Sylvia Cassell Elementary School

Parking and the street in front of the school is unsafe during pick-up and drop-off, and there is no management of this by the Principle. If we can't even trust the safe arrival and departure of our children in front of our eyes, what happens behind closed doors? When I questioned one teacher about grading my son as average in areas he excelled at, he explained his philosophy as "how can he be proficient in this grades curriculum, when I haven't finished teaching it yet...?" The children are not taught to their intelligences, rather to the convenience of the teacher.

As a parent I can only hope that the principal is gone very soon. The last principal would listen to us and was very understanding. Some of the teachers are very mean to our children and we have told her. She has done nothing about it. My child has come home telling me that her teacher calls the student stupid and to shut up. I told the principal and not happened. The parent involvement is hardly around because the principal keeps us away!

Cassell is ranked 10 out of the 27 schools in Alum Rock and last year's API was 700. I believe that we are a good school where teachers do their best and the principal is very understanding and compassionate.