Acacia Elementary School

1200 North Acacia Avenue

School District

Fullerton Elementary
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:30
Type

public

School Map for Fullerton 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 October 13, 2024

I wholeheartedly agree with the two recent Year 2024 reviews below. I’d like to also add my frustration on another topic. I'm extremely disappointed and concerned about Acacia Elementary's ballooning class sizes, now exceeding 30 students per class - the largest in Fullerton. This is largely due to accepting numerous out-of-zone and out-of-district students, irresponsibly diluting resources and compromising the quality education our community's children deserve. It's unfair to zoned families who have invested significantly in homes and lifestyles within this area specifically for Acacia's reputable education. Prioritizing non-zoned students over those who have made sacrifices to live within the boundaries is unacceptable. Instead of seeking more funding to accommodate overcrowding, Acacia should prioritize local families by limiting enrollment to zoned students, ensuring smaller class sizes and a better learning environment. Furthermore, the school's reckless spending and misprioritization make me question their ability to manage additional funds wisely. Vote NO on Measure N - we can't trust Acacia to appropriate funds responsibly, especially when their actions demonstrate prioritizing growth over quality education and community needs. I urge the administration to reassess enrollment policies, putting our community's needs first.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2024

I am deeply concerned about the ongoing biases at Acacia, particularly how students of more vocal or active (non-Asian) families receive preferential treatment. My daughter has endured this for years, and it has taken a serious emotional toll on her. A clear example is the weekly “Principal Awards.” Despite my daughter (and few of her classmates) consistently excelling—scoring high on tests, submitting work early, actively participating in class, and being a kind classmate—she (and her classmates) has been repeatedly overlooked. Instead, these awards often go first to students whose families are more involved in volunteering, giving teacher gifts, or contributing financially. Non-Asian students are also more likely to receive these awards first, even when my daughter and her Asian peers have performed better academically. After working so hard, my daughter is often in tears, feeling demoralized when less-achieving classmates are recognized over (and before) her. This pattern has occurred for multiple years, leaving her emotionally traumatized. I agree with another parent’s review that pointed out how Acacia’s high ratings are largely due to the extra efforts of (Asian) parents who supplement their children’s education at home. Most teachers rely heavily on parents to bridge gaps in instruction. While some teachers are passionate, such as Mrs. Thomas in Kindergarten, the overwhelming workload on students requires significant parental involvement. The teachers are disorganized and do not follow their own testing/assignment schedules. Every night, I spend hours reviewing math and English Language Arts with my daughter because the large class sizes (30+ students) limit the teachers’ ability to provide effective instruction. My daughter’s achievements are not a result of the school’s teaching but of my support at home and outside tutoring.Favoritism extends beyond awards. When my daughter was bullied by a (non-Asian) peer who was the child of a homeroom parent, little was done to address the issue. It seems that students with close parental ties to the school receive more favorable treatment, while others like my daughter receive less support. It is heartbreaking to see hardworking, high-achieving students like my daughter overlooked year after year. Recognition should be based on merit, not on parental involvement or influence. Acacia and Principal McCormick are advocates for some; unfortunately, my children are not coveted students.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2024

The students are learning more advanced material since most parents are invloved in teaching the kids at home or get tuition out of this school. Most teachers are good and passionate about teaching. The school expect most parents to be well educated professionals so their kids can get better scores so school ratings can be higher.The principle is not very personalized. She is not very nice to students and parents and not having very good communications. The office manager also has a bad communication with parents. They might be arrogant since they are not very ware the ratings are high is because the stuents/parents are getting more "advanced" material to learn.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2016

My son went to Acacia from second grade to fourth, then we moved out of state. His experience in second grade was okay. Once he was GATE identified, however, it went from okay to superb. His teachers (Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Cockerill) were amazing teachers, his classmates wonderful kids: not only did he learn a lot and was exposed to solid academic expectations, he also flourished socially in an environment where kids were not only smart but also, and more importantly, kind and generous with each other. Our experience with the school is excellent. I only give it four stars because the experience of other parents I know and trust was not as great.
Submitted by other on May 23, 2015

My son spent 4th through 6th grade at Acacia. As the parent of a child with special needs, low on the overall spectrum but needing a 504 plan, I found Acacia much more amenable than where he spent his first 3 years.I had the opportunity to engage with the principal, the special ed teacher, and each and every one of his teachers. They were not perfect, but when I pointed out something that was not in line with my child's plan, it was fixed immediately. I brought him over from another school in the district. I was thoroughly disenchanted with the way they dealt with my child and the challenges we have. My son is dyslexic - moderate to severely affected. He is also dysgraphic and had some ADD presentation. The public schools in California can not even admit that dyslexia is a real thing, let alone help with a solution. I pay for private tutoring and all I wanted was for them to accommodate his needs as laid out by mutual agreement with the staff. Acacia personnel did that beautifully. The other school...not so much.Night and day difference between Acacia and Raymond. Fullerton School District allows for inter-district transfers, but you have to re-qualify every year. If someone moves in and bumps your inter-transfer kid out, you are forced to find a new school. It is always better to reside in the area of the school you want your kid to attend rather than depend on a transfer. I went to Acacia as a child. It was a surreal pleasure to not only have my son attend MY elementary school, but to excel there because of the leadership.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2015

Acacia Elementary is a great school! The teachers are amazing. We are especially grateful for our daughter's 5th grade teacher this year, Mrs. Guerrerro. Our daughter has a very difficult time in school academically. Mrs. Guerrero deals so patiently and kindly with her and explains concepts very clearly. She is an excellent teacher! Our daughter loves her ..we believe it's teachers like Mrs. Guerrerro that make Acacia an amazing school!
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2015

I find it very odd that Acacia has had 4 negative reviews from parents and 2 for staff in the past 2 months and they have been deleted but the positive reviews are being left up. I agree with the comment below. We as parents and as a community have every right to be informed of what is going on in our public schools especially if its a MAJOR safety concern.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2015

acacia has a bully issue for about 2 years. the principal cant seem to get the issue under control it's affecting my child & his studies. I've called the dept. of Ed. & the school district. lets hope they can help since I feel the school doesn't care about my sons safety! I read also another parents post from earlier this morning about the bullying problem but the post has been deleted. this is a huge concern that a "parent" or "someone" is reporting this review to benefit the schools "image". these are OUR children if they are not safe we have every right to find out and know what is going on. please do not FLAG OR REPORT reviews. I agree with the other parents, the teachers do their best.they are under so much pressure and intimidation. my daughters 3nd grade teacher during a lunch time chat made a comment that they were being forced to punish only "certain" students so that they could have it "logged" in their system that these children have had past "behavioral/discipline issues" .that gives the school means to deny or revoke their transfers. not fair. shame on them.. I don't care much for my kids to attend here anymore, transfing to Fern Dr in 2015/2016
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2015

We recently made a move into Fullerton and are so happy with our children going to Acacia. As a parent there is ample opportunity to volunteer in the classroom and there is no pressure if you are unable to. My kids have had a good experience with the student body and staff. I look foward to having my toddler attend Acacia in the future. This is our fourth elementary school and I know from experience that the staff and students are all well focused on an excllent education.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2014

Acacia is a GREAT schoo and holds high standard in education compared to the other primary school in the district. Some parents think the more homework the student is assigned, the more they learn. NOT NECESSARILY. It's all in the content of the homework. For instance, one page of math homework can take almost an hour for a 5th grader esp with the core system being imposed. The homework is grade and age appropriate. The testing is also statewide, so all the schools are given the same type of test in general. The scores are based on the how each school does on that same test. I know so many parents that transferred their child to Acacia from Raymond and other schools. The seal in front of the school 'Distinguished" does account for a lot. What other school in the district was recognized for that?
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2014

My daughter (6th grade) started her academic career at Rolling Hills (a FANTASTIC school ). After being G.A.T.E identified she opted to transfer to Acacia to participate in the full immersion G.A.T.E program. The children & some parents complain about the principal because she expects the children to behave appropriately, strive to do their best academically & be responsible citizens. Personally, I appreciate that what I am trying to instill in & expect from my child at home is being reinforced at school. At times, the homework load can seem heavy but they are preparing the students for Junior High & High School. As a parent with a son attending Troy & participating in the Troy Tech program, and seeing the rigor that goes along with that program, Acacia is preparing their students well to handle the heavy homework load and is fostering the development of necessary time management skills required to be successful for high school & beyond. My experience with the 2 amazing teachers my daughter has been fortunate to spend each school day with -Mrs Given 3 & 4 grade and Mrs. Kojima 5th & now 6th grade has been exceptional. KUDOS to Dr. Whisnat and the rest of the Acacia staff
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2014

Acacia Elementary is a great school. The teachers are all good, the parent community is involved and caring and the school itself has a nice campus, with a large playground and a newly renovated library. The 1:1 iPad program for upper grades is another strong point for the school, as well as the PE and All the Arts programs. My kids have been very happy there.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2014

As a parent of 3 children who have and are currently attending Acacia Elementary, my husband and I could not be more pleased with the balanced and enriching education that they have experienced and are receiving here at Acacia. Not only have they had incredibly motivated teachers who have exposed and prepared them for current and changing curriculum, but they have helped foster them into happy, confident young people who enjoy working with others and are motivated to learn. With the amazing leadership of the principal who has such a sincere love for the children and their families, and who has a vision of the future that is filled with innovation and creativity, all of which, has encouraged her teachers to exceed preparing students for today's educational standards. She also has prided herself in creating a family feeling environment amongst the staff, students and their families. Acacia teachers combine technology, the arts, student leadership programs, and group learning projects into lessons that encourage success for all learning types. My family is very proud to be "Acacia Panda's" and as parents, we could not ask for a better place for them to be!
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

I have had two children at Acacia, and have witnessed the school improve over the last five years with the school now offering a nice selection of after school enrichment programs. I feel very fortunate to have my kids attend such an exceptional school. I am impressed by the level of dedication from the teachers and principal.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Great school, great principal and outstanding teachers. Best public school of many that I have been involved with. This school staff really cares for the welfare and good education of their students.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2013

This school could be great. Get rid of the rude front office staff, get a school nurse and focus more on the student body as a whole as opposed to only focusing on the kids in the GATE program, offer more creative outlets and this school would be EPIC. The principle is nice enough, the students are nice and friendly, the teachers I have spoken to have been nice and well prepared to educate our kids. My son has excelled academically here, but this school frowns upon creative thinkers. They have a wonderful guitar lesson program that is self paid, but completely worth it and the after school program is good. The IEP program is wonderful and has a very attentive staff. If you don't mind your child being expected to act like a robot, this school would be good for you. If your child is more creative and athletic, then you might have some issues.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2013

I saw the previous review and had to write one myself. Yes, I agree my 4th grader has a lot of homework in the Gate Class, but I have been completely impressed by the thoughtfulness of the homework given and how it makes her think in depth. Not for one minute have I thought of my kids as being robotic at Acacia. They are certainly free to pee and be "kids". I have been a part of the school now for 6 years. My 6th grader does have less homework than my 4th grader. I think the homework load just varies by teacher. He is doing very well, with advanced benchmarks and CST's. I think each teacher has their own personal style in regards to the amount of homework given. What has probably impressed me most about my 6th grader s teacher this year, is the way she has motivated him this year to read! I can see he truly enjoys it. I am grateful for ALL of the teachers at Acacia. I think it is important to go way beyond the scope of these ratings and talk to several parents at the school. I have very high standards and also want my kids to above all enjoy learning and have excellent teachers. I have found this at Acacia and highly recommend this school!!!! Submitted by a parent
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2013

Two of my kids attend this school (1st and 4th grade). My kids basically like this school and like most of their teachers. Acacia gets plenty of press on how extraordinary it is, so I'll skip my favorite things and address the 2 main things that my kids and I mutually dislike. First, Acacia's "behavioral enhancement" discipline system is very frustrating. I don't like how kids are rewarded for being silent obedient robots and publicly penalized for ridiculous little things like needing to pee or standing 10 inches out of line. Sure, a kid who hits another kid should get in trouble, but needing to pee? Crazy. Second, homework is totally out of control. MY 1st grader spends 2 hours per day completing boring and monotonous worksheets??? My 4th grader typically spends 3 hours on hers and regularly states that she "hates homework". She is only 10 year old!. If you have spirited and creative kids who thrive in a nurturing and whole-child approach, think carefully about Acacia. Rolling Hills might be a better choice. But, if your kids thrive in a structured and academically rigorous setting where performance trumps personality, Acacia might be a better place for them.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2013

Acacia is rated #1 school of all the schools in Ornage County. Hats off to the principal, teachers, parents and students.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2012

Back to school, and once again, I m reminded how blessed we are to have our children attending Acacia. The children are happy and motivated, the teachers are amazing, and the principal is fostering a wonderful environment for the students. The test scores at Acacia are an objective measure, and the results are great; add to that, the children are happy and nurtured, challenged and inspired. Moreover, the parent involvement continues to foster an overall great community. It seems the entire community at Acacia is focused on moving our school even further down the positive and successful road we are on. The improvements to the school and the support to the teachers that the principal has managed in the two years she s been with us are truly remarkable. I am grateful for her vision, dedication, and motivation to continue to foster achievement and progress amongst the students, and ensuring Acacia is an outstanding school. So happy for another great year!!