Macy Elementary School

2301 Russell Street

School District

Lowell Joint
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for Lowell Joint 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 teacher on December 14, 2024

This is one of the worst schools in the area. Bullying is tolerate by staff because staff also engages in Bullying . Teacher are old and stale. The school principal is unqualified to be principal. Her leadership skills lack professionalism. Ithe Superintendent is religious freak. Stay away from this school.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2024

If you have a student with special needs DO NOT send your child here. The aids are not there to support the children, but just there for a pay check. They are lazy and don’t help the kids with their needs. If they hate their job so much they should quit and admin should do better at keeping them accountable. Horribly disappointed in this school.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2022

I agree with the previous parent. Macy is not average; it's exceptional. The staff is friendly, the teachers are fantastic, the curriculum is balanced, and the culture is second to none. LJSD also places a premium on citizenship and American values which is totally lost in education today. Macy also just completed a multi-million dollar facelift. The school is not a five. I would say it's at a solid 8-9. The only thing that's lacking is more technology in some of the classrooms, and more before and after-school offerings.
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2022

This school needs a new review. My boys just finished TK and 2nd grade. Both had amazing teachers. Staff is extremely nice in the office. And back to school night was awesome! My kids transferred to this school from Arovista in Brea mid semester and the curriculum here at Macy is much tougher with a huge focus on reading and writing. So far, it’s a 10/10 school for us.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2020

Some office staff are very helpful. Teachers act as though you are their class slave when volunteering, they have no shame in asking you to do everything under the sun. They are not at all helpful with helping kids with disabilities, they will try to avoid it as long as possible. School counselor is very callous towards the kids who need help, not something a struggling kid needs. This school was wonderful years ago but everything, literally, has gone down hill. The buildings are slowly deteriorating as well.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2019

The new leadership has made a significant difference for the better.
Submitted by other on October 25, 2019

My kids- love the school. Why? Their friends. Constant administrative changes at the school are very concerning. Staff does not take or care for feedback. Teachers gossip about children/ parents within earshot of other parents. Art, music, science programs are great. Hoping for stability in our last 2 years at this school. Very frustrating experience so far.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2019

The principal has changed twice since the comments about Ms. Ryan. It's too early to state anything about the new principal, but she seems positive and has a huge job ahead of her.Bullying at the school is taken seriously, but somehow still a problem. I know of two good students who left due to bullying, and my own kids have been affected as well.Academcs and new programs encouraging music, art, advanced reading, math, and STEM are fantastic. No complaints there. PTA works hard and does a great job. Overall, it's a good school with some difficulties that they are attempting to address. Hopefully in time and with the right people, it'll continue to improve.
Submitted by other on February 17, 2018

It was a nightmare with teachers who didn't care and students that bullied me constantly. Luckily, I was the highest kid in my class so it was basically independent study the whole time.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2017

We have three children who are attending Macy. We both work full time, but feel we are still included in our children's education. We have had caring, dedicated teachers who have gone out of their way to do what is best for our children. I am in awe of MJ, the office manager, for her professionalism and ability to think on her feet no matter what gets thrown her way. No school is perfect all the time. Teachers are human and we will not agree with them all the time. However, it starts at home and it is our responsibility to support the school and the staff so that they may do their jobs. We feel blessed to be part of the Macy family.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2015

I writing this review to give future potential Macy parents some insight I wish I had prior to enrolling their children. I have been a Macy parent for many years and have seen the steady decline in the atmosphere, attitude, and learning environment as a whole. I believe it begins at the top with the principal, Ms. Ryan. She is rude to the students, speaks down to the parents, and not genuinely there for the children's best interest. The office staff is rude and abrasive. It feels almost militant the way things are run. If an assignment is missed, they can't sit still in class, or forget to have a paper from home signed, they are forced upon the fence for lunch/recess. Everything is negative with consequences yet no positive reinforcement or thankfulness from teachers. Parents do so much at the school yet it is unappreciated and expected most of the time. It is supposed to be considered one of the best schools in the district but sadly it isn't. With all the amazing parents there, if the Administration was different it could be amazing. Please look into other schools and visit this school prior to enrolling, do your homework and know what is best for your child!
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2014

Looking through the limited reviews of this school, I feel they don't represent the experience my children have had at Macy. So for parents looking here for information on whether or not to place their kids here, I offer my point of view. Macy is an exceptional school. The teachers teach the curriculum they are required by law to teach, work very hard, and care about their students. The PTA provides many perks that other schools cannot, like 2 field trips/year; Reflections pizza party AND museum field trip; Fall Carnival; Movie Night; Senior Friends Day; Holiday Show; Talent Show; monthly awards ceremony; band; art; new computer lab; a library WITH an actual, certified librarian; book fairs, etc. Open, grassy campus w/ newer playground structures, and trees for shade. I hope this helps!
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2014

The restriction of recess is only allowed to improve behavior, not because a student is forgetful. Certain teachers are violating section AR5144(b) of the school board policy which states: Recess Restriction A teacher may restrict a student's recess time when he/she believes that this action is the most effective way to bring about improved behavior, subject to the following conditions: 1. The student shall be given adequate time to use the restroom and get a drink or eat lunch, as appropriate. 2. The student shall remain under a certificated employee or designee's supervision during the period of restriction. 3. Teachers shall inform the principal of any recess restrictions they impose.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2014

This school seems to be getting more kids enrolled and not enough teachers. This year they formed a combo class of 2nd/3rd grade. Teacher for that class seems great, but many parents are stll skeptical as to if the kids will benefit from a combo class or not.
Submitted by other on July 28, 2014

The teachers at this school work hard to provide a high quality education to their students. They are constantly striving to go beyond. Not all of the parents seem to recognize this, and expect the red carpet treatment for their child with no accountability. Checking homework and signing an agenda are the least they can do to play an active roll in their child's education. Any sort of discipline is frowned upon by parents, yet they fail to respectfully discuss any issues with teachers IN PERSON instead of by E-mail, and minimally follow through at home with their piece of the puzzle. Teachers are there to instruct, guide, and support their students. So what is the parents job in all this?
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2014

The way this school is being ran is just sad. Like many parents have wrote on here the quality of teachers is very low and the principal nor the superintendent do anything to fix the issues. The teachers here bully students and are allowed to. There is no one regulating them. Like other parents have said, the only main concern is the state test scores, which they constantly bring up, "this will be on the test!" That is basically what they are learning for, the state test at the end of the year. The year is just a big prep for this test which is what they all talk about there. So yes if you would like to send your child to a school with high state test scores then this may be the place for you. But if you would like to send your child to a school with great teachers, helpful principal and a fun and exciting way of learning then don't send them to Macy. And if you are to send your child here, I would definitely get parent feedback on which teachers to steer clear of. There's a few with horrible reps so it won't be hard to know who to not get!
Submitted by teacher on December 06, 2013

After reading some comments, I had to respond because there is a misunderstanding as to how much freedom a teacher has. Most of the negative comments are about things that are out of our hands. The school board decides how much homework we must assign, whether or not to fund after school activities, how many field trips we can take (and our PTA funds these trips), and how we teach. No teacher likes giving homework. No teacher is happy with how we must deliver our instruction, and we would love to go on more field trips. We simply have to follow the directives of the school board. If we do not, then we are called to task by our principal. As for the teachers not caring, I personally take offense to this. Many of us easily put in 3 to 5 hours extra at school each day. Then we easily put in 2 to 3 hours at home each night and easily work one full day over the weekends. We will all work over the upcoming holiday vacation. We do care. We do love our jobs and our students. I have only seen dedication in every teacher at this school and I have been here for 17 years.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2012

Not impressed with teachers following through/keeping the commitments touted in the 1st parent night. For example, they said they would return calls or e-mail by next day. Most email replys are days late and even a week late (how does that help with an assignment question?), and rarely returned phone calls. Extra help just not there - teachers' actions seemed like they didn't care to deal with it. Principal also very slow in responses. Not sure how they manage to reflect their scores,... teach to the test maybe, how many kids taking different tests b/c of special ed, or kids must be genius, b/c the teaching is lacking in some of the grades. - Parent involvement is a plus but cliquish. It's an OK school. Teachers don't hear it, but lots of inapproprate language on campus, some bullying, and over provocative dressing by little girls. Is the school as good as implied, no. It's so-so.