Empire Oaks Elementary School

1830 Bonhill Drive

School District

Folsom-Cordova Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Folsom-Cordova 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 December 17, 2021

Empire Oaks has been such a great experience for our kids. Our oldest started in 2016 in kindergarten. Each year, our children have had amazing teachers. The teachers are brilliant and caring. For our first 3 years at the school, we experienced a new principal each of those years, the current principal is fantastic. She engages with the kids on a daily basis, she has been seen covering yard supervisor and food staff positions when there is a need. She’s patient and understanding, and very kind. She is always looking for ways to improve the school environment. I’ve spent lots of time volunteering in my children’s classrooms (pre covid) and can attest to the amazing way the teachers here work with the kids. Many of the grade level teachers work as a team, helping each other and keeping curriculum similar to one another. Lots of time is spent working with the children on issues like bullying, social emotional learning and trying to teach them to be a part of a community. An older review on this site made mention of the parents and their income status being paraded around. In the 5 years we’ve been a part of this school community, I’ve had the opportunity to meet all kinds of parents. Can’t say that I know anything about any of their financial backgrounds, but I can say I’ve met so many really neat, kindhearted, generous parents. Parents who bend over backwards to help the school, to help with school events or help each other. Many of them we have become close friends with. If you’re considering Empire Oaks because you’re looking to move into the area or choice into the school for other reasons, don’t let a review of the parents make the decision for you. Take a chance and meet the families your kids are in school with, you might be surprised at how down to earth and lovely they are. The parents are another part of what makes this school amazing.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2021

Great school with an administrative staff and teachers who care. Top. Itch student engagement.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2021

Empire Oaks is a wonderful Elementary School with great teachers and staff! They care about all students and even work hard to learn every child by name. Teachers and staff work individually with students who are behind in some academic areas so that they meet grade level by the end of that academic year. The PTA is very active and put together great events to support students and staff.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2021

Folsom has wonderful public schools and Empire Oaks is no exception. The staff and teachers really care about their students and go the extra mile to make sure they all feel seen. Empire has a strong and active PTA with lots of fun events for students and their families.
Submitted by parent on September 18, 2019

This is a great school, hampered by the things that traditionally hamper great schools.On the positive side, kids' progress is independently tracked and they are matched in teaching groups with other kids at the same level. Technology gives parents and teachers direct access to one another. The PTA is both strongly led and engaged. You will find parent volunteers active everyday, everywhere at the school. If you want to do something other than just go to school, there are a variety of after-school activities to engage in, as well as independent groups like the scouts that are active.On the negative side, schools like this attract social and financial status-conscious families, and you won't have to look far to find someone trying to impress upon everyone how important and rich they are. And there are FAR FAR too many of these.Still, your child will be effectively taught, and will have their ability to learn both catered to and challenged. Just teach them how to spot and avoid the passive-aggressive status displays going on. There are plenty of families around who are "normal".
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2015

My children have been at this school for 5 years from Kinder through 5th grade. This is an excellent school with great teachers who keep the kids on task (rated at 10). It is a nice blend of academics and fun stuff as well. Educational/fun field trips and Meet the Masters art is offered throughout the year. After school activities are also offered (fee)... Early Engineers, Firefly Art, Spanish class, Cooking class, Musical Theatre, Sing with Ping (free), and many more. Throughout the school year the PTA holds fun family events such as Royal Gathering of the Nuts, Snowflake Festival, and Donuts with Dad, Muffins with Mom, etc. They also raise money for much needed school supplies like Google Tablets for the kids. From what I've learned throughout all these years is... the more you put into your school, the more you get out of it. Most teachers really value parent volunteers and welcome you in the class. One thing I wish would change is the fact this school does not currently do overnight trips with the 4th/5th grade kids like other neighboring schools do (Coloma/Sailing) only 1 day trips. I hope this will someday change. Other than that, this is an excellent school.
Submitted by parent on April 07, 2014

Empire Oaks Elementary School is wonderful school in a wonderful community! The teachers truly care about the children and are helping them succeed in academics and life skills. They encourage well roundedness in the children by suppporting extra curricular activities such as science, choir, drama and atletics. The PTA is doing a great job with fund raisers and is using the money to fund key programs on campus such as the computer lab and library. The children have access to computer programs that are individually talored to help each child learn at their own pace and to help teachers note problem areas and strenghs of each child. Parents involvement in the classroom helps make the high student to teacher ratio manageable.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2013

One of my children goes to this school and another goes to another one nearby. To use an analogy, this school feels like the Sales and Marketing department of a company while the other school feels like the Science and Engineering department. They're both very good but have a different culture. Hope this helps. : )
Submitted by parent on July 06, 2013

Empire Oaks has wonderful teachers working under the confines of producing high test scores so that the enthusiasm on the first day of school diminishes and is quickly replaced with a few very stressed out teachers and kids with their normal emotional needs not being met. I remember on Oprah's last episode she said the most important thing we "need" is to know we are "seen and heard." The kids "needs" are not met and the parents are overly involved with many of the events catering to the parents recognition rather than for the kids that the kids somehow seem lost in the dysfunctional shuffle of it all. I agree with the cliques that are formed and the kids just mirror what they see resulting in some seriously bratty kids, parents and office staff.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2013

I highly recommend Empire Oak ! We have a daughter in first grade,and we are so excited that she is going to the best school in Folsom:) We absolutely love her teacher Mrs.Ping,we love the staff in the office and think the principal is great. There are so many activities in class next to all the regular schoolwork,great fieldtrips,a super music program,the parents are very much involved. I highly recommend our school! Our other daughter will go to Kindergarten next year,and I can't wait for her to be part of it all.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2012

It is good school, but like other people mentioned, this school doesn't have very friendly atmosphere. Staff members are not very welcoming and because it is the biggest school in the area, it doesn't feel very cozy. People seem too busy to get to know each other.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2012

Empire Oaks is an EXCELLENT school. We came from a private school with a high level of academic expectation. Empire Oaks far exceeded what we expected from a public school. Parent involvement is a HUGE priority and encouraged. The teachers are all VERY good and the Principal is a strong leader. It's a school who deserves the Blue Ribbon for certain!
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2011

I have a daughter in 3rd grade and a son in Kindergarten. Our experience with Empire Oaks has been nothing less than stellar! My children love going to school and adore their teachers. I don't ever hesitate to recommend Empire Oaks to new members of the community!
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2011

My daughters absolutely love this school. One's in 5th grade and one's in Kindergarten. They can't wait for summer to be over every year they've attended. The number of parent volunteers are extremely high, which is what makes a school absolutely outstanding. Our absolute favorite teacher has been Mrs. Donovan, my older daughter's 3rd grade teacher because she has a very strong educational background to bring confidence into each and every child no matter how shy they are. Most teachers are not educated in this area, so we felt so blessed to have had her.
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2011

Although I find that this school can produce high test scores, I find the staff to be very cold. I felt there was more attention to the "looks" of the classroom than to making the education experience well rounded. Absolutely no creativity, purely institutional. I know if I was a child, I would not want to be at this school, so my child will be attending a different school where people are kind and happy.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2011

I have been at Empire for 6 years and have 3 kids that attend. The teaching is top notch, the principal is supportive and the parent involvement is super active. There are a lot of PTA sponsored events which are well attended.
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2010

My daughter goes to Empire Oaks and we are really happy with the school administration, teachers and excellent students in this school.
Submitted by student on May 26, 2008

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Submitted by parent on November 30, 2007

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