Mary Deterding Elementary School

6000 Stanley Avenue

School District

San Juan Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for San Juan Unified 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 February 06, 2025

The office staff and yard duty staff at Deterding are incredibly rude to the parents. They snap at and belittle parents and treat us like children. I have seen this happen to other parents and have had it happen to me on numerous occasions. They are completely inappropriate and disrespectful. I brought my child to this school for the educational opportunities such as the RL program, but the staff at this school makes me want to pull her out. The drop off and pick up situation is also an absolute disaster. There is no good reason why they should be treating people so poorly. Absolutely shameful and I'm honestly disgusted.
Submitted by other on November 01, 2024

It’s a Great school I had a great experience there at Deterding but it’s one teacher that I mostly dislike because she just scream at some of the students and it’s mostly Joanna Harris
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2024

I absolutely adore this school. The principal is nothing short of spectacular and the teachers are the most engaged I’ve ever experienced. I’ve had two kids go through the school and now my third is there and I am constantly impressed by how above and beyond the teachers are in the classroom. It’s a very diverse school and inclusion is encouraged. They are constantly trying to create a strong community and the kids come out with better character every single year.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2021

We love Deterding!!! I got three kids at Deterding Rapid Learner programs. Amazing teachers and programs!! Go Dolphins!!
Submitted by parent on July 30, 2020

Amazing school. Obvious that staff cares deeply about students and families.
Submitted by student on December 05, 2019

it was a good school not gonna lie
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2018

My experience with this school wasn't that pleasurable. I really hope that some day the school principal and personal will work with children and parents as a team. I hope the bulling problem will be taking care of. I hope to see improvements in communication from school. I wish to see children to be encouraged by school personal to speak up. I wish to see children and parens to be heard, respected, and taken seriously. I also would like the principal to watch her attitude. Please note that not all personal is failing. Some teachers are trying to make a difference, but being shut down by the office. .
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2018

The current Principle is terrible. She is pretentious, rude and thinks she is better than everything. During a conference, she actaully mocked my child, was texting and talking to the person next to her. should not be running an Elementary school
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2018

A very great school. We have been very grateful that our kids enroll at Deterding. With their great music and art education, Deterding has been outstanding compare to other school. Even some private schools do not have music on their elementary based.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2017

Negative experiences from my position but I am told that their GATE program is very good. That's fine for rapid learners but not for my son. We moved schools after grade 3 and haven't been happier.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2017

I want to start by saying my daughter has gone to Deterding since Kindergarten and she is now in 5th Grade RL. We have had 3 principals in this time, Mrs. Elock and then an interim principal and then we got Mrs. Allen. I had hesitation in the beginning on Mrs. Allen due to how young she is but I feel she has been a wonderful asset to our school. I have interacted a lot with her and other staff and would have to say she is very competent in her job and have also brought things to this school that we more than likely wouldn’t have gotten with an older principal. I mean what principal would let you tape them to a wall for a fundraiser? Trust me my daughter has had her stem with Bullying at the school but as we have found it’s at every school, in every district. I had more luck with Mrs. Allen handling it then the district. After having a bad year with bullying, and as some know RL kids rarely change and so every year it’s the same kids, we set a plan with Mrs. Allen on how the next year would go. Mrs. Walden, Mrs. Allen and my daughter, husband and I, were all on the same page. I spent a lot of time in the classroom and my daughter reported everything to me that happened at school. By the end of the year she was much more confident and was starting to stand up to the bully and helping other kids to do the same. I’m not saying that it was that simple, they are still in the same class, but I will say she knows she can go to Mrs. Walden at any time to talk about things going on. The parent that made the slandering comments about Mrs. Walden is ridiculous. I have been actually volunteering last year in her class on numerous occasion to help her out even though my daughter is no longer in her class and I never saw her make any out of sort comments to any child, nor have I seen/heard Mrs. Allen during walk through visits. I am usually there most the day on Fridays. I will continue to help Mrs. Walden for as long as she needs and also other teachers at Deterding. This school has come a very long way since I went to school there. I was not in RL and we always felt they thought they were better than us. I feel with the route the school is going on ending the segregation of the classes is a good route. No one is better than anyone else, some just learn at different speeds. If we teach them segregation now were teaching them it’s ok to segregate other things/people in life… You best bet in any school you choose is: do the walk through of the school, talk to other parents after school before sending your child, don’t put your views of the principal and teacher on your child and most important always listen and talk to your child… there maybe things you don’t see about someone (teacher/staff) your child does good or bad…
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2017

We could not be happier with Deterding from either the "neighborhood school" perspective or the Rapid Learner perspective. So happy to be a part of this dynamic community. The arts, dance, and music programs are simply unmatched anywhere else with full-time teachers who have their own classrooms. And even if you aren't artsy, it's easy to see how those pieces of the curriculum boost the confidence of the students.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2017

The arts program is excellent. The teachers and principal are wonderful. Deterding has been a great school for both of my children.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2017

We love this school. It's been a wonderful fit for our daughter who is in the RL program here.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2017

Deterding is a wonderful learning environment. We were fortunate to have Mrs. Walden last year, and what an AMAZING gift she is to the school! Her teaching style is hands-on and so engaging -- and she involved parent volunteers effectively and warmly! My child came home every day excited to share what he had learned and how he was being challenged. Additionally, Principal Allen is a dynamic leader. She is so responsive to parent needs and is an effective change agent for the school. THANK YOU DETERDING, PRINCIPAL ALLEN AND MRS. WALDEN!
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2017

We left a great neighborhood school to go to Deterding for more academic opportunities for my son. We have had and are having a great experience there.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2017

I have always been happy with the staff and their caring nature for the kids. This is a top notch school!
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2017

Horrible, sad, disappointing. It sad to observe how the principle destroys traditions and values of this school.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2017

We've been at this school for years now. It's great! Arts, music, field trips, involved staff. We'll be sad to leave!
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2017

This school is amazing. I took my son out of Starr King in 2nd grade because he was getting bullied, beat up and emotionally teased. Deterding had a great program of no bullying and the kids are well supervised at all times. It also has a wonderful music and arts program