Las Animas Elementary School

6550 Cimino Street

School District

Gilroy Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Gilroy 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 November 13, 2023

All the teachers, Staff, and Parents Students It is Teamwork plus the effort from all involved to build a strong village/ community and at this school it is the right place for early adults to gain and to know you are going to succeed with excellence. Support from one another is Key.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2019

When we moved here three years ago, I read the negative reviews about the school and was concerned. However, my and my child’s experience at Las Animas has been completely different from those reviews. I have been completely satisfied with the teachers my child has had every year. Communication has been timely and responsive, class management has been good, and the teachers continuously challenged my child to make sure he was/is reaching his potential. My interactions with the principal have always been open, professional and productive. The school has many supplemental programs including Theater Arts, STEAM, Wendy’s Heart, Project Cornerstone, etc. In addition, the school has increased its technology and STEAM lab every year since we have been at the school. It’s great watching the kids working with Ozobots, green screen animation and various other activities. I spend a lot of time volunteering at the school. By doing that, I have had an opportunity to interact with the principal, support staff, teachers and other parents. The principal, teachers and staff truly care about the students at Las Animas. My child has been able to be in school plays since 3rd grade and also enjoy STEAM club the last two years. He loves Las Animas. We had the opportunity to switch schools because my child tested into GATE, but we made the choice to stay at Las Animas, and we are very happy we did.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2018

My experience at Las Animas has been very unpleasant. After multiple negative experiences with the principal and the horribly rude secretary I stopped volunteering and limited my involvement to dropping off and picking up my kids. There is a toxic culture in the office that needs to be eliminated.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2017

Shocked & disappointed by everything about Las Animas, also dangerously overcrowded.
Submitted by teacher on March 24, 2017

As a teacher at this school, I have been very disappointed with the way students, parents and teachers are treated by administration and her posse. The principal chooses favorites, and it does not seem to matter if they are not meeting the requirements of their job. Teachers that she doesn't like, even very effective teachers, are forced to move to different grades, criticized and essentially bullied into changing schools or leaving the district entirely. There is a reason this school has a nearly 50% turnover rate-it's a very unpleasant and stressful place to work. Although the district knows this and has received many formal complaints, the principal has been allowed to carry on like this for years. The dual immersion program is not properly executed, and the majority of students are not at grade level in Spanish. Parents are upset that teachers leave so frequently and openly discuss the fact that it is due to the way they are treated by the principal. Furthermore, there is no proper reading intervention programs in place, so students who struggle in reading do not receive the support they deserve. I strongly advise against either working at this school or sending your child to attend. If you do send your child to this school, please make sure you are as present as possible, advocate for them and avoid leaving your child alone with the principal. Of course, there are teachers that care and many students have positive experiences here. However, the culture is overall based on fear and submission to a principal that is unkind to students and staff, creating a suffocating atmosphere of stress and fear for both students and staff.
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2016

Lack of communication from staff to parents. Principal dresses inappropriate for her job. No field trips, classroom celebrations, or school functions. Front office lady Lucy is very rude. And teachers are absent a lot. I wouldn't recommend this school to ANYBODY. They do a lot of raising money (Kona ice, book fairs used book sales fundraiser sales) but ask parents to donate EVERYTHING! Teachers have to pay to use copy machine on top of supplying Thier own copy paper. My daughter was in Kindergarten on top of volunteering my time I also spent well over hundreds of dollars on donating items her class was in need of.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2014

You just have to look at the comment posted on February 14, 2009. It was posted by a teacher at this school.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2014

Don't let this school's high API score fool you. No field trips and no class celebrations are the result of the time spent in class repeating, as opposed to learning concepts. Students review material excessively, to ensure memorization and high scores. There is more to education than satisfying the school administration's self interest. This school needs a change of administration, office staff and purpose.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2014

Dual Immersion Program at this school not 50/50 immersion. Average Spanish teachers. Been there, done that, wasted our time.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2014

Disappointed with the school. Lack of communication. Administrators seem to care less about certain groups of kids. Only school in the district with a history of no field trips and limits on class celebrations.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2013

Forgot to mention, teachers need to dress like teachers. Some teachers show their cleavage which is not appropriate. This needs to be corrected and discussed to all teachers!!!
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2012

We are very disappointed with this school. Lack of communication from principal and teachers has been a huge issue. We came mid year from out of state. On the first day of school we were not allowed to walk our children to the classroom or to speak with the teachers. We tried to set up meetings through emails that went unanswered. Went to the front office to set up a time to meet and was instructed to call the class room from the office but, the teachers were not in the classroom(many substitutes at this school for meetings during the school day). Finally when I did get to meet with one teacher(have to this day never met my other child's teacher) by going to the classroom after school was unaware after 3 weeks that my child had IEP! We get no class work, tests even art work sent home EVER. We have no clue how our child is doing until we get the report card home and if your child is not struggling you do not get a parent teacher conference. Everything seems to be taught to the test. One child has never stepped foot in the school library. I would steer clear of this school.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2011

An excellent school with great teachers and principal that work well as a team. I especially like the focus on character and good citizenship.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2010

I love the dual immersion program that my girls are in at Las Animas Elementary school.
Submitted by parent on April 07, 2010

My daugher, first grade student in the bilingual program, has fantastic teachers (both in Spanish and English). Parents are extremely involved supporting all kind of activities for the kids and rising funds for different programs. This program is a hidden treasure!
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2010

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Submitted by parent on August 28, 2009

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Submitted by parent on August 14, 2008

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