High Tech Elementary Chula Vista School

1949 Discovery Falls Drive

Chula Vista, CA 91915

School District

Sbc - High Technical High
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

charter

School Map for Sbc - High Technical High 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 January 12, 2025

We have a child that has attended this school for 3 years now. It was a tough transition in the beginning due to this being a new environment. But the academic team stayed vigilant in seeing the potential in our child and assessing what the needs were and giving the tools to help. I will never forget the support I felt. It has been amazing to watch the growth from year to year when it comes to the Student Led Conferences and Exhibition(Project presentation). Our child is so confident in public speaking, it’s just the best feeling of pride and joy. Also, academically, they have been on top of identifying when a child needs to work more on a topic at home. They have started standardized testing, which has helped to hone in on where students may need a little more help. I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity for my child to attend to this school. Looking forward to the continued growth of this community
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2024

HTe Chula Vista has had amazing impact on my two kids. We've had only positive, nurturing, and academically motivating relationships with teachers and staff. Innovative projects through project based learning have kept my kids engaged. They come home sharing important lessons about being responsible members of their school community and global citizens.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2023

I noticed that there hasn't been a review since 2017 and was very sad that they were mainly negative reviews. I think that within the last 5 years, the school's climate, community, and overall feel have changed. I LOVE all 3 schools and enjoy the collaboration that they have created amongst each other. Is the HTH Chula Vista Pueblo perfect? Not at all but I wouldn't have my children attend all THREE schools if I didn't believe in it. At the elementary school, the focus on teaching fundamentals and how to incorporate them into projects is there. They started more sports programs at the middle school, and my daughter was ecstatic! They listen to the students' wants. And they started up Model UN again. My oldest (who started kindergarten there) thrives at the high school. By that age, kids are going to make 2 choices: "ride the wave" and see group work as your group grade (bare minimum), or take advantage of the independence that they have and develop themselves to be closer to the adult that they want to be when you go into the real world! I've been told by my child's teachers that it's like working alongside another adult during project time when they work with my child. On the parent side, I have found that it is important to build relationships with the staff. Know who your child's advisor is, use them to help guide your child, question what else needs to be done if your child is behind, be an active participant in your child's learning. I learned that from the school.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2017

Poor at best! Director has no idea how to interact with parents. She has effectively destroyed the community. Parents are unimpressed with her inability to respond and understand issues with their children. She does not have the skills required for an elementary director.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2015

I am very disappointed in the staff turnaround this year. My child is now in a situation where a teacher new to project based learning is having to learn how to teach in this method. For some of the parents it may be the second time that their child is in this situation if they were there when the school started. It seems very short sighted of the upper administration to allow this. Instead of opening one school this year is as if there are two new elementary schools opening. I was very pleased with the teachers and staff last year and the wonderful sense of community the school had. The new teachers and staff don't appear to have that sense of family/community that made the school such a wonderful place for my child. Hopefully this will improve, but after a month I do not see that happening.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2014

This school is the best it could happen to my two children! Teachers are amazing, the principal is so nice and very pleasant to work with. As well as the staff. I love when you can sit down with the teachers and they are always positive and open to work with your children and you and they will do what ever they need to teach and help your children learn and thrive !!!!! WE LOVE HIGHTECH!!
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2014

Once parents reconcile that HTe's problem based curriculum differs from traditional teaching, they may understand the tremendous advantages such an education offers. Via inquiry based learning, students are able to have multiple experiences on a topic and partake in both reflection and critical analysis successfully. The teachers DO lay the groundwork for basic tenets such as critical textual analysis and number sense. Families then need to "supplement" , not "supplant" these ideas. This extraneous support by caregivers should occur, regardless of the school. To suggest that HTe does not offer "good teaching" or instruction is unfortunate. Though anecdotally, I submit that my own child's growth this past year was significant. I attribute this to her teacher's strategies, the social climate of the school, the social constructivism approach (inquiry based learning) ,the HUB (where she would often be found until six as we work) and our work at home. The curriculum and teaching is not subpar as another reviewer suggested. It's innovative and challenging. However, this style may not be for all students. Parents need to know their charges.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2014

I cannot believe that parents are expected to "supplement" the incredible lack of good teaching at this school. We were so excited to have been selected and to be part of the" few ones" /lucky chosen. I honestly wish we had not been selected. My son's academic skills significantly dropped. He had fun. But that is such a disservice to our kids. Luckily for this school, many of the kids come from affluent families that can hire tutors or get involved with kids education. Now I have to pay for tutor to catch him up over the summer. What a shame. Something needs to change with this school.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2014

I am a HTE parent & credentialed teacher w/ 14 yrs. experience in public & charter schools. I enrolled my child w/ HTE b/c I wanted her creativity to grow. I understand the demand this school places on parent involvement. It should be emphasized in every school system. However, parents aren't expected to supplement their child's learning, but to make up for what the teachers are *lacking* in quality instruction. NOT EVERY PARENT IS A CREDENTIALED TEACHER. It's the teacher's professional job to offer parents a GUIDE to help their student's learning, not to expect parents to take over while teachers engage students in arts & crafts. What's the point of teaching students how to make a rocket out of household materials if they don't even know the part's purpose? The lack of quality reading & math instruction are evident. Many Kindergartners enter first grade barely learning how to sound out letters. This isn't preparing our children for college or careers. The POLs help with public speaking, but what hiring manager would give a second glance to a r sum with spelling errors? What college professor has time to teach students how to take notes? Read "Checking for Understanding," pg. 73
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2014

I have a relative whose children attend HT Elementary and HT Middle. I've experienced schools that are heavily test-based, so I was thrilled at the idea of a project-based school. After seeing what HTE's done to my relative's children, I have to discourage parents from enrolling their children here unless your child is already an independent learner. Perhaps this is just the Chula Vista location, but HTE teachers do not emphasize fundamentals in reading/writing, & focus more on fun activities than genuine teaching. My niece entered Kindergarten last year. She is in first grade now & doesn't even recognize words like "said." Her older sister started Kindergarten in a nearby public school & is a very strong reader. My neighbor's son & a teacher friend's daughter are Kindergartners this year. Both parents have told me there isn't much reading or writing going on. The upper grades aren't much better, sadly. The students are working on projects, yes, but there's a difference between telling someone what you're DOING and explaining what you're LEARNING. A project-based curriculum isn't a replacement for rigorous reading and writing. They are part of college/career readiness
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2013

I Pulled my son out of this school after only 2 weeks of 5th grade. He was one of the 'lucky ones' selected well into the school year, but this was because of parents were already pulling their children out of this school. From the very first day my son was frustrated and embarrased that in 5th grade he had to do circle time, sit on the carpet and have teachers read and act-up 2nd grade level books to them. Most of his classmates did not remember how to do a simple fraction or division. When I interviewed with his teacher and asked about math skills and preparedness I was flat out told that any math or writing skills was something the parent had to do with the child at home because that wasn't 'that' type of school. So, my son found himself painting masks, building towers with paper cups and reading 2nd grade level books at school for 2 weeks before he went back to his homeschool. To this day he still reminds me of what I did to him. He is now a 7th grader
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2013

My school is fantastic. I love that along with the academic learning, they learn real world skills that will help them in the future. The staff is extremely caring and supportive. They are still young and are working on improving school parent communication, but are on the right track.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2013

Don't get me wrong I truly love high tech and how they work but the parking is just a huge problem ! Plus the staff does nothing about it. Do they not know ... Very disappointed ! I saw the director and staff out there doing nothing and I was waiting outside on a do not stop anywhere area .. which my risks go up for getting a ticket ! I was in line for 45 mins just trying to enter to pick up my elementary student because one car wouldn't move. Need a better picking up system!!
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2013

We feel very fortunate to be part of HTe School, everyone truly cares about the children, it's very unique there's no comparison to other schools.
Submitted by parent on November 29, 2012

My children love HTe and their teachers! From the director on down, everyone truly cares about my children's learning. My kids tackle their projects with enthusiasm and I am no longer have to worry about homework packets that they used to bring home from their other school. They dreaded them and really never learned anything from them! Here, they are able to think critically, imaginatively, and analytically. They have not only grown academically, but socially as well. The High Tech High Five core values really teach them how to be better students in school, and better people in the real world. It's truly amazing the growth I've seen! The only thing I hope for is more parent involvement. It always seems to be the same parents who always volunteer, which is wonderful, but there are so many opportunities to help out. If you made the effort to get your child into this school, please do more to support it.
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2012

I have two children at this school and this is their second year attending HTE. Both of my children have grown academically, socially, and emotionally. This school pays attention to all of their students in fact they have SLC's where students have a conference with the parent and teacher and tell you their strengths and weaknesses. Students are also given access to the latest technology, and given enrichment classes in engineering, performing arts, and fine arts. I also highly recommend this school for parents with children who have special needs. This is a full inclusion school, teachers, and academic coach's are very patient and work closely with children in the classroom.