Marvin Elementary School

This school is going down. I enrolled my daughter in it based on the reviews and the score. but they made my daughter she is in the K hates going to school. teacher doesn t care about the students feeling and has no emotional effect on them at all and the worth thing ever is; my daughter had cut in her neck deep one and no one bother to call us or even tell us when we picked her up from school. I don t recommend this school to parents who want their kids to be in a safe environment and looking for good learning experience to their kids.

My daughter had always enjoyed going to school and learning until this year. The first day of the current school year she came home crying and had actually spoken the words I hate school ! Not something I had expected to hear come out of her mouth. Part of the problem is Marvin has some wonderful teachers and some not so wonderful ones. The Principal at the school is ineffective at leading. The GATE program is a joke. In the third grade they introduce GATE seminar/cluster kids to the wonders of the GATE program and what they can achieve in it. Then in the fourth grade they turn their backs on the cluster kids and only provide GATE learning for the seminar kids. If they can combine seminar/cluster for third graders why can t they do the same for fourth and fifth graders? They say the GATE cluster kids are in a combination GATE/non-GATE class but all of the kids in this combo class are learning the same things at the same speed. They are not being challenged. We had been happy with Marvin until this year. Hindsight is a powerful tool. Had we known what this year would be like for our child we would have switched schools when we had the chance.

My daughters 3rd grade teacher Mrs Henetz ---FABULOUS !! The best experience ever. She teaches 3rd gr GATE seminar and integrated learning and fun into her ciriculum. My daughter excelled in every subject because her teacher made learning fun. The kids were crying the last day of school because they were going to miss her. Marvin also started an art program and PE program along with a fun science program already in place. It just became a Calif Distinguished School and so it should be. I went to Marvin and loved it and now my kids get to experience that too.

I was so disappointed in this school. I had heard a lot of good things and read many great reviews of this school. My daughter went to this school for 4 years (K-3) and i desperately wish i had pulled her out sooner. Her 2nd grade teacher told her repeatedly that she would fail and be left behind a grade if her reading didn't pick up. Instead of helping her she turned my daughter away from books. This school has no extra programs to help kids with reading and when i had spoke with the assistant principal she told me that the teacher really pushed her students and that was a good thing but some kids couldn't handle it. I allowed my daughter to stay at this school for 3rd grade because she didn't want to leave the friends she had but that was a mistake her third grade teacher was by far better than her 2nd but there was no extra help for my kid.

From Teachers office staff and test scores to campus grounds and atmosphere Marvin is wonderful school to attend.

My second child is about to promote from this wonderful hidden gem. We have 10 amazing years of learning and playing here. The PTF has just funded a PE classes and an art program. We have a full time science teacher and the library is still open at this school on most days! This school has a great gate/seminar program that my son has been in .Their special ed programs are amazing and my daughter was in that program for her whole time there. The PTF has great events and the campus is beautiful including a garden. We are going to miss it!

Marvin is a wonderful school. My son went through the Junior Kindergarten program and is now in Kindergarten. The teachers are very approachable and work with parents to provide the best experience for the children. There is a high level of parental involvement and the PTF does wonderful things to support the school and the teachers. We have made lasting friendships with other parents and children in the neighborhood. I would highly recommend Marvin to anyone looking for an A+ community school. We have been very happy here.

Marvin has a great Pre-K class for younger children not ready for K. The teacher Mrs Livingstone is amazing and my son loves her. The class is structured and FUN and the kids learn a ton. I would definitely recommend this school for pre-K or K. I have family members in Mrs Hana's class and she has a very good reputation. I am not sure about the teachers in higher grades. I have not had any issues with the principal.In my experience he is very accomodating to your family's needs. He has always been very friendly to me and my son.

Teachers are good at least those ones my kids ever have are. As for specialty there is a science lab and kids get to have one hour a week science class in there and that's about it. Don't expect any other program or extra-curriculum. Seminar program is so so and combined grades class doesn't seem to work as good plus the curriculum is loose don't seem to be challenging enough for the gifted kids. poorly managed rude principle and admin staff.parents participation is low.Lot of neighborhood kids choice to Daillard Green Benchley or Hearst where your kids can get classes like music PE during school hours and even the academic score is much better . This is a going down school don't bother to choice here unless your kid needs to go to the special ed program.

not a fan of the principle but why does he matter at all? the teacher is great and the kids are thriving!

wonderful positive school principal and teachers. my child went from special ed at another school with possibly needing a higher level of care to a normal classroom got caught up in academics and no behavioral problem amazing!

Outstanding School - like a private school w/o the tuition! Our daughter just graduated from 5th grade today she has been a part of this school since Kinder less Military moves she's been to a blue-ribbon school in Orange County and a public school in Washington state (Seattle). We live in Allied Gardens but actually choiced into Benchley Weinburger in Kinder but changed over. Let me say that Marvin beats all the other schools hands-down bigtime! No other school even came close. The Principal and faculty are absolutely superb! Great safe environment for kids. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and listen to any needs or concerns you have in your child's academic success. This school also has an excellent PTA/parent support group and the after-school program (SAY) is top rate; A+++!!! There's absolutely nothing bad to write about this school!

Marvin Elem. has turned out to be a great school. I am from a small midwest town with only one school and being confronted with the decision of finding the best school for my son was difficult and stressful to say the least. We are there on an interdistrict transfer and all of my expectations have been exceeded. His Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Hannah is excellent and is caring with her students but she's got great control of the classroom but is also a lot of fun. We are only 4months into the school year and he's on the verge of reading! Excellent school!!!

Marvin Elementary is a great school. Now that parents in the neighborhood are keeping their children in our neighborhood school and not choicing out we are seeing increased enrollment and lots of parent involvement. Marvin is a seminar school with 2 full seminar classes. All Marvin Students enjoy science lab every week with a special science teacher. Marvin has lots of extra-curricular activities after school and many fun functions throughout the year. The teachers my children have had at Marvin have been outstanding. Marvin now has a developmental Pre-K program. Come to Marvin Elementary! We can soon be a #10 school with your support!!

Great school with a wonderful principal and staff. Some great teachers. Kids are are very happy and thrive in this encouraging positive learning environment.

Excellent School - Extremely supportive of my son who was transitioning from Foster Care to our home. Academics are high and teachers and principal all extremely supportive. There are a few parents who are negative but thankfully they are pulling their kids out. A+++ school

Excellant academic program many extracurricular activities a great deal of parental involvement. My child is a Type 1 diabetic the principal and staff have been extremely supportive of he medical condition and have provided necessary accomodations.

We think this school is wonderful! Our experience has always been positive especially with our child that has special needs. The teachers keep us informed at all times and really get to know the children. The academic standards are very high with the expectation that all children will meet them and that all children will learn. The changes we have seen over the last several years has made Marvin an outstanding school. We feel that our children are in a well organized clean and safe school. Many thanks to the teachers and especially the principal for the many positive changes they have made.

Many families are pulling their kids out of this school. This has been a growing trend since the current principal came 3 years ago. He is ruining our school. Don't bother 'Choicing' into this one!