Alderwood Elementary School

2005 Knollcrest

School District

Irvine Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Irvine 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 January 19, 2025

I have two daughters study at Alderwood and they both loved it.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2023

We have a smart, but special needs, child. Despite the fact that is has caused problems, Alderwood has defended him, supported him, and provided the very best education I believe possible. Principle Cheshire is a true hero. Communicates openly, honestly, and effectively. School counselors have provided greatly appreciated support. Among the excellent teachers, Ms Smemoe was particularly welcoming to students and parents. I wish every child in America received the attention our child has at Alderwood.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2023

Alderwood is good school but not all teachers are good specially Helen ford , very rude and unprofessional to parents and young children.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2022

Used to be much better. I think all the positive reviews are PTA members or those who are on the principals good side. Mrs Cheshire is not a good principal. She will only assist you if you are in her inner circle. The schoolAlso does not take bullying seriously we had friends leave because Mrs Cheshire did not help their child who was being bullying.
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2022

I’ve been a parent at this school for the last 3 years and I am very happy that my children attend this school. The campus is always well kept and the faculty is caring and efficient. There are several outstanding teachers and the principal runs a tight ship. This school helps my children remain happy and eager to learn!
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2022

Alderwood is the best elementary school to consider for your children. We have two children that have attended, one is still there and one went to middle school. The teachers that both of our children have had are amongst the best we have found. It would be unjust to consider reviews written by individuals that typically find faults with everyone else, never stopping to think that perhaps their own child may need special attention. Mrs. Cheshire is also a really great principal. She has always fairly addressed issues and has been a positive influence on the school and even more so during this health crisis. If you are considering a school, this one should full at the top of your list.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2022

We absolutely love this neighborhood school. I’ve had three kids attend alderwood and they have all found a strong circle of friends and supportive parent network. We have loved the staff and teachers as well. We are so fortunate to live in a neighborhood where there is such strong parent involvement at the school, which in turn leads students to have a lot of school pride. I would highly recommend this school to others.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2022

I feel so fortunate that Alderwood is our neighborhood school. We've had our children there for almost a decade now, and every teacher has been excellent. They are passionate, love what they do, and make an effort to get to know each student as an individual, even when the class sizes nudge toward 30. When discipline problems have arisen -- which they do, of course, at any school -- the principal and TOSA have taken swift and appropriate action. Alderwood is lucky to have a lot of really involved parents who help raise money and volunteer time to offer extra programs, like a schoolwide musical each year, an amazing International Night, and an after school running club. I wish every student everywhere could have the opportunity to learn and grow at a school as special as Alderwood.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2022

Our experience at Alderwood has always been very positive. The teaching staff is a strong team and helps develop each child based on his or her needs. They also make themselves available to discuss any issues with parents and take so much of their own time to keep parents up to date and involved. The administration is helpful and responsive and happy to assist families. My kids have excelled academically and been challenged in on innovative ways. The Alderwood community is supportive and there are many fun events for the kids to participate in and parents to volunteer for.
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2022

My kids go to Alderwood. No organization would function properly without strong leadership. Mrs. Kelly Cheshire is an amazing principal with the best team. I love all our teachers and have been very pleased with how our school brings the community together. I have gone through some reviews and felt they did not dare. There is a quote from Rumi that says: Yesterday I was clever and I wanted to change the world, today I am wise and I want to change myself. I am so sorry if anyone has gone through a difficult time at school but sometimes instead of taking just a principal, the entire village solves the problem. My kid was bullied verbally and physically once and Mrs. Cheshire, our TOSA, and the teacher handled it Beautiful. My kids still go to Alderwood and academically they 're so advanced but still decided to stay in their school instead of going to the Gate Program, I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2022

Last night we had a family gathering and a discussion about public school. We all expressed how grateful we are to be a part of the Irvine Unified School District. Our experience with Alderwood Elementary has been wonderful on every level. The teachers and support staff have been great. They are loving and caring and always making sure that the the student needs are met. The school is always clean and well taken care of. The administration does a first class job under the direction of Principal Kelly Cheshire. She is devoted to the students and staff of Alderwood.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2022

Outstanding administration, teachers, and staff! This school is a 10/10!
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2022

School used to be much better. I had an older child go through it before my young daughter but Now it has gone downhill. The teachers are very good but I wish we had a different principal. Kelly Cheshire is not friendly. She is not nice to family and I wish she was. My daughter hates that I can’t bring her to class every day, second grade is young to just drop off and leave we used to be able to bring to the class. Also she is very sad that we are not having a new playground. The principal told everyone we would have a brand new playground because we did fundraising but now it isn’t here and they say it isn’t coming and she is very sad and I am upset to because I paid money because I wanted a playground for my daughter.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2022

If you want a private school experience for your child but a public school then send them to Alderwood. There is so much attention to detail and care in the teaching and lessons. Beyond the typical core curriculum, students are taught about mindfulness, respect, responsibility, understanding differences, and problem solving. They really focus on the whole student and not just spitting out lessons and issuing homework. The school has a policy the first Tuesday of every month not to give any homework so kids can spend time with their families. In fact, very little homework is given until the upper grades. This is unheard of for an Irvine school, where the emphasis on homework and tests is pushed upon students at such a young age. Studies have shown that this type of pressure only leads to problems down the line for students. I love that Alderwood allows kids to be kids, and then when more developmentally appropriate, that's when they push the schoolwork a bit harder.The teachers and staff are incredibly approachable. Of course you may find a rotten apple here or there. But the minute an issue is raised to the administration, it is promptly handled and resolved. It is unfortunate that some parents have had negative experiences as described in some of these reviews. However, as a parent who has seen the school at great length, volunteering in class, seeing each classroom and grade level and the various programs the school offers (music, tech, science labs), and worked closely with the administration, particularly the principal and TOSA, I can wholeheartedly say that any concern is immediately addressed and resolved. For example, if you email the principal or TOSA, you get an immediate response. I have never had that type of prompt reply or care at a public school, particularly one with over 800 students. If you want your child to get a truly well-rounded education, not just focusing solely on academics but also about being a good person, then this is the school for you. If you want an intense and stressful, highly and solely academic school with little thought put into the classwork, then go elsewhere. My child is thriving at Alderwood and is sad when it's the weekend because she enjoys her school, teachers, and classmates so much. If that's not a 10 school then I don't know what is.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2022

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Alderwood Elementary. My children have very different personalities and learning styles, yet both fit so comfortably at the school. The teachers really do focus on the individual needs of the children and ask each child to thrive in their own individual way and assist the student in the way the student needs help. Much of this school culture can be linked to the wonderful Mrs. Cheshire (the school principal) who fosters a loving environment for the students and teachers. While the last few years with Covid restrictions have been difficult for all, the entire staff at the school has gone above and beyond to help the students cope and adjust to the events of the world. The responsiveness at Alderwood Elementary from the Principal, to the front office staff, to the teachers about concerns for your child is wonderful and not even replicated in other IUSD schools. The all come together as a team to come up with effective solutions at addressing the concerns in a constructive manner that will best suite your child. While no place is perfect this place comes really close. So happy my kids are here. For those posts about poor administration. I HIGHLY encourage you to have a frank conversation with them. They have always been open to conversations and hearing all sides.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2022

Overall outstanding school! Teachers, staff, and administration are all completely invested in the success of all students. The parent community is supportive and inclusive. Alderwood is an example of the world class education in IUSD!
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2022

Both of my children attended AW Elementary. The school is everything that you would hope for your kids. The teachers are all caring, attentive and classrooms aren’t so large that the kids both got the attention they needed. The administration is attentive and cares about the kids. The PTA is very active and works cooperatively with the school. The Irvine Public School Foundation (IPSF) buttresses the schools with additional support. Schools like Alderwood are why Irvine is a great place to live.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2022

The principal at this school doesn’t know how to connect with students and parents. We’ve had several unpleasant encounters with Kelli Cheshire, she is super detached and doesn’t care about the students.Do not send your kid to school here!!!
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2022

My kids have been attending this school for several years, I had a very bad experience with the principal (Cheshire) who has ZERO experience of leadership, she doesn’t know how to solve problems and always being in the teacher side even if you have a conflict with a rude, uncollaborative teacher who doesn’t really care about your child’s progress, she doesn’t even bother herself to figure out the reason behind the problem. My kid had a learning disability and non of his teachers nor the principal were able to understand his needs (they were so ignorant), he needed an urgent intervention to help him understand the curriculum and collaborate with his peers and it was so obvious, but they hid all his test results from us until it was too late, they left him behind and made him suffer emotionally, academically and made me suffer with him. Even after requesting to enroll my kid in the IEP program( which he should have received since his first school year) it took them almost a whole school year to accept our request and make him qualify for it. My child is still suffering to catch up because the IEP program they offer would never be beneficial and would keep your child in the same level forever. This school is failing big time to serve kids with differences. I gave this school one star just because some of the teachers are really nice, hardworking, and really care about each child’s achievement, however, I would never recommend this school to anyone as long as Cheshire is the principal because she controls everything. I found out during the pandemic that some kids had free access to online learning resources and when I asked my kids teachers for it they said that the principal had limited number of certificates for kids who needed extra support, which was not true as the principal was actually giving away those certificates to her favorite families.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2022

The administration and staff have done an incredible job during the pandemic. Our children have attended for several years and although public schools are challenged by many obstacles, Alderwood Elementary is truly amazing. This school has a wide spectrum of ethnicities and although each year there are a few students who do not progress as well as the majority does, the opportunity is there and the teachers support the progress. Recognizing GATE eligible children is a strong point and there is quite a bit of flexibility to advance if students and parents invest the proper amount of time and effort. Our children are happy, confident and enjoy attending Alderwood.