Van Nuys Elementary School

My daughter started here since 2nd grade, with Miss Catalano, 3rd grade with Mrs. Barron, 4th grade with Mrs. Villate and 5th grade with Miss Kresner. All ot them are excellent teachers. Always dedicated to their kids and their right development, always motivating us as parents to get involved and help our children. Not saying the other teachers are bad, I'm just talking from the great experience we've had with this teachers that have been a great inspiration and support for the kids. There's always something new and different to learn from a teacher and they all really made a difference in my daughter's life. I'm specially thankful with Miss Kresner who's always running the extra mile to give the kids all of the resources and her knowledge on technology to open their minds to things they maybe never thought before. Obviously the school isn't perfect, their food can improve without affecting their already low budget, and with more team work between parents and teachers substancial changes could be possible. Let's just not blame the school administration, we all play an important role in our kids education and if we as parents need changes, we have to get involved.

I which my child were not zoned for this school. Trying to get into Magnet. Principal very rude and unorganized. I waited 25 minutes to see her , and was extremely disappointed in her knowledge of any situations. The coordinator sat in with us. He was rude and the principal was correcting him .Very uncomfortable. Don't send your child here unless you don't mind being treated like you don't matter. Very bad administration ! School seemed dirty and my child says the bathrooms are always dirty. They have no computer lab going , or anything to support extra curricular activities. This school is way below what children need to become well rounded and advanced in anyway. Can't wait till my child can get out of there

You can tell the minute you walk in the main office that this school is unorganized, unprofessional, and simply a joke school. I know it's a public school which in general has lots to be desired, but this one needs to be re-organized to a higher level. My 5yr old was more advanced coming from a Montessori school for 3years prior, to this as his first Kinder. In addition, if your child has medical needs such as mine with food allergies, pray your child never gets sick here. It took the staff over 10minutes to "find" my provided epi pen, and medication. The nurse is only on site maybe 2-3 days in a week. In addition the class rate depends on the majority of the students learning curve. If your child already knows proficiently what the staff are teaching...you will not be able to advance the child to the next level. I took my 5yr old out of this school after two weeks, and having the above problems, went back to the Montessori school for another year. My recommendation, if you are zoned for this school, FIND ANOTHER fast!. I searched for Magnet, and Open enrollment Charter schools. Even Ararat Charter school which is across the street would be a better choice...if you can get into in

I can't say that all the teachers are highly qualified because some do not give enough interest to their students and will have too bad of an attitude towards their students which is never acceptable. There are some who have been there for over 8 years and are wonderful instructors. The only one who seems to have any interest in the children's education other than the teacher is the principal, a large majority of the parents don't give as much importance to their child's education. I have been to the every meeting possible and only perhaps 20 parents will show up out of the hundreds of parents who have children at this school. The staff in the main office is not friendly enough, some staff chooses who they want to be nice to which is unprofessional in my eyes. There needs to be a major restructuring of management to bring about more parent involvement. But the community doesn't seem capable to change which greatly affects the school.