Palisades Elementary School

26462 Via Sacramento

School District

Capistrano Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Capistrano 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 January 11, 2025

As a parent of a child in the structured autism class at Palisades Elementary, our experience was deeply disappointing and, at times, heartbreaking. This program, meant to serve students with moderate to severe needs, lacks the support and oversight it desperately requires from administration and the district. Teachers and staff are left without the tools or training needed to implement evidence-based practices, leaving students underserved and vulnerable.Throughout our time there, we witnessed alarming situations. Children were put at risk due to untrained staff, both on campus and during field trips. Services were frequently cut without justification, and decisions were made without proper data collection, such as ABC data, to support their claims. The administration seemed more focused on cost-cutting than on providing the care and support these children deserve.Perhaps most concerning was the use of full-body restraints on students, sometimes lasting over an hour, which felt both excessive and unjustifiable. These actions, paired with a lack of transparency and compassion from leadership, left families feeling helpless. By our final year, we knew several families pursuing due process due to the neglect and borderline abusive practices in this program.No child should have to endure this kind of treatment, and no parent should have to fight so hard for their child’s safety and education. This program fails its students in every sense, and I would not recommend it to any family seeking a supportive, evidence-based environment for their child.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2024

Incredibly active Parent community! So much support for after-school programming through PTA and Foundation donations. My children are thriving in this school and we are very happy with the teaching support and administration.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2024

Our kid started in kindergarten 3 years ago and now she is in second grade. She has been thriving thanks to wonderful teachers, administrators, and parents. There's a real sense of community at this school and many parents are extremely involved in classrooms and fundraising events. The school campus isn't fancy but it's a lovely campus that provides safe & happy place for kids to learn, play, and grow. We are extremely happy with Palisades Elementary School!
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2024

We love Palisades! The administration, teachers, PTA, Foundation, and overall community are amazing. We were a bit hesitant to enroll initially because of past reviews and scores, but our 3 years here have been so far so good and we are very happy to have made the decision to enroll and attend. Highly recommend for anyone considering!
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2024

Palisades is a wonderful community school, close knit families and teachers invested in kids as they all live locally too. We love this school!
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2024

We absolutely love Palisades Elementary School! My kids look forward to going to school every day, and it's easy to see why. The teachers are not only highly skilled but also genuinely care about each student's success and well-being. They go above and beyond to make learning fun and engaging, which has made a huge difference in my children's enthusiasm for school.The school community is welcoming and supportive, with a strong focus on fostering a positive environment where students can thrive academically and socially. My kids have made great friends here, and I appreciate how the school encourages involvement from parents.The administration is responsive and always open to feedback, which shows their commitment to continuous improvement. They offer a variety of extracurricular activities that cater to a wide range of interests.I highly recommend Palisades Elementary to any parent looking for a nurturing and academically solid school for their children. It’s a place where kids are excited to learn and grow!
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2022

We absolutely love this school, staff and students !!!!
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2019

Palisades is outstanding. The teachers, staff and principal are wonderful. The school has a kind and caring culture with a growth mindset. My kids are provided with so many great opportunities to learn, grow, build confidence and shine. Palisades is truly a great school and we feel fortunate to have our boys there (and both my boys love it too!).
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2017

Fantastic school, administration, and faculty. The principal fosters an environment of creativity and kindness. This is a sweet and caring school. The district needs to address some building maintenance and security deficiencies but overall, we have had a very positive experience. The school also has a strong PTA which puts on great community events for the school and helps to fund field trips such as science camp and excursions to the San Juan Mission and the Ocean Institute and the Pilgrim Tall Ship.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2017

Neutral overall. If you have a self motivated learner who does not need constant supervision, you'll be great. If you have a child who does need support, you will not get it here. There is a VERY poor standard for parent/teacher communication, and the grading system is LOW. They give easy grades and I do not understand why. Many of the teachers have been here for decades or are brand new. There doesn't seem to be positive collaboration between teachers or grades. It is wonderful to see how many children walk and ride bikes to the school, but that's reaching for something positive. The school does not take any pride in academics - it's more focused on it's ridiculous fundraiser called "The Pooper Bowl" than it is in producing academically prepared children who are ready for Middle School and High School. This is a major downfall of the area in general, and is not acceptable or consistent with the home prices in the area. Step up Palisades.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2016

All white school, no diversity among the students and teachers. My child was criticized by blonde haired white students about her skin color, she came home crying. Hard to see my child upset as you can imagine. Problem was raised to school staff and nothing was done about the issue. That's ok my daughter is a strong kid, she ignores their comments.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2014

Great teachers! Principle seems to be on the side of the parent, nice guy, but don't expect to get certain things done! He has a tendency to bury his head in the sand when action needs to be taken.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2014

My son loved Palisades. He went from 2nd-5th. He loved all of his teachers and had a great experience.