Harding Elementary School

7230 Fairmount Avenue

School District

West Contra Costa Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

School Map for West Contra Costa 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 08, 2024

We love Harding and think it is a great school! The community is warm and supportive and our kid loves their teachers. The PTA does a wonderful job brining in programs that the district can't (or won't) pay for like Art Cart, Theater, Science, PE and so much more!
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2023

Excellent school with great sense of community. Amazingly diversed with bilingual kids speaking all kinds of languages. Well trained teachers and staff are incredibly helpful and dedicated to their students.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2022

My son is a 6th grader. He’s been here since Kindergarten. Every teacher he’s had have been great; they’ve been engaged and heavily invested in his learning. I can remember them all: Ms. L., Ms. T. Ms. B., Ms. E, Ms.L, and Ms.L. Principal T has been at Harding all my son’s time. My wife and I are active PTA members and volunteers. We’ve witnessed first hand the Principal’s positive, effective leadership style, combined with genuine care of students and staff. Nothing tested the mettle of the entire Harding staff and community like the pandemic. Getting through it as well as we did had a lot to do with Principal T and our community.My family have been very satisfied with the academic curriculum and “complete student” approach. Test scores is just one factor of a school. If you have questions, just contact the PTA.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2022

BEWARE OF PRINCIPAL!! So sad to see such a good school be ruined by one person. The teachers are great! the school location and facility is awesome! but sadly the principal at this school is rude and has no patience for the children. Her punishments on children that are not the "norm" ( sit quietly and listen at all times) are harsh. She has definitely never heard of children will be children! and working with kids is NOT for her!
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2022

Harding is a public school with a wonderful community feel. The parents are involved and encouraged to volunteer in the yard and garden. The teachers are united and supported by an effective principal. Communication from the principal and teachers has been outstanding, and they are responsive to parent concerns. Overall the response during the pandemic has been really well organized. Students and teachers are always masked and the students are supported in that sense, as the school provides additional masks as well. The PTA is active and engaged. One major push the last few years has been providing funding for the arts, so there are now weekly performing arts classes with Seele Stars, which is a highlight of the week for my son.Highly recommended!
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2021

We've been very happy with Harding since our daughter started Kindergarten there in 2017. The PTA is a strong advocate for the school and the kids. The principal cares deeply about the staff, school and children. We've been treated fairly and with respect when we've had any issues that have needed to be addressed. I think they've done an exceptional job managing the pandemic and virtual learning. It wasn't perfect but I can't fault the school or staff for that. We are looking forward to returning to in-person school this year. I like that homework isn't a requirement and that they focus on Social Emotional Learning. They've employed a performing arts teacher (Ms. Seele!) who is a big hit with the kids. Do I wish there was more funding for our district? Yes! Am I happy with Harding despite the shoestring budget? ABSOLUTELY!
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2015

You can plaster a whole school with posters of "Be kind,be respectful,be safe",but it won,t translate to reality if the person in charge who came up with these ideas can,t follow through. If the kids are treated like juvenile delinquents then you miss the goal of fostering kindness and respects amongst them.Most parents that are involved with volunteering do so through events that are sponsored by the PTA and are organized.Who really goes in to see how a day is at this school?Anyone been helping out on the yard?Anyone spent a whole day there?Anyone seen direct interaction between the principal and the kids.Fear of someone does not equal respect.There are some good teachers at the school.You can see the kids run up and hug them,now that does not happen with the principal.There is no space for imagination.Every day there are new rules,more rules ,different rules.Now why are my kids still there you ask.We have been happy with the teachers we,ve had,the kids have good friends,there are kids for anyone to be friends with,doesn,t matter what type of kid you are you,ll be able to find a friend,which has proofed important to our kids .But in order to understand the negative reviews one has to spent more time at the school itself then just the happy carnival or the aution or the walkathon or helping an hour in class
Submitted by student on October 18, 2015

A studentOkay you are thinking you are a student of course you would give it this rate nope drama drama there the teacher I had was rude and fights do homeschool for your child.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2015

We have a second grader at this school who has attended since K. Our child is thriving well here, has made lots of friends, and is progressing well academically. He enjoys his classes and homework and the unfortunately minimal art and music that he gets during school time. The population here is very diverse ethnically and socioeconomically- an ideal environment for my child to grow up knowing how to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds. An incredibly supportive and active parent community and complementary city programs provide a ton of extra care and enrichment to supplement a poorly allocated school district budget. Parents get together to maintain facilities, put on events like the auction and carnival, and through their shared service form bonds that are invaluable to the overall experience at Harding. My personal experience as an active parent volunteer is that the principal and the PTA have a mutually supportive, pragmatically functioning relationship where necessary things get done despite resource issues with the district. I have neither experienced or have been privy to any of the negative issues mentioned in the spring 2015 posts here. We love Harding Elementary so far and are very happy we moved to this district.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2015

The Harding Elementary School is a neighborhood school. The school has an active PTA membership that has teachers and volunteers parents who work to enrich the children’s school experience. The PTA budget is made up of funder raisers and direct donations. The PTA continues to augment the West Contra Cost Unified School District curriculum with additional PTA sponsored Art, Music, Gardening, field trips, and more. There is a niche for each parent to find something in the school that they can help with from the Harding Aftercare School Enrichment Program (HASEP), to organizing and selling the Harding T-shirts and sweatshirts, working on the Spring Auction, helping in the Library, organizing the Chinook Book sale, volunteering as a room parent, to helping with the Fall Carnival. If you provide volunteer time or money, you have the opportunity to improve the environment at Harding for your child and those attending. There are some amazing teachers and some teachers that parents will find fault with. Principal Takimoto is doing a decent job. She inherited a staff of teachers that she is working with to embrace the Common Core Curriculum. She sets expectations, and if you don’t meet them she works with the teachers on improving. There have long term substitute teachers that have thrived with the opportunities and now are teaching full or part time. Harding Elementary School is what you make of it, it is and can continue to be a vibrant local neighborhood public school with involved parents working together to improve the school’s experience for all the children.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2015

I agree with the other parents who have posted concerns about the oppressive administrative climate despite many positives that are present at the school. We too had an experience with the principal who initially acted sympathetic when we shared concerns about our child but her approach ended up being mostly bureaucratic and overall unhelpful. It might be her personality and lack of ability to acknowledge real problems out of anxiety over losing control. She appears to be more concerned about covering up the problem than actually solving it. We were discouraged from speaking up for the sake of our child. We did not want our child to fall out of favor because of our disagreement with the principal, but did not feel good about being quieted. However, I have to disagree with the other parents that the problem is with the principal only. For whatever reason, the overall culture of the school is divisive. Kids are taught to prove themselves in ways that promote negative competition among them. Children do find their own groups but form cliques, which are not friendly to others. I am still trying to figure out what causes this place to be as unfriendly. Bad mojo?
Submitted by teacher on April 03, 2015

Harding had a tradition of being a happy neighborhood school with great teachers, wonderful kids and involved parents. Now the divisive atmosphere caused by the principal has changed that. WCCUSD, the board and the union are failing the teachers by not addressing the issues that are continually brought to them regarding the principal. When a student is bullied what do you do? Blame the student?
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2015

This is our 7th year at the school and we still have a couple more to go with our younger child.We started at the school with high hopes and we have been fortunate with the teachers so far. Positives:amazing Carnival,fun auction night,successfull jazz and art night several nice functions throughout the year,the garden lady is the best,my kids have made very good friends from all backgrounds Negatives:not much music and art though fundraising is plenty for that, Biggest negative:the principal,has very poor people skills and should really not be working in a position where she encounters many people,she is biased towards her friend teachers even if they mistreat students,poor decision making that negatively effects the students,rude to very rude,not able to work cooperatively with anyone,parent community is looking the other way as long as it is not their family targeted,she promotes programs that personally benefit her or her family members, All in all ok school with some caring teachers and some good kids.My kids love their friends and that counts for something,just know concerns might not be dealt with at all
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2015

We are happy with Harding; my child is thriving in their 4th year. The best part isn't the school itself but its community. The active pta and dad's clubs are natural extensions of the neighborhood that surrounds the school, and the camaraderie on campus is real. It's a public school with the usual problems. Limited resources, and local/district/state/union bureaucracy limiting change and accountability. There are great teachers and average teachers there like most places. Principal Takimoto seems to be doing a decent job. A staff member quit recently and she is being called a bully here; It does take a strong will to make headway in 'the system' but she is not a bully. She sets expectations, and if you dont meet them she (oh my!) holds you to account. There have been long term sub situations but despite the obstacles out of her control she has filled the gaps with good teachers. Is it Prospect Sierra or Bentley? No. Does it cost 25k? No. It's an above average public school that is very safe and has been steadily improving for many years, with an outstanding community.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2015

This school is like a poison apple.It looks perfect and shiny and yummy,then you cut it open and you see it,s rotting inside and it starts right at the core .
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2015

When the Principal bullies the teachers, a climate of bullying will reign. This used to be a lovely neighborhood school with excellent caring teachers but since the current Principal, good teachers have fled, others have given up because if they do not obey her ( she takes any feedback or different ideas as a personal attack) or if they don't actively curry favor , they will be punished in room or class assignment or public rude treatment. She has brought in a few teachers that were old colleagues of hers it seems. They are terrible teachers who yell at kids, leave them untended and bully - like she does. She defends them ( one in particular) agains t the parents' legitimate concerns and requests - because they are her favorites. My child still suffers from that year. Why is the District letting her ruin a good school?
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2015

There is a reason Harding is ranked 6 - the principal. She shows no respect for parents (just political nonsense) and her relationship with the students is one of disdain. Staff is apathetic as well as parents because the bullying tactics hold strong. The principal will get back at you. They would rather not say anything than be the target of her wrath. This is where the bullying begins at Harding.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2015

The school has changed for the worse since the current principal has been in charge. It now is run like a prison with the principal being the warden. She LOVES rules. The school looks good on paper, but is losing it's soulfulness due to a bureaucratic, egomaniac of a principal. The children are the ones who bear the brunt of it all. Sad.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2015

Creativity is shown the door.Music and art are being undermind and the program that they offer is more for the kids entertainment than learning any music whatsoever.The school is dictator run where Parents input is not welcome.The principal is often times rude.She uses a lot of words with no substance if you listen very closely .There are some truly wonderful teachers but don't be surprised if your child has substitutes for a good time of the schoolyear.There have been classes that have had substitutes for a whole school year.Be aware,go in with eyes wide open and use some critical thinking and don,t drink the Kool aid.
Submitted by teacher on February 23, 2015

This school has an active PTA. If you are thinking of working here, get an insider's perspective first. Do not expect support. In the last few years, a number of teachers were treated poorly and left.