Longfellow Elementary School

Excellent all around. Great academics including teachers, staff and administrators.

My granddaughter was a GATE kid at this school from 1st grade thru 5th. She was only beat up twice and nothing happened to the boys who did. Both were bused in from the inner city however because of redistricting this school will naturally draw from some pretty rough areas in the future. The classwork and teacher involvement for GATE was pretty good until 5th grade. Then it was a big nothing. Pretty much the same as 4th. No math improvement and if you did more and more complex things on your own the teacher marked you down. Reading was OK. Most GATE kids ended 5th grade reading at the California 8th grade level which means they were pretty much at their age level. California requirements are so low that even a dunce can read at grade level. The counselor was not very good. Pleasant enough but way too overreactive. The principal seems to be a good man. Caring and attentive. I think Mr. Sigure is a real asset and a credit to the Long Beach School system. I marked this school up because of the first, third and fourth grade GATE teachers and Mr. Duran. We have always had one foot out the door ready for home school if the programs were that bad. 5th grade we supplemented a lot at home. Came within 4 days of walking. Glad it is over. I should say my son went to this school in the 80's and wife in the 60’s. It was far far far better in the 60’s than 80’s and infinitely better in the 80’s than now. Back then it mostly drew local kids though. The transport of inner city kids has really hurt any student who wants to achieve. They take so much time and energy and tend to create dangerous environments naturally. I understand that isn't fair to some, but it doesn't take many to counter the good ones.

Overall, this school provides an adequate education, with plenty of room for improvement in areas such as parent communication, student social development and the arts.

10 out of 10. A great school with great teachers.