Rolando Elementary School

6925 Tower St.

La Mesa, CA 91941

School District

La Mesa-Spring Valley
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for La Mesa-Spring Valley 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 October 05, 2023

This is not a good school as a child saying this I went here for 4 years and 4th grade was the worst grade then they asked me about personal questions and put me in counseling just for a fight they didn't even start I didn't even punch the kid but my friends helped and I was the one to get in trouble and the kid also told me and friends to kys and the kid didn't even get in trouble and one time at lunch, when I was eating one of the staff members, chocked me and didn't even get arrested didn't even get fired all because i missed the chocolate milk just because I'm a child you should not think I'm just making up stuff this really happened to me so before you enroll your child here just check the reviews and I'm not saying you have to listen to me but it would be best to send them somewhere else and I moved to another state and it is better here I'm now in middle school
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2021

Worst school any of my children have attended!! Bullying, theft, staff apathy are all rampant.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2020

We have 2 boys here, have not had any issues, love the teachers and staff here!
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2019

Both of my children have attended Rolando since Kinder; now in 4th and 6th grade. Overall it's been a really great experience for us!
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2018

We have had a wonderful experience at Rolando! All 4 of our kids have attend or currently attend. The teachers truly love their students- the community is like family!
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2017

My girls love this school!! We have always had amazing teachers that go the extra mile to help the kids be the best they can be.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2016

5/2016, 3 stars. My son needed the IEP a while ago and now possibly has a special needs/diagnosis. Certain small ticks he's had in Kinder have grown to be major issues. While we continue to work with the special group at Rolando, all very responsive to his needs, it is still a "one size fits all" approach, even when we are at our most desperate for answers. To recommend that my son start participating in group sports when he is overly anxious and overwhelmed to those things usually flags to me that there is not a match. Once your child has a specific learning style and possible disconnect to certain disciplinary techniques that do not match how you are handling discipline at home, this particular type of school will never work out. I do not recommend this school for a very active boy who is emotional, possible spectrum issues and takes to heart any monitoring of his behavior on a daily basis. If your child is having behavioral issues on a weekly or daily basis for several years, you will need to find a school where they can explore different learning styles and thrive. I believe Rolando would work if they had more training and resources available to them. 4/30/2014, 5 stars. My son started kindergarten last year and it was a very tough transition and sort of continues to be. He has grown out of some issues and has some lingering issues. He loves to learn, loves to interact, is an only child, has tons of energy... we thought he might be heading toward an IEP direction. Rolando's faculty really came to the table and together we formed an action plan that we continue to follow and this been helping my son without an IEP. I think this school has been incredible, resourceful, open and available for a successful outcome. Going thru the proper channels, meeting really qualified, great folks along the way for the best cause: education! Wonderful PTA, Room Moms and special events too!
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2014

My son started Kinder at this school and is now in 2nd grade here. The teachers, staff and principal have all been extremely wonderful and caring. With regards to the poster about lunch being too short, my son never comes home hungry. I do pack his lunch and maybe once a week he'll bring home his dessert. He occasionally asks a to eat the lunch served there. We have attended lunch time with him and the time to eat is fine. The curriculum in the classroom is great. They have taught my son things in Kinder & 1st that I don't recall learning until much later. They really push the students to be the best at everything. I'm impressed! When we moved out of district we chose to transfer him back to Rolando. We hope to continue his elementary education with Rolando to the end.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2014

My daughter is moving on to middle school so this is our last year at Rolando. It has been an amazing 7 years filled with creative, encouraging, and kind teachers. The principal and office staff have been amazing in every way. Rolando was just awarded the California Distinguished School award and we couldn't be prouder. Thanks Rolando for a wonderful elementary school experience!!
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2014

I strongly recommend Rolando Elementary School. I am very happy with the principal's participation, the teachers and the parents involvement in the student's education. I am very proud to say that my daughter is a student at Rolando Elementary Schoo.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2013

why you erased my review ?Because it is negative review so what ?My twins kids had a very bad experience in Rolando ?As minority will never send again my kids there never and never if some parents are happy there that's their choice I thought? that we are in democratic country?Well where is my post why you moved out?
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2013

My husband and I are both elementary teachers in San Diego Unified, both our children attend Rolando. This is a wonderful school. The parent participation, the diverse student population, and the engaged school staff have created a positive environment that not only challenges our children to be dedicated learners, but encourages them to be thoughtful, contributing members of society as well. Go peacebuilders! I understand the time constraints in terms of scheduling and curriculum requirements which all schools must balance. Rolando's dedicated staff juggles it all beautifully. If ever we've had concerns, the staff has been open and willing to work with us. This school has such a great vibe, it's the kind of school I'd want to work at myself. Therefore, I'm thrilled to have my children work there! Schools don't get "CA Distinguished School Awards" for nothing--they earned it.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2013

I love this school, the teachers are great teachers. My daughter has had some difficulties in her learning (problem hasn't been detected) and the teachers have been very supportive, always helping her to have great self-esteem and motivating her. My kids go happy to school everyday. There is a lot of parent participation and have great staff in the office. I totally recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2013

I am a parent of 2 children from this school very happy whit all the staff good teachers very friendly and polite, the only thing is the food and time to eat 20 minutes are not enough to eat for the kids they been having pizza for breakfast and lunch 3 times a week .......
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2012

This is to respond to the previous' comment. The parent complained about 20 minutes lunch, complained about minimum Tuesday time, complain about not enough instruction time. These complains are contradictory against each other!! If there was too little lunch time, then the time must go to some other events i.e. instruction, maybe? With regard to not allowing younger kids to ride the bike to school, maybe because the school is concerned for the safety of the child? Each city has its own plus and minus. One can't compare apple with orange. If La Mesa is exactly the same as your previous location, I'd think it is illogical to move here since you'd lose money/effort/time and you gain nothing from moving to the same place then. I am not one for the 2 teachers in the same class, so I can't comment on that. With regard to the food, I agree with you, the cafeteria food is not my favorite so I pack my kid lunch daily, but maybe you can pack some extra snack/fruit for him? There is a saying that I apply and teach my kid every day "when you are given a lemon, make lemonade".
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2012

There isn't enough instruction time. Every tuesday is a minimum day. My son wants to ride his bike, but only 4th grade and up are allowed to. My kids don't have enough time to eat lunch, they get 20 minutes, and that is including waiting in a single file line to get through the register and lunch line. In the end, the lunches are absolute trash. Not enough to fill up a growing kid, and so not edible, absolutely disgusting. I wouldn't feed it to my dogs, seriously. His 3rd grade classroom has a contract with two teachers that teach the class. This is extremely confusing, both for him as a student, and me as a parent. The facility is old. Flies all over the place in the cafeteria due to leaving the doors open because of no air conditioning. We moved from the east coast and were spoiled with our rated 10 public school, that was equal to a great private school. I've searched out charter schools, but those are rated even worse!