Veterans Elementary School

1550 Magdalena Avenue

Chula Vista, CA 91913

School District

Chula Vista Elementary
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for Chula Vista Elementary 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 31, 2023

We love Veterans Elementary. The teachers my child has had have been amazing. They are great at what they do. My child has grown so much. I'm hoping the rest of the teachers are like the ones we've had so far as my youngest is starting kinder soon!
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2022

Para mis hijos fue una buena experiencia estar en esta escuela fueron muy bien recibidos. Llegaron de escuelas en Mexico con un nivel bajo de inglés. Recibieron ayuda de inmediato. Jamás recibieron algún tipo de bullying. El staff de la escuela en mi experiencia fue bueno siempre trataban de ayudarte con dudas y al igual recibí llamadas de la subdirectora arreglando asuntos ocurridos. En mi experiencia como papá prefiero el programa dual porque siento que los niños tienen más atención a un programa normal de inglés. Los maestros de dual en mi experiencia están más comprometidos. Mis hijos están ansiosos por regresar a clases al nuevo ciclo escolar ellos iban muy Felices a la escuela y para mi es lo más importante.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2021

Just started attending Kinder at this school. Have been worried due to a lot of low reviews but I have to say I am extremely happy with the school so far. everyone is very friendly and helpful. They made my son's enrollment quick and painless. The teacher took some time to meet with him prior to him starting school. All I hear every day when he comes how is how much he loves his teacher. I will definitely update the review if there are any changes.
Submitted by other on July 21, 2021

I went here a few years back (I'm in highschool now) and I just have to say it was absolutely horrible, I developed social anxiety from this place.The staff (other than the teachers) were "usually" nice, though there were mean and lazy teachers, to be fair there was some nice teachers but wasn't in their class for most of the years.It was horrible but I never told my mom because I thought I was in the wrong, I thought I was doing something bad, but in reality it's just the teachers.One of the teachers would yell at the kids and make them cry, I remember one time she bullied a boy for crying and said "he was crying like a girl". She still has her job today and I know because my little sister goes there.Other than that teacher the others weren't THAT mean but they would yell sometimes.I would not recommend if your child has any mental illnesses, as well as disabilities. I remember in kindergarten the kids ran away from them and thought they were weird.But who knows, maybe things could go smoothly for your child.
Submitted by other on April 23, 2019

8/10, Great school! Great teachers! HORRIBLE office staff!
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2016

Rude staff attendant... specially the secretary in the office she has no manners and bad aptitude. My daughter needed to call me after school to be picked up since she was not attending homework club that day but the secretary won't let her make the called saying that "is only for emergencies". So how I would know my daughter needed to go home? I complain to the vice principal but she told my daughter to use other phone. I don't understand how they let her be so mean to kids and parents. One time, years ago the principal didn't attend my request of moving my daughter to other teacher since her second grade teacher was giving my daughter always a hard time. The school environment is getting worst with the staff, just very a few teachers I can say they are nice. I hope the district check these reviews and do something about it.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2016

Rude staff attendant!!!!!! i dnt know her name bcoz our kid is new in these school i dnt know all the staff names but she needs to learn how to treat parent with respect And she better learn how to smile when shes talking to someone, shes so rude!! That women needs to learn a good manner!! Not a kidfriendly environment!! Make sure nxt time to call or email us ahead of time if they are having early release... This school needs improvement i thought all the ratings that i saw is very impressing but on what i experience im so very disappointed!!
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2015

Horrible experience. My child is treated so unfairly and is miserable almost everyday. I wish I never moved into this neighborhood to have to go to this school.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2014

We have had to contact and talk to the third grade teacher numerous times about the importance of using the bathroom and hydration. Our daughter was not allowed to use that bathroom when she asked. As a matter of fact, students have to pay the teacher in "Schnitzer" dollars that they earn through good behavior to use the bathroom. She has come home with stomach aches because she was not allowed to use the bathroom. In addition, the only time that we forgot to pack a water bottle our daughter had to be taken to the doctor due to dehydration (we have documented proof). After we talked to the teacher, our daughter feels reprisal because she is being ignored and not called on. Our child's third grade teacher has verbally abused and alienated our child at every given chance. In addition this teacher discussed our concerns with the whole 3rd grade class and talked on the phone about is in front of the whole class. My daughter was embarrassed to say the least. We have pulled our child out of this school today and she will Not be returning!
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2014

Lazy teachers, rude and unhappy staff. The only decent teachers in the school are tested like outcasts. Children are treated like cattle and verbally abused by certain teachers. Stay away!
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2014

The teachers at Veteran's are wonderful and I feel the PTA does an excellent job organizing events. I however am very upset how the principal handled the schools impact. I completely understand that children who live in the zone should have priority, however the principal was not up front when parents from outside the zone asked about transfers. My family was initially in the zone when my child first started at Veteran's and we currently moved to a location which recently changed from Veterans to Wolf Canyon. We were told our child was on a waiting list and now I'm told that the waiting list meant they were not accepted. Why put them on a waiting list if you already know they will not be able to transfer? Why was I not told this earlier? The only accommadations he was willing to make were for the Dual Immersion classes. I feel that he does not treat all the children fairly and he puts a bigger priority on the Dual Immersion.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2014

The teachers at Veteran's are wonderful and I feel the PTA does an excellent job organizing events. I however am very upset how the principal handled the schools impact. I completely understand that children who live in the zone should have priority, however the principal was not up front when parents from outside the zone asked about transfers. My family was initially in the zone when my child first started at Veteran's and we currently moved to a location which recently changed from Veterans to Wolf Canyon. We were told our child was on a waiting list and now I'm told that the waiting list meant they were not accepted. Why put them on a waiting list if you already know they will not be able to transfer? Why was I not told this earlier? The only accommadations he was willing to make were for the Dual Immersion classes. I feel that he does not treat all the children fairly and he puts a bigger priority on the Dual Immersion.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2014

This school has great teachers that are dedicated and the results of the recent API test scores reflects this. The parents at this school should be more committed to volunteering and helping with events/programs that are run at the school. There is a very small handful of parents that help out. With a school as large as this, there should be more parent involvement. There is a sense of entitlement with the parents here, they want everything from the school but don't really want to be involved in order to get it. The PTA does an amazing job of offering programs/events/fundraisers but they have to practically beg for volunteers to help out or bribe them with rewards for volunteering.
Submitted by teacher on August 13, 2013

This school has good teachers but its school secretary makes it a horrible experience to be at. She has absolutely no social skills and lacks any empathy or sympathy. I do not know why she is working at a school, the principal definitely had a lapse in judgment keeping her in that position.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2013

This has been the first year my child has attended this School. I'm not very happy with how the new principal has managed different situations. For example, it has been a change of teacher when there was only two and a half more moths to go before the end of the school year. Also, not happy with award ceremony they do at the end of they year. If your child does not get a trophy, it can be for several reasons: they did not deserved it, or on the other hand, they deserved it but there are certain number of trophys per class, so even if more children deserve it, they cannot give it to them.... As I was told. Not very happy at all! Some things need to change for the well of the children.
Submitted by parent on April 08, 2013

I feel the reviews would be better served by filtering out those that appear generated by the staff/business. Minimizing a parent's experiences by suggesting they go somewhere else because the child and parent have been ill-treated is unnecessary. Please do not assume that the aforementioned concerns have been kept secret- they have been addressed time and again. This forum prohibits naming individuals in the review- it is not about remaining "anonymous." I could give plenty of examples, but that does not improve the matter. Furthermore, the administration has seen for themselves how this teacher interacts with parents, and I can tell you that one member of the administration acts similarly. (Actually, this person does "smile" but it is fake and does not reach the eyes.) You can state how the school has certain test scores from last year, but that has nothing to do with the way students are treated. Those are only numbers- and lest you have not followed the recent news, some schools have easily falsified the scores. My child is not a number. Perhaps you're right though... since things haven't improved, maybe it's time to take the matter up with the district and CDE.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2013

I think it is important for parents to understand that the school does not have control over class size. That is mandated by the district, which they take their direction from the state. Primary classes (k-3) do not go above 25 students, upper grades (4-6) do not go above 31. Secondly, if your child's teacher is mean and nasty, you need to speak with the principal. You can remain anonymous but it is not going to change if nothing is said. Finally, Veterans Elementary has a stellar CST history. Last year, the API went from 899 to 911. They are one of only 10 schools in the district to be in the "900 club." Clearly, the teachers are doing something right. If your student is not enjoying Veterans then apply for a zone transfer and try your luck elsewhere. I guarantee you will not find a better school environment or staff.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2012

This school is too crowded. My son was one of the overflow kids that had to sent to Tiffany Elem. We moved into this neighborhood because of this school. Not at any time when I registered my son for kindergarten l was I told there may be an overflow situation...I learned of this after orientation. He was allowed to remain at Veterans for 2 wks until a new school was found (Tiffany (Burton C.) Elementary). I don't understand why Veterans couldn't do what Tiffany did which was bring in more teachers to accommodate the extra students. Kudos to Tiffany for thinking