Ahh yes. The glory years for some and the awkward years for others (me). I can't say I enjoyed my…read moretime here during the 3 years I was here. Back in the early 90s BJH had a 9th grade level. I can't be sure but I heard they no longer do the 9th grade level and focus on 7th and 8th grades now. They also do uniforms now? I recall my years here having some eclectic teachers like Mrs. Madden my Social Studies teacher who called her students "little buddies" and Mr. Pruitt, the shop teacher who cut his own finger off. I found the irony in his teaching about telling his students to always pay attention to the buzz saw machine because if you take your eyes off it while cutting something your fingers will go with it. I also had some really cool teachers like Mrs. Lecren (who taught my 9th grade English year) who taught me how to be a good writer in school and Mrs. Brown who was also a great English teacher (my 8th grade year). A lot of kids here back in the day fell into the category of wanna be's...gang bangers, cool kids, your goth kids, etc. I fell more into the background kid category where nobody seriously knew who I was but there I was everywhere in the background. Kids back in the day could be brutal as well. Before social media kids here would throw their food at other kids and literally spit on their backs. Needless to say if they felt this behavior was okay I can only imagine the sad state of their homes they went to at the end of the school day and what kind of parents they had (or didn't have). Kids today need to realize these school years are temporary and everyone will be awkward at some point in their school years. It will not define how you will become and succeed as a person! In some odd way these days did shape my views on the world to some extent and made me more confident in myself to basically forget what others think and focus on you!

I called the school in the morning and asked if the kids were going to be let out early today…read morebecause my son mentioned they might have a half-day. The office assured me that there was no short day and that the kids would be let out at the normal time of 2:55, my son just now called me that he's standing waiting outside the school at 1:50. The entire staff is lost and clearly you can't call the office for accurate information.

This school has been truly wonderful. My son has attended since TK and is now graduating, and my…read moreyoungest, who also started here in TK, will be entering 1st grade. The teachers are kind, caring, and consistently go above and beyond, even with limited resources. I have nothing but praise for the entire staff--Dr. Pham, the principal, the teachers, and the administrative team. Their dedication and compassion are evident every day. They've even recently opened a park that is shared with the community, further showing their commitment to creating a positive environment for both students and families. This is a fantastic school.

Boone Elementary has been around since this neighborhood was established in 1961, along with many…read moreof the homes and the fire station just down the road. This is a part of San Diego that's seen little in terms of investment, and homeowner churn (thanks to Prop 13 this means less tax revenue), until recently. This year the school is seeing considerable, much needed, investment with new facilities and improvements which bodes well for future generations of Explorers. Many of the staff have lived and even gone to this or nearby schools, and they truly care about the students and this community. Our daughter went here and learned English as a second language quickly, thanks to the compassion and attention instructors gave her. The principal, Dr. Pham, is a treasure I hope continues to lead Boone's students, staff, and parents into a new age of academic and civic excellence.

My son has been attending a charter school for a year, it is one of the top ten STEM (science,…read moretechnology, engineering, math) schools. The children there are laughing and playing in the schoolyard in the morning, they greet parents, do running club, or go to the library. The children there are taught character, and a foreign language starting in kindergarten. I'm amazed at my son's progress and the stark difference in his educational environment. Kids are allowed freedom to learn in a fun atmosphere and it shows in their demeanor.

I went here K - 5th grade…read more This school has changed. They went from Kindergarten - 5th grade to K - 8th grade. WTH??? I thought this was an elementary school not a elemiddle (I made that up). I wish I still had recess when I was in middle school =( I'm sure some of my teachers are long gone, but from what I can remember they were all great!! That is all.

Wonderful elementary school, the staff are amazing. So thankful they finally got their new school,…read morethey deserve it.

I am extremely disappointed in the way my son's case was handled by the pre school department/…read morespecial education teacher. I obtained an IEP for my child for speech and decided paradise hills elementary is the best choice for placement. I had finally got through the enrollment process and received a email notifying me of his start date. I arrived to the school on the day he was supposed to start & was sent back home due the incompetence of the special education teacher Ms. Angelina who failed to give me a call to prepare for his first day and confirm weather or not any additional documentation was needed. The following day I received a phone call from her and she stated she was out on his start date due to being sick which is understandable. I asked her why she couldn't give me a call before his start date and her excuse was also that she wasn't feeling well. I asked her to take accountability for the lack of preparation she had for his start date and she refused stating she had other things to do. Without a doubt i was not going to leave my child who is 3 years old to someone who can't do their job correctly and can't even acknowledge her mistakes. I was looking forward in ending the year with some type of schooling for my son as he is so eager to step foot into a school setting unfortunately due to this experience I now have worry's for my child entering school. It's sad and discouraging that schools treat parents and students like this when all we look for is someone who is going to provide our child with a safe and good learning environment for our children but can't do their job correctly. Especially when you hold the title of being a special education teacher. This was my experience and I hope moving forward things change but I will not put my child in the hands of ms Angelina. And I hope this brings awareness to any one seeking to enroll their child to preschool program.

Terrible school, my son was attacked and had to be taken to the emergency room, he was bullied…read morealmost everyday for an entire year. We were constantly gaslight by staff and the former principal Mr. Greenwell. I know there is a new principal this year but the office staff and teachers remain there, I took my son out of this school as quickly as the district allowed!!

I went here 5 years ago. I'm in high school now and this is a very good school however the art…read moreteacher can be short tempered and get extremely mean sometimes . Other than that all of the staff are very kind and it's a good learning place !

Great staff!! Very welcoming and family oriented school. My son is autistic and came from Bethune…read moreElementary which he was moved from due to multiple bites from another student. Since we've been at Penn he has excelled so much & his behavior is getting better as well!

This is coming from a student that used to go there, thankfully i moved. This school is horrible. I…read morehad went here all my life because my past family had also, the years of kinder-3rd were great, except for covid and other stuff. But when i got into 4th, they had gotten a new principle. The old one was kind, completely understanding. But the new one, had never cared about students or their mental health, i had a friend, who was problematic because of her mental health, yet they didn't try helping her. And because of her mental health issues and trama, she had done things i wish she hadn't done with me and my friends, so we started getting in trouble, yet the principal DIDNT HELP ANY OF US. So i moved schools for 5th, and it was the best decision i had made :) now i'm in middle school and doing my best!

Never went here but they have a good music program for an elementary schoolread more

O'Farrell Isn't as well diverse in staffing as it should be . They definitely could use more Black…read moreStaff such as teachers through out the entire charter school ( only the best teachers will do ). The office most definitely need to be more diverse it's all Hispanic ( not good when you see no diversity in the office their the first point of contact and that speaks volumes when you enter a public arena and you see the diversity at first sight). My child has been in the school from kindergarten to current (9 years). The school does offer high standards of teaching, ( academic standards are high) zero tolerance is the standard and kept . Testing is accurate , behavioral standards are required at a high performance. Overall O'Farrell is a High performing school . TOP OF THE LINE IN EDUCATION IS PROVIDED at O'Farrell . Mrs Anderson is the best Principal she's involved and easy to communicate with. Very hands on and involved in the students and keeps the staff sharp on there toes . Awesome listener to the students and there parents needs. I'm not a fan of the lottery either for existing students, I strongly believe they should have a guaranteed spot if they've been Excellent students with Dean List and Honor roll awards. Through out there years at O'Farrell and there not a problem . Work ethic , Grades, behavior speaks volumes( all this should be a major consideration for existing students going to high school at O'FArrell) . My daughter is a high performer while navigating through the crisis we face from the COVID-19 epidemic. Mrs Anderson has hired responsible teachers that are going above and beyond to make sure the students are reaching there academic Goals. When a problem arises it's resolved immediately. Suggestions are implemented into lessons . Mr Vose is an awesome Home Base instructor who makes sure he's reachable at all times while keeping up with the students academics . I pray the high school instructors are hands on, involved mentally and I'm emotionally just as the elementary and middle school instructors. Navigating Through the crisis isn't just a word but a mission to sink or swim perish or survive while in the crisis.

We've been part of this school community since 2016-2017, and it's heartbreaking to see how much…read morethings have declined over the years. Many of the great teachers, staff, and families who once made this place special are gone. Unfortunately, morale among both parents and teachers seems very low due to poor leadership. This year was the final straw -- my son, a 6th grader in middle school, was physically attacked, and the response from staff was minimal. There was no real accountability or support. We've made the difficult decision to withdraw and move to homeschooling. Parents, please be aware: if your child is being bullied, don't expect much help here. Sadly, it now feels like this school is becoming a safe haven for bullies instead of a safe place for students. Teacher pay is low, class sizes are overcrowded (some with more than 40 students!), and children with disabilities aren't getting the support they deserve. And now, with the departure of our amazing principal, Dr. Ann Matthews, things seem to be getting even worse. The only positive is that all three schools share one campus, which is convenient -- but that alone doesn't make up for the serious issues, especially when it comes to student safety and bullying. Hemos sido parte de esta comunidad escolar desde 2016-2017, y es desgarrador ver cuánto ha decaído con los años. Muchos de los excelentes maestros, personal y familias que antes hacían de esta escuela un lugar especial ya se han ido. Lamentablemente, tanto los padres como los maestros parecen muy desmotivados debido al mal liderazgo. Este año fue la gota que colmó el vaso: mi hijo, estudiante de sexto grado en la secundaria, fue agredido físicamente, y la respuesta del personal fue mínima. No hubo verdadera rendición de cuentas ni apoyo. Tomamos la difícil decisión de retirarlo y comenzar la educación en casa. Padres, tengan cuidado: si su hijo sufre acoso, no esperen mucha ayuda aquí. Tristemente, esta escuela parece haberse convertido en un refugio para los acosadores en lugar de un lugar seguro para los estudiantes. Los maestros ganan poco, las clases están saturadas (algunas con más de 40 alumnos), y los niños con discapacidades no reciben el apoyo que necesitan. Y ahora, con la salida de nuestra excelente directora, la Dra. Ann Matthews, las cosas parecen empeorar aún más. Lo único positivo es que las tres escuelas están en el mismo campus, lo cual es conveniente, pero eso no compensa los graves problemas, especialmente en cuanto a la seguridad y el acoso escolar.

Ahhh memories...my old stopping grounds...Had good times at this place. The teachers cared about…read morethe students. Helpful and caring staff. I went there before it became what it is now. Even though lately they had a few incidents with staff and students they have the right faculty to get things correct again. The renovation of the school looks pretty good as well maybe one day ill probably stop by and take a look around. Especially with the new amphitheater.

I would give this school a 0 if i could if you're thinking about sending you kid their think again…read moreyour kid will get harassed if they don't have the same phone or food and from experience i have been getting called racists comments daily. From experience i have been called everything in the book and 9/10 times it is being said from a Hispanic person no hate to Mexicans i loves their company, but it gets to a point when they are throwing milk jugs and making false rumors about you when you are just trying to get to class I have begged and begged my mom to take me out because of how bad it gets every day I get told to leave the school and never come back or they will make false rumors about me stealing chips from teachers i even had my food stolen out of my backpack during math several time and slapped and bullied Infront of the staff Infront of the vice principal in front of the justice room teacher cried Infront of my math teacher and they just shrug it off or sometimes they honestly never care and its very rare if they do anything to help Their is very to none good teachers in this school iv'e been builled and treated bad at other school but never this bad and half of the times the teachers will call your parents if your shirt isn't tucked in or if your jacket is any other coler then navy blue or black and the school bathrooms they provide are worse i understand why teachers don't share bathrooms with students but almost every time you will look in the school bathroom you will find it overfilling or piss everywhere no mirrors horrible things getting Sayed with sharpie in the bathrooms and half the time i try to use the restroom they will be throwing wet toilet paper on the ceiling or over the stall. Or school fights daily in the bathroom Half of these reviews with 5 or 4 stars our from staff or from 10-12 years ago i hope that this school will fix their horrendousness education and make kids feel better about them self's it's kinda crazy that i gotta take time out of my day to express how i feel about this school Keiller leadership academy is hell.