Our daughter went here K-5 and our son is still there. We've seen multiple principals and every teacher the school has to offer. Overall, we're quite happy with the school.
We don't love every teacher, and you're stuck with getting them all because there's only one class per grade level. Two great teachers, one very good, one good, one fine, and one OK. I won't name names.
Despite all the principal turnover, the community has remained strong because it's a community of families. The current principal is experienced and looks here to stay.
There's a great science program that uses the local creek. Palomares hosts the annual Watershed Festival. The upper field, just redone, looks amazing.
Much of the people live out of the local area, so almost everybody who attends has made an effort to get into Palomares. Therefore, despite the incredible diversity of race, religion, income, and parental education, the vast majority of families are strongly interested in academics.
Downsides? A kid who transfers in after third grade will run into a bit of cliquishness, at least among the girls. This seems to level out after a year, though. The academics are not at the level of the highest public and private schools, but that's because of the extreme variety of people who come. It gives the school strength. I say that having children who, academically, are at the tops of their classes. I'd rather have them here, in Palomares, than in the pressure cooker of MSJ. read more