Panama Elementary School

9400 Stine Road

School District

Panama-Buena Vista Union
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Panama-Buena Vista Union School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 19, 2023

The principal is an incompetent coward and lacks the fortitude to make appropriate disciplinary decisions when it comes to repeated bullying of children.
Submitted by other on June 14, 2023

This school.is amazing!!! I love the office staff all are very kind, sweet yo children, attentive and highly professional. The teachers are also great my daughter was struggling when we moved from LA County and let me tell you my daughter has learned to read, has improved her grammar tremendously thank you Mrs.Clark!!! My daughter is now a straight A student! Not sure why so many bad reviews but here at Panama teachers actually care about their students education not like in LA where there just there for a paycheck. Kudos to Panama Elementary Mr.Malavar, Mrs. Johnson-Esparza and Mrs.Clark!
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2021

My experience was horrible. I had a nasty, rude, demeaning, hostile encounter with the principal Mr. Malavar. They can care less about the precious students. School not recommended. I will say Mrs.Wattenbarger and Mrs.Ramos rock. That’s about it!
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2017

Sadly my children have had to attend this school for several years. The office staff and principle are absolutely horrible. They are rude and outright mean at times. We have had to write complaints to the district several times. The teachers have been pretty good, there are a few who should not be teaching at this level because they have clearly lost their love for teaching. It is a constant battle getting the school to communicate, papers come home late or after the fact leaving me to go into the office for clarity, then to be talked to rudely. I can only imagine how they treat their students when there are no parents around. Drop off and pick up is a nightmare, they allow all of the staff to park in the parking lots and along the street where it is "legal" to park, and then force the parents to park in the far parking lot on Taft Hwy, then get upset if your child is not picked up on time. During the morning drop off (because of one way streets) there are officers giving tickets to parents. The school has so much potential, it's hard to believe that the district hasn't moved some things (and faculty) around to really make this school thrive.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2016

Office staff is horrible! No other way to word it, they're rude and lack basic people skills. They make you feel like you're up to no good and give you the run around. The moment one of the parents left they started taking badly about her right in front of me and other's. When I read the comments before I thought people were overreacting I was so wrong, good luck to anyone who has to deal with them.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2015

I totally agree with posting on Feb 2015. The office staff is horrible and the principal right along with them. This school is lacking on what makes a school fun to go to. My daughter has been bullied at this school and not even addressed correctly. Several times I tried to voluntary at school and was not welcomed and told I was not allowed to go into the class room. I am applying for my daughter to transfer to a private school. The class rooms are at their max and I feel my child's education is not being met to guidelines. I have hired tutors, enrolled her Cal-State Exteneded University summer camp for Reading and Math to bring her up to speed out of my pocket knowing Panama School receiving funding for my child to attend and not receive her education.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2015

My children were transferred 2 yrs ago to Panama, and within this time I have experienced several negative and disappointing situations -please keep in mind my children are Honor Roll and Principal List students. 1. was not allowed to take my children their instrument stating "we cannot interrupt the class" - they missed practice on 2 different occasions. 2. was told I could not watch my son perform a solo during a day concert, as the concert was only for "students." -my son was sad when he did not see me in the audience and reported seeing a few parents. 3. My son &daughter (on 2 separate occasions) were held in the office (appx. 2hrs and 5hrs) as either witnesses or accused of an incident - children missed importation class activities, parents were notified by child after arriving home. Child was kept in the office for over 5hrs without notifying parent! 4. Children are allowed to take cupcakes for birthdays - cupcakes were not delivered - child was devastated and walked home with cupcakes crying! 5. For failure to communicate until the morning of departure, child left to camp keep crying without parent, as originally approved and planned. .. And there's more!