and see such unhappy people. The school is lifeless, and depressing and the education the children are receiving doesn't seem to be up to par with other elementary schools. Being a military family we have seen how many states deal with their education programs, and this school is not child friendly nor do they want parents opinions! You have been warned to find another school if you are able to because this school is not a warm, kind, elementary school that is focused on your child and their learning needs.