Abraham Lincoln Elementary School

21710 McClellan Road

School District

Cupertino Union
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Cupertino 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 March 03, 2023

Amazing principal. Teachers are also excellent, though the experience and things like amount of homework can differ significantly even between teachers within the same grade. Social growth, personal responsibility, and citizenship are important here. About the only thing I can really complain about is that the provider for the school lunches (across all of CUSD, not just this school) is below average, but due to the state program at least it's currently free.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2022

One of the teacher in Kindergarten is very rude and unmotivated. She has been there for over 15 years. She doesn’t provide a clear communication to parents and gave lots of homework - more than first grader. When asked to have a discussion with her on how our child is performing, she said that it’s not her responsibility and don’t ask for her time outside of class hours. This is a review for a specific teacher. We found other teachers to be very good!
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2021

It's not perfect, but the teachers seem to be great and care about their students' development both in character and academics. We've had an excellent experience so far with one kid at the school. We have another child who would be starting there in a year and have no concerns about having the other child attend Lincoln, too. The new principal (started during the 2018-2019 school year) has been doing a fantastic job so far.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2018

My daughter goes to this school. Her teachers so far are great.
Submitted by teacher on January 06, 2018

10 on 10 is my rating! Lovely atmosphere
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2016

Lincoln is overrated. Very difficult school environment if you are not Asian or believe in high pressure academics. The teachers are mixed, some are good but some are completely disinterested and have lost faith in their CUSD employers after the West Valley incident. There is little to no community at this school as many parents don't feel involvement is necessary. It's the same few parents you see doing everything. There are not enough bathrooms for students/classrooms and some students have to walk very far across campus to use the restroom. The campus isn't very secure as there are multiple blind entrances and the office windows are usually closed. There is a definitive reason to the declining enrollment at Lincoln over the last several years. The word is getting out that this school isn't worth its 10/10 score.
Submitted by student on June 23, 2015

My daughter and son have an excellent experience there. My son is one of the top while my daughter does have trouble. Even though I don't like it when my daughter gets bad grades the teachers try to make my daughter more smarter, they make my children feel good about themselves with constant encouragement. Not only that, Lincoln's education standards is top. They always give challenging homework, and one of the teachers at lincoln even said," this is seventh grade math, and i want to prepare you for middle school. Now that's why I love this school.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2014

The famously horrible principal from Steven Creek Elementary is now at Lincoln. She is rude and completely obstinate, will not even listen to what the parent has to say. She is really unreasonable and unfriendly to the kids and parents alike.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2014

There is a lot expected of students here and my child started coming home with anxiety issues - in Kindergarten! Her teacher although meaning well had a very rough approach which didn't do well with our child. Children are really pushed here with "optional" homework being assigned that brings you to 1hour a day worth of homework unless your student is very quick. It feels like the expectations are set high for all students, and if they can not adapt then they get moved to 'special' classes. Why not set the standards so that all children can meet them, and if they are 'gifted' allow them to attend 'special classes' to foster their growth? Children are expected to know how to write upon the first day of kindergarten.. I have mixed feelings about this school, but overall there is a lot of support and the current Principal is wonderful. There is little to no ethnic diversity here. One wonderful thing is that they take bullying VERY seriously and the staff do a wonderful job promoting a peaceful environment. :)
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2014

School is overall overrated. Inhuman toilet training techniques. When the child wants to go to the bathroom and asks the teacher for permission the teacher asks whether you really want to go or can you hold on till recess. If the child then requests to go then they are benched for few minutes of their already short recess time. Dont they know the that children have smaller bladders and these unhealthy practices cause irreparable long term damges. And also they have very few restrooms for the huge number of students. Even the lunch table is overcrowded. Strangely the school district felt the need for additional vice principal as the school has too many students but did not feel the need to add additional restroooms or lunch tables.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2014

Definitely overrated. School adopted common core curriculum to get federal funding. Teachers told us that common core was thrown at them. Train as you go is not adequate training. Text books were not proofread before handing out to our kids, so there are many confusing questions and wrong information/answers. No Aides so teachers don't have time for all the kids. Communication is poor between the school & children/parents. Teachers are doing the best they can, but the office staff & administrators are the worst. Office staff have attitude problems & both principals might as well be non-existent. We should try to automate those positions if all they do is provide content to the newsletters. Agree with the other poster that the bathroom and lunch situations could be improved. The school has some of the most ridiculous rules. I wish I could give you examples but space here is limited. Last but not least, the parents are generally rude and overbearing. Kids are pushed by parents beyond their limits and come to school with anxiety. Kids and parents seem to be socially inept, so imagine your kid with other kids the same age but with temper tantrums of a 2 year old.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2013

My kinder has been going to Lincoln for half a year now and she loves going to school. The academics are definitely different than other districts, as she gets three homeworks per week. Our friends' kids, who live in a different district, don't get homework at all, and I hear some don't even get homework until the 2nd grade. Secondly, there are plenty of extra-curricular activities, such as PE, music, cooking, art, computers, etc. Finally and most importantly, the K teachers are all very experienced, at least double digit years of teaching experience. If there was one room for improvement, I would expand the half-days for kindergarten. Some districts expand the timetable a few weeks in, but CUSD just keeps it at half days until 1st grade.
Submitted by teacher on June 13, 2013

It is the students and parents that are responsible for the good grades. The teachers put 20%. I think about 80% of the students coming to these schools (CUSD) are from either educated parents or parents that have higher academic standards. They all clustered in either Fremont Mission San Jose Sub district of Fremont unified school Distric or CUSD. This is the reason why the API are much higher than the other surrounding public school districts. These schools however cannot turn around any students and make them smart. I am saying this so some of the parents don't get the wrong idea and pay high rent or high price for homes here will get too disappointed. Most of the steller students are born that way.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2013

In response to the family moving from Brazil, Lincoln Elementary is an excellent school with superb teachers who really care about your children. Unfortunately, the front office staff does not reflect that same warmth. I'm so sorry that your initial conversation with one of the secretaries had to be your first impression of the school. I'm sure the office staff is very efficient, but they can be curt to the point of being unfriendly. I'm sorry you were not treated with more respect.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2013

My third child is graduating this year. All my kids had positive experiences with many teachers over the past 14 years. The school provides the kids with excellent start in academic and personal development. Prepares them well to middle school and beyond.
Submitted by other on November 10, 2012

This is in response to the people moving from Brazil. Cupertino Union School District has an excellent ELD program, but it's only run at certain schools, and Lincoln Elementary is not one of them. Your students go to a great class clustered to help them learn English to a proficient level and they provide transportation from Lincoln to the alternate school. It's not than English learners are "welcome' at Lincoln, the school district provides the English learner curriculum at other sites. Good luck! Hope you find what you need somewhere. Lincoln is a very popular school and they are full in half of the grades anyway with wait lists for people who want to attend and live in the area.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2012

We are moving from Brazil to California and I'm trying to find a school for my kids before renting or buying a house. So, I've just talked to a lady over the phone and, unfortunately, my impression of this school couldn't be worse! Differently from secretaries of other schools,this one was not willing to help at all and sent me a clear message that my kids, who are not proficient in English, are not welcome there. I know that this is just one person over the phone, and I'm sure that the staff there can be more friendly, but it takes just one rotten apple to send the wrong message...
Submitted by other on November 23, 2011

I like the very balanced reviews on this school. Really appreciate people taking the time to add such useful information.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2011

Excellent 5th grade teacher, love the school and the office staff is extremely helpful. My children enjoy going to this school.
Submitted by other on March 18, 2011

So disappointing...Cupertino schools have such a fine reputation so we expected much more. There is a lack of coummunication on the part of the principal and there is definitely a lack of understanding toward students with special needs. The principal and some of the teachers need to be more willing to discuss issues with parents and to problem solve.