Merritt Trace Elementary School

We chose Trace with some trepidation given its relatively low API test scores and ranking. (On API data look beyond the average at the demographic splits - these show some of the challenges the school faces.) We are now a few months into the kindergarten year and so far so good! We're delighted to be part of the Two Way Bilingual Immersion (TWBI) Program and are pleased with our child's progress and teachers. We also like the community feel of the TWBI program. The fact that Trace offers the Spanish immersion program is not well known - if it were I suspect the school reputation would improve tremendously and parents would be taking part in lotteries for their kids to get into the immersion program as is the case in many other bay area immersion schools. We also appreciate the art drama and music programs and look forward to 3rd grade band and orchestra - the opportunity to get a well rounded education that includes the arts is unfortunately a rare treat in today's elementary schools.

Based on 2 class levels so far K & 1st grade in the Two Way Bilingual Program we are quite happy with both the program and the school. While the principal seems to be operating under crisis mode and sometimes treading water her spirit is unrelenting in her efforts to make Trace a better school. The teachers we have met including not only the grade level teachers in K & 1st but also the Drama Music & Art teacher (yes imagine that a school with dedicated arts teachers!) have been truly phenomenal And the parental involvement especially within the Two Way Bilingual Program is incredible. It has given our family a chance to come out of our own cultural comfort zone to meet more folks and watch our child becomes fluent in English AND Spanish. Already a few short weeks into 1st grade our child's ability in Spanish far outstrips most of us who learned foreign language in HS. The immersion part of the program starts off a bit challenging but has been amazingly effective for both the native and non-native English speakers in the class. Active parents get amazing results here at Trace But don't just read the reviews contact the PTO & meet some parents to get a better picture.

We're leaving the school this year. Our son is going into fourth and he is middle of the pack but has already been identified as one that won't move in the quartiles--so the teacher will just let him move along uninspired. A kid has to be special to even make the radar. The teachers have to guess what kids have potential to move from below avg to avg or from average to above average. I tried volunteering inthe classroom but when I grading math papers the teacher gave a list of "hopeless" kids and told me not waste my time on their papers. Apparently the principal said they can't afford to help those kids they have to try to Improve their state test scores. The bottom three scores are thrown out. I guess it's no child left behind except the three who need it... Trace is morbidly managed.

For low-income kids who need extra help Trace has put an emphasis on helping them through the VIA program in 2011-12. But it's at the expense of making sure that there is help in the classroom; and ending a parental involvement program without consulting parents is an irony that wasn't lost on parents -- or the reporters who covered the story in spring 2011. Increased class sizes are no doubt a contributor toward school desk scores dropping for the last couple years though one can't help but wonder if the tinkering the school district was doing with the parental-involvement program also caused unintended negative results there. For talented and more advanced kids Trace has increasingly become a holding tank with teachers at the upper grades admitting that they have to give kids "busy-work" and P.E. consisting of running laps. On paper there is a program for gifted/talented students but it does not exist in reality. Right now the VIA program doesn't seem open to a "How can we improve?" mentality -- perhaps more outreach and serious evaluation of it and of the principal by parents would give an honest assessment of how to earn back the trust of the community.

Trace is a Diamond in the Rough. While it is true the PIE Program Parent Involvement in Education has changed it is for a good reason. So many parents were excluded in the old PIE program. Now with VIA (Volunteers in Action) all parents can participate. By recognizing the impact parents can make on their child's education at home students have a chance to succeed. The education gap is not going to resolve unless parents get involved in their child's education. Teachers are a only a part of the equation. I have been involved with the VIA program and feel that although the Principal is not Hillary Clinton she listens and cares enough to make changes that result in quality learning. The Superintendent cares enough to poll the parents and community to try to make a lasting difference. Who does that? I do know people that have left Trace because the PIE program changed. Had they stayed they would have seen that in the first 90 days of school the program has over three times the involvement it had last year. That is pretty amazing for a school that burned down and had so many problems last year. That speaks volumes for the spirit of parents at Trace.

Trace school is not the school it once was years ago. The teachers are overwhelmed they lack leaderdhip and personal skills. The administration doesn't care. The school is overcrowded and they do not seem to care about the safety of children. They don't monitor anything that goes on in their campus . Including aftetschool care. My children were assaulted at the afterschool daycare on Trace property. The principal district and the teacher showed lack of compassion. My children are no longer in that school and they were behind when they moved to a new school and there were things Trace should've been teaching that they weren't. My kids are now safe and at the top of their class and are finally getting the education they deserve. Trace needs to be shut down they are below standards!

Our children attended Trace for several years. The administration is singularly focused on low achievement scores and the school is languishing in multiple years of program improvement status. Now that we are in a new school (and district) it is clear that the curriculum at Trace was significantly below average -- our children that tested "advanced" at Trace are considered "behind" in the basics at their new school. In this age of school funding cuts the arts and drama programs at Trace are a plus. We experienced a broad range of teachers - from the exceptional to the uninspired. There is also a small group of committed parents that are trying to maintain a sense of community there but they suffer from a lack of support from the principal and the district. With the dismantling of the Parent Involvement (PIE) program and more parents fleeing this year I'm afraid Trace is just another failing urban school.

This school was really improving about 3 years ago. With the current principal and the abolition of the wildly popular PIE program it's now in it's second year of Program Improvement. Under the NCLB act any child living within its attendance boundaries is entitled to a transfer to a better school. Use your rights!

We moved to this area last year and this school year was my daughter's first year at Trace Elementary. I absolutely love this school. It is true things have been a little disorganized but many things have happened at Trace this year that have caused disruption. I think the administrators have handled it fairly well. It has been a tough year and the kids really need us to pull things together. I was also part of PIE and I loved spending Mondays there to help the teachers and kids out. The children especially benefit from PIE and parents involved. Next year I would like to see more parents involved.

Trace is in a period of transition - due in part to NCLB and massive state funding cuts - and unfortunately the principal is not up to the challenge. Trace will lose its very successful Parent Involvement program next year which is a huge loss. Class sizes are way too large (30 students in all classes K-5) and communication with parents is poor. The teachers are excellent but they do not have the resources or the leadership they need to make a real difference either for below-level kids or for kids who are above average. Also I was very disappointed to find that at the art music and drama school my son (in kindergarten) received none of the above from March-June. Pros include an awesome drama program and excellent instruction (when they get it) in music and art and a lovely campus. And the new TWBI program is one of the best things going for Trace at the moment. But the cons outweigh the pros and we are starting to look for alternatives.

Trace seemed to go down-hill for the last 2-4 years prior to this year. I believe the new principal is doing wonders to put things back in order. Unfortunately it can't be done overnight. As for the students performing under grade level the after-school tutoring program was a good idea but once again I think it is a matter of trial and error before finding a GOOD tutoring program. My third-grade daughter participated in one of the tutoring programs this year and did not benefit from it at all. I have not yet decided as to whether we should stay at Trace (I fear her falling further behind) or attempt another school. My final thought is Trace has potential and is on the right track though it will take some time before seeing the results. Since my daughter is below grade level I don't have the flexibility to wait for the positive changes to take place!!

We have been at Trace for three years and are not planning to return next year. The administration is very weak. As other parents have commented all the focus of the administration is on getting test scores up; no effort is spent to challenge or inspire kids who are performing at or above level. There is a lot of bullying on the playground and very little supervision. We would really liked to have stayed at our neighborhood school but have had enough.

We have been at Trace Elementary for many years. It was our choice and still is. We are apart of the parent involvement in education program(PIE). This is what brought us to Trace. The wonderful part about the PIE program you can put your hours in however it works for your family. I volunteer in my children's classroom weekly. This allows the teacher to be able to pull small groups of children to read and do individual testing. This helps all of the children. We have had a wonderful experience with all of the teachers. They are fantastic !! Another wonderful thing Trace has is the arts music and drama departments. The teachers are amazing. Every child performance yearly in a play. What a great experience for them. My children love it. We are so lucky to have a new theatre. From third- fitth grade they can take electives-early morning drama playing an instrument or choir. Not only are my children receiving a good education they are also very well rounded. We are very happy with our school.

My family has been at Trace for 4 years and my 2 very different children are both happy and thriving there. I love the proximity (it's my neighborhood school) and I have found the staff to be dedicated caring and professional. Despite its large size Trace has a safe community feel to me.

We have been attending Trace for 3 years and we really liked it in the beginning but it has gone down hill recently. The school is so focused on meeting the minimum standards and making their AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) numbers as set by No Child Left Behind that they have lost sight of their responsibility to teach all the children. The district and the administration have been only modesty committed to making changes and many parents seem frustrated and ready to go somewhere else.

We sent our child here for a brief period of time and were very disappointed. The staff was disorganized and didn't seem to care about the students. The teacher was overwhelmed and wasn't effective in inspiring the class. If you want your child to merely get CA state mandated worksheets and minimal encouragement then this is the school for you.

Good school but I think the PIE program is good and bad. I feel like some of the parents involved are bit of control freaks and seem like they take over for the teacher. They should take every opportunity when parents want to help and pitch-in not just let the PIE parents do everything. So I go directly to the teacher now and ask if she needs help I don't bother with the PIE parents cause they're control freaks. Other than the PIE parents the school is great i love the fact that it's very musically driven.

My sons kindergarten teacher Ms Mena is awesome! She is energetic funny yet strict and all the kids and parents love her. She welcomes parents in the classroom and is always available to listen to your concerns. I am so happy that my son has Ms Mena as his first school experience. In addition the parent participation program (PIE) and their arts program are top notch!

Our child had a wonderful kindergarten year. The newish school has large rooms with in-class bathrooms so that they don't have to to travel to the bathroom. The teacher Mrs Viau is just AWESOME! We are in the Parent Involvement Education (PIE) program and we found that we could meet the 40hour/year commitment just barely because we both work. We were really grateful to the parents who worked everyday in the classroom. Mrs Viau really knew how to manage the parents.

Trace school has great teachers and the whole staff .The principal and the vice principal knows just about all the students.