City Terrace Elementary School

4350 City Terrace Drive

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Los Angeles 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 June 13, 2024

My children are in primary grades. The teachers are so caring and sweet. We could not ask for nicer people to lead the classroom. However, I am very disappointed by the lack of rigor in the curriculum. It feels that my children are given a lot of busy work and nothing of substance. I unfortunately have to fill in the huge gaps at home. School leadership needs to do a better job supervising classroom instruction because for the last 3 years my poor child has had one mediocre academic year after another. There's no accountability. I have thought about putting my children elsewhere but they have forged some strong bonds with friends and I am allowing them to stay for their social emotional well-being.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2015

My children attend City Terrace Elementary School and I do my best to be an involved parent. I have attended several parent workshops at the school such as Book Club, Nutrition, Computer Safety and Earthquake preparedness class. The principal has participated in the workshops and has made me feel welcome and informed. I have also come to Family Fridays where I have gone into my child's classroom and have read with them. My kids loved it. My children love the teachers and are very happy to be at City Terrace School. I feel my children are safe and receive an excellent education.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2015

Cons: Too much teacher rotation. The inconsistency makes it hard on the kids. Some of the punitive mindset is trickling down into the classroom where the focus gets diverted from actual teaching and instead creates an atmosphere of distrust - good kid vs bad kid. The principal is always at odds with Parent Involvement - especially when it comes to the PTA - unless there is a dignitary present, then she pretends to love them - control issues. Pros: Many! Most teachers recognize their job is to encourage and teach. They are great! Yes, the mandarin program is #1. Kids excel and thrive. Diversity.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2014

Member of the community and Parent!! It is funny how as I am reading the other posts from others, I'm putting 2 & 2 together. I mentioned to the Principle (E. F.) that some parents had mentioned to me that those who were in the dual language program were treated a little better than those who were not. Of course she disagreed with that, I mean I did not expect her to say of course. As I can see, most of the positive posting, come from those who are in the dual language program......funny. I can understand with one of the parent who posted about grades. I agree. In the beginning, my son did get higher grades than he should have, the teacher , who they got rid of, insisted on giving him a higher grade, the principle objected! In the end they got rid of the teacher and replaced with a sub, who ended up giving my son the lower grade, just like the principle wanted! I do not dislike the principle, but I DO NOT trust her! I will be watching closely.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2014

As a member of the community and an educator in LAUSD, I am proud to say that my daughter attends this hidden treasure of a school! The parental involvement is wonderful! The principal is always fighting for resources to make the school better and the teachers are always pushing the students toward excellence! I love the diversity that the Mandarin Program has brought to the school and the PTA has added the fun element! I am overall pleased with the education my daughter has received from CTE!
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2013

Office staff - Martha & Myra are complete angels. They are always smiling, eager to help, patient & understanding. We were a high needs family in the beginning & we benefited from their work ethic & kindness. Principal Fujiu - I was first impressed with her when she outline the healthy food guidelines - no junk food at school :). I have found her to be totally accessible - I have never had to set an appt or jump through hoops to get in front of her - she is totally available to the parents. She stands outside the gate at the beginning & end of the school day and greets each student by first name. Wow, just wow. I can not say enough amazing things about my son's teacher Mrs. Hsaio - we came into the Mandarin program about 6 weeks late, she really worked with my son to feel at home & get adjusted quickly. She keeps parents informed w regular classroom e-newsletters, she is readily available after school to chat & responds to emails quickly w great insight. Mrs. Hsaio is that perfect blend of nurture & structure. I have observed her in the classroom, she is engaging, funny & strict - her room functions like a well oiled machine. City Terrace is a hidden gem - we love it!
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2013

This school has wonderful teachers and a great community of parents! My daughter is in the Mandarin program, which is exceptional. I am an educator myself with high standards. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to send my kids to this school!
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

Principal is good and fair. The teachers so far are good, although they could use a little more focus on communicating with parents and on assessing the skills of the children. The Mandarin program is very fine. Overall I see this school as a good school, not excellent, with potential for excellence.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2012

This is a tough school community! Our children are part of the dual language program. The program is great but I like it because it has brought diversity into the school. I wish my oldest children would have had the program when they were there. I was a little skeptical when the previous principal brought the program in but he did not stay. I think he was a great cheerleader but could not have sustained the program. The new principal is always fighting to get new teachers (for the whole school) and she brought in a nicer office staff. The school is also doing better on their test scores.
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2012

The School has everything you would want - dedicated teachers, great curriculum, and awesome cultural events thanks to the PTA. The Mandarin program is one of the best. People come from all over the city to enroll their kids in it. Kids range from Brilliant, to challenged and special needs which is why it will never rate a 10. But kids go to school to learn, not to be sifted through arbitrary testing. The only thing that concerns me is the principal. I get the feeling she doesn t care much for parental involvement. I could be misreading it. Also, I was told that at last year s graduation several kids were prohibited from making their prepared commencement speeches due to an incident that did not involve them. That sort of blanket punitive action would be wrong and puts a damper on what would otherwise be a joyous occasion. I certainly hope it s not true. Otherwise, I rate the school highly in accomplishments and effort.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2012

My daughter has attended this school since Pre-K and she is currently in second grade. The first two years is school she was doing great but after the new administrator took over the school and my daughter's grades have decreased. I agree with one of the previous review. When i started noticing the change in my daughter's grades I spoke with her teacher and her teachers would tell me the same thing, that my daughter deserved a better grade but that the principal would no t allow them to give her the grades. I have always been very involved with the teachers to always improve my daughters education. But my disappointment was greater when the principal opted to discuss my daughters need to tutoring with my sister-in-law, so that she would allow my niece to tutor my daughter. Before she even spoke to me and asked for my opinion. I mean who does that right? The principal has very poor ethics and puts more focus on the Dual Manderin- English program than anything else.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2011

My cousins attended this school from the 2nd to the 5th grade. My aunt said they learned a lot and are doing well in middle school. She said the teachers there were excellent. But, one of my cousin needed extra help, with his English. When my aunt asked for help they were very slow in helping my cousin. My cousin needs help with English. My aunt went to the principal for help, the principal assured my aunt the help. After a couple of months, nothing happen. So she asked again. The principal told her that she would help. Nothing happened. It was not until the last weeks of school did my cousin finally get the help. My poor aunt. Good teachers at City Terrace because my cousins are doing well in middle school. The principal there is very slow to give help when parents ask for help for their children.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2011

This school leaves a lot to be disired for children with special needs. My child went to this school for all 5 grade levels and did poorly failing all his classes. Only two teachers were strict but with a genuine concern for my son's education and with the help of one of their recomendations he is now in the best middle school. He is weekly graded with a B average now. My son was bullied in school and they did nothing about it. Instead sided with his agressors for being more out spoken. When my son started defending himself against his bullys he was considered the problem child because of his special needs. I requested an IP for My son and did not receive one till his last year in school.
Submitted by other on September 03, 2011

When here for 4 years.Honestly i had some of the best teachers ever.There all involved and incredibly professional...I was here during when Mr.Ortiz was the principal and i have to say i did go to the principals office a couple of times....I was class of 2008 and i had Ms.Munos and Mrs.Yu for 5th grade and they were both really great teachers....This school is amazing and when i went there it had some of the best CST scores in the area.I hope it still does.....
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2011

This is a great school. The teachers are very involved in educating the students. When my daughter needed help with her school work, the teacher was great giving her extra help. The principal wasn't very truthful when me and my husband asked her about getting extra help for my daughter. The principal kept sending me to other people, and they didn't help too. The teachers are great. The principal is not great for giving my family a hard time for helping for my daughter.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2010

I Love this school so much....we started on our left foot here. Beside being my Alma Mater, I think is one of the best school in the East LA area. The teachers/aides are excellent not so sure about the principal. Mrs Lopez and Mrs Castillo helped my child develop his motor skills. So fast that he no longer needed the speech and development class he would attend. I live in a good district AUSD as well but gave it a try in LAUSD. Since LAUSD has a pre k program and AUSD has headstart. I thought it would be a lot better and SO IT WAS!!! My Son and I can't wait for next school year he will be entering the Mandarin class...thanks to our great effort in making him be a better person. I think with no parent involvement there is no future. And SO IT IS!!!
Submitted by parent on July 29, 2008

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