Harbour View Elementary School

4343 Pickwick Circle

School District

Ocean View
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
Type

public

School Map for Ocean View 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 February 25, 2025

This school has so much potential but it’s not their fault—it’s the leadership at the district that’s not much doing much. Every time parents bring an issue up, the superintendent and her faculty will politely say: let’s write that down and we will revisit in the spring time. This is crazy bc it takes a whole year for something to change. After a while, parents forget to follow up. This is why, if you look at OVSD state test score, it’s terrible. If you want to have your kids go to this school, be prepared to hire a tutor. These kids are light years behind kids at Fountain Valley academically. Numbers don’t lie. Also, make observation how slowwww the staff is at responding to anything urgent. The worse part is they are not transparent with data—as of they’re hiding something. They know parents are busy and tired. Most parents don’t know how to ask questions or monitor how the students are doing. All the parents who pulled their kids out made the right move. I am still supplementing anything my kids are not learning at school with tutors. Good luck!!!
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2024

Mrs. Carabini and Ms. Roys are teachers from God. I’m So appreciated my daughter got them both in Kindergarten and in 2nd grade. They both are amazing! So much passion what they do and real care to their students!
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2023

My son just finished his first year at Harbor View Elementary as a Kindergartener. I was admittedly extremely nervous transitioning him from his previous school since the teacher to student ratio was more favorable in that private school institution. I was surprised to see how much care was given to my son given that the classes were larger than I was used to. His teacher, Mrs. Carabini, was such an amazing teacher and really cared about her students. I look forward to seeing my child grow and develop at HV elementary.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2023

This school is average at best so if that's what you want for your children this is the place. It is getting better after having the worst principal ever for a few years but she left a massive scar on the school, families, and community. The other big complaint is how clicky the parents and PTA are. If you aren't part of the "in" crowd, you are not allowed to participate and be involved. Hopefully, this changes very soon since some of those controlling families are finally moving on. The teachers are the best part of the school but even some of them need to go. The school is not all that.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2021

We had high hopes for this school and the Dual Immersion Program, but we were very disappointed. Teachers and Principal have created a unwelcoming environment, worsened by COVID. Teacher was un willing to work with me on a game plan to get my child caught up. Save yourself and child the trouble and choose a different school.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2021

There are always some nerves when your child starts kindergarten. Add in COVID and a pandemic we honestly did not know what to expect. We opted for the virtual program and have loved it. The online virtual classroom is fun and very easy to use. We absolutely love our Kindergarten teacher Mrs Donnelly and guest teachers including Mrs Carabini. They go out of there way to create an amazing program where your child can flourish. I can only imagine how great it is in person for the children. The challenge of teaching is many. Our teacher has taken the time to work with each student individually on lessons they may struggle and to challenge them. She has additional online hours as well. The virtual program has offered huge technological benefit. Where your child will learn more then you do (or at times it may feel that way!) The online program has also offered Art Explorer drawing, one dance class, ST Math, iReady Reading and Math and interactive worksheets. The amount of time it took to create everything is noticed and appreciated. New are most grateful for having such a wonderful teacher during such an uncertain time.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2021

Great experience even during the trying Covid times. I have 2 sons who have passed through Harbor View under different times. All teachers, Principals, and staff have been great and care deeply for the students and their education.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2021

Harbour View has done a fantastic job keeping the normalcy of this school year. Spirit days, Pelican pride assemblies and the regular communications from our hard working principal. I appreciate the transparency and the teachers are all working above and beyond to reach the students. I applaud HV staff, teachers and Dr. Harris for a job well done this year!
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2021

Harbour View is the best choice for your child in the Ocean View School District! That is why I continue to have my child attend when there are many other options to choose from.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2021

Harbour View is a great place. Ocean View School District was in front of the other surrounding school districts to keep our kids in the classroom since the COVID pandemic started. Even though our kiddos are online half the time, they are learning because of the hard working teachers at Harbour View. My child gets the highest quality of teaching, and the school provides as many fun opportunities as possible, considering the limitations (ie: social distancing, masks, etc.). The principal is engaging and involved with the students, staff and community. She communicates regularly and clearly, with mass calls/emails/texts, a weekly principal newsletter and Facebook/Insta posts. It's so great that we now have the dual language immersion program - my friends in the program say that it's awesome. It's great for the community. My child is also in Rainbow, the onsite daycare, and they are doing such a great job, especially since they also have the same limitations. They are kind, professional and dedicated to my child's daily experience. Take the few negative reviews with a grain of salt - they don't represent. People here are happy.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2021

I love Harbour View Elementary! My children have attended this school for several years. They have learned so much academically but are also learning great things about social responsibility and mutual respect through the school’s character trait development program. This is a program that came with the new principal. My children have really taken these character traits to heart and are benefiting both on and off the campus because of them. I’m also thrilled to see innovative programs being started at Harbour View, like the dual immersion bilingual program. This is so forward leaning and adds the right kind of challenge and skills to our children’s curriculum. This could not happen without forward thinking teachers and a principal who leads with the right care and priorities that are grounded in our student’s growth and development. I could not be happier and nor could my children. They adore their teachers and especially their principal. What a spectacular learning environment.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2021

I’ve been a parent with several children attending Harbour View Elementary for 3 years and I’ve been delighted with the PTA, the staff and our new principal. There have been tough challenges but the teamwork used to resolve these issues with a positive outcome for every student has been remarkable. One particular challenge involved a few student who bullied other students. The principal, PTA and teachers took a very mature and principled approach to this problem. The bad behavior ceased which produced a better learning environment for all our children. Even the children doing the bullying came out better after this corrective action was taken. Although the parents of these children failed to recognize the positive outcome, the rest of us saw the team oriented effort as strong leadership for the sake of learning. No child deserves a leaning environment tainted with bullying. There are so many other examples of tough challenges handled with great respect and care for the learning and well being our our children. Our principal, the PTA and our wonderful teachers have their priorities right!
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2020

Harbour View and the leadership is GREAT! I know this school well. I am a volunteer, I participate in most of the school events, I'm on the PTA and I know the staff and families. There are so so many reasons to sing praises of this school (and the rare negative comment is just that - it's rare!). The principal is thorough and focused - not all over the place. She has brought new curriculum and interventions for low performing students, new fun initiatives such as the first responders fair and Read Across America. And, she has implemented a successful new social emotional character education program. My child speaks the language of respect/responsibility/fairness/you-name-it because of this program. And, because of her leadership, the district's new Spanish Dual Language Immersion program is hugely successful. She doesn't have favorites (which is a shift for a few people who are angry with her leadership) and she is reasonable if you have an issue. Dr. Harris is thoughtful (she didn't spend school money on the marqi - it was district money) and she gets input from different groups on tough decisions (for example, PTA fundraising fell short this year, so WE had to decide what unnecessary assemblies/field trips to cut). Dr. Harris over-communicated during COVID, with clear messages, so many Facebook and Insta posts (on the school pages that she created), video updates, new digital student awards, and direction that was positive. The Harbour teachers and staff are so great. They are happy with each other (and with the leadership), and its contagious - the students see it, so they are happy, too. The adults don't bully each other or parents. She doesn't deserve negative feedback. Instead, we need to support her as she does good things for our kids.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2020

My personal experience for many years was amazing. Then, new leadership came into the picture and now the school is going to hell in a handbasket. Complaints to the District are also ineffective. It's a shame that a school that was once such a vibrant place for students to learn and have fun has become a pit of despair. Maybe if enough parents step up and voice their complaints and frustration the District Office and Superintendent will be forced to make some positive changes. Until that happens though....DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE!!! There are too many amazing schools close by that you can send your children to.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2020

Prior to the 2018-2019 school year I would have rated this school as the best of the best! But unfortunately since the new principal I can’t even say this school is worth going to. We still have great teachers but the principal is sinking ship. Spending money on things the school does not need (ex: new Marquis) and getting rid of the things we do (ex: computer lab and field trips).
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2019

I would rate my experience at this school an A+. The new principal is doing an outstanding job and is a breath of much needed fresh air.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2019

This school is FANTASTIC!! It’s the best it’s ever been and the new principal is exceptional. She listens to her students and the parents. She’s brought so many NEW and GREAT ideas to this school. The comments that were mentioned above are from parents who realize they can’t alway get what they want and do like change. Money doesn’t talk at this school anymore and doesn’t make you better then others. This principal treats every family with dignity and respect, she doesn’t favor anyone more then another. The only “Bullying” going on at this school is from parents who are very narrow minded and want to cause drama. Hopefully they will leave soon and our school will continue being the GREAT school it has been and will always be!!
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2019

HV is by far the best school in the Oceanview district.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2019

I strongly recommend Harbour View. The staff and community are in key components to the success of the students.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2019

Awesome. I would recommend this great school to everyone. Keep holding the line on excellence Harbour View. Our children appreciate it and deserve it.