Van Gogh Street Elementary School

Van Gogh is a hidden gem. My child was there for five years, and loved every minute of it. The teachers and aids are incredible! The PTA is awesome!!! They offer many programs you can not find in other schools. Van Gogh felt like a second family. I cried when my child left those wonderful school halls.  
   
My only complaint is how they handle childcare/out of district permits. Each year I had a very difficult time with paperwork being lost or misplaced. It was very frustrating.  I also have witnessed parents that decided not to have their children attend Van Gogh. They were very unhappy with the personal treatment they recieved during lottery placements. Van Gogh has so many outstanding features it is a shame that this became a problem.
 
In spite of my complaint I am giving this school an excellent rating. If you are looking for the best school in the valley Van Gogh is that place.

I have had two of my children attend this school.  One does not attend anymore goes to a gifted magnet school.  If this school had a gifted magnet program I would have strongly considered keeping my other child here but the school my child is at now is hard to beat.
 
However, my other child still attends Van Gogh.  Because I've experienced a child who is extremely easy (the kind that is a teacher's dream) and I have another one (at Van Gogh) who is "energetic", I feel that I have a good idea of both sides as a parent.
 
I will tell you that this school, although it has high ratings, is not exactly ideal for children who aren't those "star" types.  If your child misbehaves or doesn't always get things right away, this school is not for you.  So far my experience with the teachers is that they expect all the students to be perfect.  And you won't hear about it until after February - when too many poor habits have been ignored - no notification, no phone calls, no notes.  This has happened to us the past THREE years at this school.  So I don't find this to be a coincidence.  
 
We are considering admitting our child into a private school or somewhere that gives more individualized attention.  I find it unacceptable that a teacher blames a small child (under the age of 8) for completing in-class assignments.  They are not in middle school and this is a very important age.  My husband and I are very involved parents and are very strict about finishing homework and assignments.  We can't control when assignments are not getting completed in-class.  It is also unacceptable to find this out when the first semester is practically done.
 
For a school that is rated so high, I don't understand how these things could happen.
 
The new principal is very good and the new AP is MUCH better than then one before this school year (for the record, this school year is 2008-2009 for those who are wondering).  They have been extremely responsive to our concerns and I know another parent who was accomodated by having her child placed in a different class because the teacher's teaching-style was too rigid.
 
My other child loved this school but was only there for one year.  She still visits her old teacher to say hi.  
 
Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent school for high achievers but the average to less than average don't get the same treatment.  I know this first-hand from experience having both "types" of children.

I agree with the previous poster.
 
The principal brings an air of leadership and encourages participation.  She seeks input from all stakeholder groups--parents, teachers, staff.  
 
We're thrilled we found this school, even turning down a highly-rated magnet to stay where my daughter felt welcome.