Balboa Elementary School

1844 Bel Aire Drive

School District

Glendale Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:25
Type

public

School Map for Glendale 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 other on December 12, 2024

Balboa is a wonderful school! The Principal, Asst Principal, teachers and all the staff create such a warm and caring environment for their students! They also understand the importance of arts education and spend time and resources providing their students with quality programs!
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2024

Great school with amazing teachers and staff
Submitted by other on December 04, 2024

Balboa Elementary is a truly amazing school with a welcoming atmosphere that make students and families comfortable. The Principal is so kind and the staff goes above and beyond to support all of the students and help them become the best versions of themselves. Students' learning along with their emotional well being are hightly valued at Balboa Elementary, and I feel honored to be working in such a wonderful school envirenment.
Submitted by other on December 04, 2024

Love the way the school welcomes ALL students with open arms:)) Everyone, becomes part of Balboa family!
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2024

This school is a fantastic place for young learners! The dedicated teachers and staff truly care about each student’s success and work hard to create a supportive and nurturing environment. The school offers engaging programs and activities that inspire curiosity and foster a love for learning. There is open communication between families and educators. Balboa Elementary is a wonderful school for our kids.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

The school system in California is declining. And this school is not exception.
Submitted by other on December 03, 2024

I am a parent whose daughters attend balboa Elementary, also I’m lucky to have the opportunity and privilege to working there. I cannot express in words how amazing the school is overall starting from the attendance office to the principle, the counselors, all the wonderful teachers and teachers assistance and whoever else that works there, it is like family an community that gives their 110% with all the care and love each one of them give to not just my kids but all the kids that are attending Balboa. Every morning I get up. I feel blessed because my children are attending Balboa Elementary . I can’t think the principal and the rest that work there Educating and caring for our little ones daily.
Submitted by teacher on December 03, 2024

Balboa is a great school in many ways beyond excellence in academics. Students at Balboa are cared and protected starting with the awesome principal and it carries across all staff members. A school culture's is always a reflection of its leadership and that is the case at Balboa under the principal, Dr. Arakelyan.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

Dr Arakelyan is an incredible principal! Her leadership, kindness, and dedication create a positive and thriving school environment. The students, staff, and parents are lucky to have such a supportive and inspiring leader.Balboa Elementary is an amazing school! The staff truly cares about the students, and the learning environment is both supportive and inspiring. The teachers go above and beyond, and the school offers great programs to keep kids engaged. We couldn’t be happier!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

My older child attended Balboa from TK and graduated two years ago. My younger child is still Balboa student. During these 9 years, we never had any issues. We really love our school. All the staff and teachers are very respectful, knowledgeable and kind. The school environment is safe. We are really thankful of every single one who works hard in Balboa in order to help our kids to get educated.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

Great school, I feel safe for my son . Staff are nice . I love our Balboa elementary .
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2024

I’ve been a parent with children attending this school since 2015. Overall Balboa Elementary is a great school. Like any other school there are some awesome, some good and some teachers who are just ok. What I like about this school is that it is safe and engagement with the staff and principle is super easy. I feel encouraged to bring my positive feedback and negative concerns to all staff including the vice principle/principle.
Submitted by other on February 10, 2024

My kids have had an incredible experience here at Balboa. The administration team is phenomenal, very supportive and understanding. The school is secure, making it a safe environment where my kids felt safe going to school. The teaching is excellent. GUSD's most recent Teacher of the Year is a Balboa teacher. All of the teachers are caring, teach to the standards, and have high expectations. I recommend this school to everyone out there.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2023

I’ve been a parent at this school since 2016 with three children. I must say that I love this school and most importantly how warm and welcoming everyone is. The school celebrates diversity and makes every child regardless of nationality feel loved and nurtured. The principal and the office staff are always willing to help and listen and teachers are loving and caring! Academic rigor is high! School is always clean and it shows that the leadership cares about the school being clean, safe, and welcoming! As to other reviews who are simply negative and claim that the school makes only Armenian children feel welcomed, I must say that it’s simply not true. We’re not Armenian and our kids are loved and cared for every day! Thank you Balboa!
Submitted by other on July 31, 2023

School is safe and they have a great principal who is an effective leader, communicator, and problem solver who is able to bring together students, staff members, parents
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2023

The best school!!!! Amazing principal, who's always helpful to the students, parents, teachers and staff. Safety and emotional support is always there for all the students and staff. Grateful to have such an amazing principal, who leads an amazing group of teachers and staff for our kids.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2023

A+++Extremely caring staff, teachers, and the principal is a one of a kind, considerate, passionate, prudent lady. They are doing their best to raise good citizens and future leaders. Kids love Balboa, and so do the community members.Unfortunately there are a handful of parents who demand special treatments and unreasonable amount of attention, and when they do not get if, they turn very bitter.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2023

This is a great school with caring and nurturing staff. Principal has created a safe environment where students feel loved, parents feel comfortable to express their concerns and ask questions, and staff feeling excited to teach every day!
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2023

We had childen at Balboa for over 10 years. The insularity and bullying have gotten worse every year, to point that we removed our child mid year this year. The staff and students frequently speak in Armenian, which we do not speak. It excludes our child and our whole family. We have been yelled and cursed at other parents. Our children have been pushed, stabbed with a ruler in their face by a fellow student, and spit on. I even had a student spit on me. There is little discipline from what I see. This school is on the brink of chaos. The lack of courtesy and safety by parents when driving around the school is appalling. Cross walks frequently blocked by cars backed up. Parking in no parking and handicapped zones. Parents smoking outside the gates while waiting for their children after school. The Principal will do nothing.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2023

Unfortunately this school is not diverse and students and some staff favors the majority over the minority. Children get bullied and the minimum is done which causes repeat incidents. Some children are excluded from activities by other students due to not being a certain race as per students. The activities offered during and after class clearly leans to attract a specific group of students.