El Rancho School

We have two grandchildren enrolled at El Rancho School for the past year. Our daughter and son-​in-​law and we are very happy with El Rancho School and staff.
Our grandson just finished kindergarten there. He is learning to read and print and making excellent progress. He and his classmates performed a dramatization of «The Rainbow Fish,» a children’s book about sharing and friendship. The children made the props, which were imaginative and beautiful. All participated and did so with poise and enthusiasm.
The classroom was decorated with colorful art depicting sea life. The bulletin boards also displayed the children’s work learning about orcas life and abilities. There was work displayed showing math principles and writing skills in addition.
Although just in kindergarten, our grandson brings homework assignments that take a short time to do. However it helps establish good study habits and engages family in working with him to get it done, allowing us to see his progress and understand concepts that he may find challenging.
Our granddaughter is 2 years younger than her brother, in preschool. She is also learning to read and write.
The children have the opportunity to have gymnastics and swimming lessons at the school. The playground is interesting and has shaded and sunny areas. Whenever we pick them up at school we find them happily engaged with friends. They clearly have warm relationship with the teachers also. They are give enthusiastic goodbyes to classmates and teachers at the end of the day.

Not impressed with this school. We went to our two hour trial and it did not go well. During the trial your child plays on the playground and then goes into the classroom while you wait in another room. Before the trial I asked questions and was told if things weren’t going well the school would come get you so you can comfort your child. I was also told that we could do a trial a few weeks before so that if things didn’t go well we could do another trial.
While I waited in the other room one of the staff members came in a few different times. I asked how things were going and she said things were going well. At the end of the trial the principal comes in to discuss the trial. That’s when I was told the trial did not go well. Apparently he spent the whole time in the corner crying. Then she went on to say that my son just doesn’t listen. Keep in mind he is 2 and in a brand new strange place. Her next question to me was, «Does dad live at home?» (Yes, he does)
I was told we just were not a good fit. I was not offered another trial. Nor would I want one. Since this experience I have heard other bad stories about this school. I guess this was just a blessing in disguise for us.

I moved my son to El Rancho at the beginning of this year because he was doing very poorly in public school. He has a diagnosed mild reading disability and mild ADD, and was very unhappy. He is repeating 1^st grade this year and thriving at El Rancho! There are only 15 kids in his class (as opposed to 32), and this makes a huge difference for him. He’s more focused — too few kids to hide from the teacher! His teacher is wonderful, a perfect mix of loving/​nurturing and no-​nonsense (not gonna fall for his tricks!) He really respects and cares for her, and that is important for me. He received (really earned!) As and Bs on his first report card. His confidence (which started in the toilet…“Mom, I know the other kids are smarter than me”) has soared, and he has a great sense of pride about what he’s done. I am so grateful for the turn-​around this year!

We have two children, a girl and a boy, in El Rancho. Our oldest started at El Rancho in pre-​K and is now in third grade. She has excelled in the program at El Rancho, which has a heavy emphasis on reading. She began reading in Pre-​K and has always tested two or more grade levels above her own on the standardized test administered each year. Her writing, reading comprehension, and math skills are far advanced especially in comparison with her cousins who attend public school. What impresses me more has been the school’s impact on her younger brother. Faced with some minor but noticeable developmental delays that received only ten minutes of individual attention in the IEP offered at public school, El Rancho’s smaller class size and the pre-​K, Kindergarten, and 1^st grade teachers’ focus on the individual and his or her needs has resulted in marked improvements in his learning, language, and social skills. He is currently in first grade, earns A’s and B’s in reading, writing, spelling, and math and loves going to school. I am certain he would have fallen between the cracks in public school. The only challenge at El Rancho (earning them 4 instead of 5 stars) is the smaller class size in the advanced grades (after second grade). Hopefully, more parents will consider enrolling if they check out the school and it’s program.

We are a family that is El Rancho strong! 3 kids and three years in. We could NOT be happier with the facility, the staff, and the program. We have referred, and continue to refer families all the time. The negative comments below completely confound me. The school is non-​denominational. Our children have never been pigeon-​holed into gender stereotypes or encouraged to play in any one particular manner. The extra curricular activities are well-​rounded and we’ve always found other parents and families to be warm and inviting with us. If you’re looking for a preschool or elementary school where your child will receive fantastic one-​on-​one attention, be challenged academically, and be cared for in a warm environment, this is your place!

I cannot say enough good things about the el rancho facility, staff and administration. I could couldn’t disagree more with some of the comments I read
wife and i have sent two of my three children there and the third will be starting the summer. My son who has moved to another school is by far the most advanced in class and has a real love for learning and noticeably loves his previous El Rancho teachers. we have recommended this school to several parents most of whom now attend El Rancho. I find the population to be diverse, both demographically as well as intellectually and have found staff always willing to meet the needs of each kid and help them excel both in school and in life.

My son and I went to do a trial day for preschool, and I am glad I stayed with him. What they have planned for children at 2 and 3 years old is not developmentally appropriate and could even be reported to the state licensing department. They had them sit in circle time, without fidgeting or talking for over 30 minutes while the teacher directed them with flash cards (which were inconsistent and confusing, it would switch from the middle letter like the i in pig, to the first letter, like d in dog.). While I was there observing the teacher threatened the children numerous times if they did not obey her. They’re children not dogs. Reward and punishment systems do not reflect a quality preschool. Threatening to take away a child’s sticker is perceived as a real punishment to them. She also threatened to call their parents or send them to the principals office. My son and I walked out. In the car on the way home he told me his stomach hurt and that he never wanted to go to school. That’s the kind of sickening anxiety you install in children when you do not have developmentally appropriate practices.

My mother pulled me out of deterding elementary school to put me into this small private school. I truly think that this was one of the best moves of my life. When my parents were trying to decide which private school to put me in, they had me go around and try each candidate school for a day – in the end, because of the cozy campus and the safety and connection i felt there, i ended up choosing el rancho. At el rancho, I met friends there that I am still friends with to this day – 8 YEARS LATER. Before I went there, I was terrible at math, I hated reading, and I did not know my cursive. The teacher I had taught me very well and I was always in competition with my friends to see who could get their math done faster and more accurately. It was also at el rancho that I gained some of my first musical experience. Mr. S is the music teacher there and did an extremely good job of teaching the music program – so good, in fact, that I ended up taking piano lessons and guitar lessons from him (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM, he does private lessons at a church as well as school lessons). Again, I was still taking music lessons from Mr. S for 8 YEARS after I «graduated» from this school. I am in my third year of college now and I really have to say, El Rancho was some of the best times of my life. Its a small campus with small classes, but the teachers are incredibly committed and you will make lifetime friends. As far as the «staff politics» or «parent-​teacher» relations, I can’t really comment on. Im speaking from the viewpoint of a kid who truly, truly enjoyed this school.

VERY biast school!
Children are not treated fairly especially if parents are not within the «clique». This school is family run. Grandma is Principal and daughter is Vice Principal. Although that sounds nice and cozy, deeply consdier this. If there is an issue with one, there is NO ONE to speak with about your concerns. The school will happily inform you that today will be your child’s last day if you disagree with any of EL Rancho’s, regardless of the circumstances or tuition already paid.
Academics are good for the most part, however, you are nickel and dimed here. Although tuition is heafty, you are still asked to donate money, holiday supplies, and are required to pay for your child to participate in the holiday sing along.
If you have a «do-​no-​wrong» child, can completely trust teachers/​administration without hesitation, don’t care to ask questions, and don’t mind continuously giving money/​goods, go here!
Think twice though. I was warned and wish I had listened. You will be showed test scores, advanced placements, spoken to kindly, and be guarenteed EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO HEAR when you first go, I remind you though, think twice.

The 1950’s called. They want their educational practices back.
If you are conservative, Christian, and think that all girls love dolls and all boys should play baseball, send your kids here.
If you’re happy with a staff who «sells» incentives to kids («Tell your parents to sign you up for school early and we will give you a free plasma car!») and who can’t handle any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s well-​being or happiness, then this is the place for you.
They may want to consider removing the words ‘nonsectarian’, ‘diverse’, and ‘all are welcome’ from their website and just cop to being ‘christian leaning’, ‘homogeneous’, and ‘intolerant’ so that people like us don’t have to go through the heartache of moving their child to another school on short notice.
I’d like to propose a new name for this place — «El Stepford».