Mt. Baldy Joint Elementary School

1 Mt. Baldy Rd.

School District

Mt. Baldy Joint Elementary
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Mt. Baldy Joint Elementary 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 11, 2025

Mt. Baldy School is a charming and safe outdoor learning environment, offering a private school feel with public school benefits. The principal is highly engaged with students on a daily basis, fostering a close-knit and supportive atmosphere.Beyond academics, the school focuses on the whole student, incorporating outdoor learning and integrating subjects like math and science in creative ways. With small class sizes, students feel seen, valued, and part of a true community. The school also provides special education resources, prioritizing each student's best interests.Mt. Baldy School offers unique opportunities not always found in larger public schools and strongly encourages parental involvement. Communication is excellent, with frequent updates and input from families.I highly recommend this school—plus, they offer a free bus service running up and down Euclid Ave in Upland, making transportation convenient for families.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2024

There is a new superintendent/principal that started two years ago. Since then, 4 teachers have left (out of 6?) They restructured the classrooms and overcrowded classrooms combining TK/K/1. Their new plan is to have a new class for TK students in an outdoor classroom which is fine during the warmer months, but where will they be when it snows? There are no more available spaces unless they plan to combine classes again. The small intimate class sizes have grown quite a bit to reflect that of larger public schools. Students in the mid to upper grades are seeing a decline in their grades and are falling behind. Their shift towards becoming a magnet school for outdoor education feels well-intentioned, but there are some severe lapses in judgment from the supervisors. There have been reports of students being left at bus stops without an adult present. The bus is often 20-30 minutes late to the stops, and when it breaks down on the mountain, only select parents are notified or notifications are incredibly late. Lunch menus get mixed up and students who were supposed to receive a meal are left hungry or to eat from the leftovers bin. There was also an incident of a 1st grader going missing from the campus. Numerous families have decided to leave throughout the year due to concerns about safety, communication, and the quality of education. No parent should ever feel like the school is not properly caring for their child; Especially when the staff is dismissive and defensive of any wrong doing.As another parent put it: "It's just another school now"
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2022

A gem of a school! The unique mountain location is incredibly rare for southern California, in addition to small class sizes, incredibly friendly teachers and staff! All teachers utilize the outdoor space (including the stream out back!) for core lesson plans, nature watching and monitoring, for brain breaks, art lessons and regular class instruction to get out and breathe in the fresh air. There are so many unique experiences here as well, like peer mediation (to resolve issues amongst peers in intimate meetings with staff oversight, talk about getting ready for the real world!), Kinder and 8th grade buddies (1st and 2nd graders are also paired with 5th and 6th grader buddies) in which they frequently work together for social awareness, respect each other lessons and plenty of fun times like annual pumpkin carving and art projects. Parent, grandparent and local community volunteers further enrich the program bringing regular lessons to all grades in areas of art, music, hands on science, writing and critical thinking, unique junior high elective experiences and other creative opportunities. Local field trips on hiking trails are a regular experience in addition to other trips down the mountain into the cities. Thursday mornings your child will experience "morning movement" with intentional focus on yourself, breathing, stretching, etc. The PTA is not your typical PTA either (no drama ever!), with lots of opportunities to participate in the group or support in the various fundraisers and events they host. The current administration and school board members are wonderful and approachable and often seen helping in the classroom and being a part of the fun in class or at events. And don't forget the awesome bus driver, PE teacher and proctors/aides, they all really care and know all of the students well! A highly recommended experience for your students, there is plenty of time for all the large school, big world experiences once they leave with a strong independent knowledge of themselves and their bonds and relationships with friends that last a lifetime. I really appreciate that there is no access to wifi or use of devices unless controlled in the classroom and that it is limited there too! It's where kids can really be kids, something today's kids need more of!
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2022

All of my four kids attend Mt. Baldy. Kids enjoy the nature. Experience things that kids at other school doesn’t. Teachers are compassionate and really care for kids. The principal and the front office staff does phenomenal jobs.
Submitted by other on December 04, 2021

Mt Baldy School is such a refreshing delight! The School Board, Principal and office staff are all at the top of the excellence scale. They know and care about all the students and have a wide breadth of knowledge. The teachers are good, caring and wonderfully patient. I am a retired educator. As a subject specialist I worked with hundreds of teachers and over a dozen Principals. In my professional career I have been hired to mentor teachers who have not been performing up to expectations. I have also worked with teachers at the very top of the profession (I have files of "awards" and a box of lapel pins). I can say without reservation that Mt. Baldy's staff is outstanding. They must also recognize this as there is not a lot of staff turnover.Walking into the school one notices that there really aren't any hallways , no bells. no regimented desks The school is a community. Students of different ages routinely mix the each other. The beautiful mountain setting is embraced as part of the school. There are Science and Art lessons at the stream, nature hikes and an outdoor classroom. Mt Baldy's academics are good but the most wonderful part to me is the " wholeness " of their approach. I have worked in a couple of California Distinguished Schools and in a couple of prestigious private schools, When schools are "teaching to the test" and focused on outdoing other schools in the rankings they can lose sight of the real goal of education. They can (though of course, not all do) create stress and an "end justifies the means mentality" where some students cheat and lie to try to achieve the rankings they think they need. A good education helps students develop their abilities, helps them discover and utilize strategies for learning that will benefit them throughout life, encourages critical thinking and gives them fundamental knowledge and skills for progressing through life. It's such a joy to be able to volunteer at this lovely little school where the students' welfare and that goal of a good education are at its heart.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2021

My. Baldy School is an absolute treasure in our lives! The staff is consistently wonderful, from the office staff to the teachers (even the ones we haven't had yet- they all get to know all of the students), to their gem of a principal/superintendent. Nancy Sirski's kind, fact based, mindful leadership is top notch, and it's clear that the students, the staff, *and* the parents are the reason she does what she does. The staff, the sense of community, the small class sizes, the outdoor classroom, the art and music education, the whole student approach are just some of the many, many reasons we chose this school for our child, and in fact have already put our baby on the list to attend when they reach kindergarten age!
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2021

I agree! Not sure what the other person is talking about because there has only been 1 teacher to leave and I've had nothing but great experience with the principal. Our kids have decided to create their own business and play structure by tearing up the playground, literally and creating dams, aqueducts, etc and she is all for it. What other do would do this?? She understands that they are learning on their own communication, team building, physics, chemistry, engineering, workplace heirearchy and so much more. They are always fact/evidence based on their decisions and do what is best for the kids. So far the teachers have all been great and the office staff, all 2 of them are so nice. It's clear that the other poster had some kind of issue with someone because none of what they said is true. Mt baldy is a tiny school and a great community.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2021

Not sure what the previous reviewer is talking about in terms of teachers leaving right and left. We've been at this school for 3 years and only one teacher has left and was quickly replaced with an excellent hire. My experience is with kindergarten through 2nd grade so far and this place is magic. First of all, they consistently put the students best interests first. This was abundantly clear during the pandemic when every single decision they made was consistently made with the students in mind. While other schools were re-opening switching kids between teachers and having random schedules, Mt Baldy chose to offer as much consistency as possible and work with what was going to work for parents and students. They take care of their staff as well choosing to start a week later than usually this fall so the teachers could have the longest break possible The younger grades do not get assigned homework (except reading to your kid every day). The teachers are super responsive to any concerns you have about your kid. The principal knows every single kid at the school and goes out of her way to make sure they know her. Small classes mean more individual attention. There is no tolerance for bullying. They help the kids learn to advocate for themselves but are also willing to step in if adult intervention is necessary. Kids get to play outside Kindergarten through 8th grade. Recess and burning of energy is seen as really important. They even changed the bus schedule this year because they wanted to make sure kids were getting to school in time in the morning to be able to run around on the playground before school. They utilize their unique surroundings- they have a wild space/forest that they use, they do hikes down to the stream to do science lessons. Volunteers from the community come in and teach art and music every single week for every single grade. Occasionally they do cooking projects. There is a garden and a pond. Exactly the kind of comprehensive well-rounded education that so often gets stripped out of schools in pursuit of test scores. But there is still plenty of academics going on as well. The 1/2 teacher is a reading specialist and I don't know what kind of voodoo magic she has going on in her classroom, but kids come out of the class reading. Loving to read and doing it well. This place is a gift. I am SO grateful we found it.
Submitted by parent on November 25, 2021

Teachers are leaving left and right, the principal is cruel towards students, and the office staff is rude. So glad my children left.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2021

My two sons have attended Mt Baldy School since kindergarten and love it. The class sizes are amazingly small, ensuring personal attention from teachers. The community of students is remarkably cohesive and caring; no room for bullies or other bad behaviors. The combined-grade classrooms help create that sense of connection between the kids. The teachers and administrators have all been caring, thoughtful and attentive in dealing with any social or academic challenges my kids have faced. I recommend this school enthusiastically to anyone looking for an emphasis on community, outdoor activity and academic achievement.
Submitted by other on March 29, 2018

Both my children attended Mt. Baldy School and now I am delighted to have my grandchildren preparing to do the same! This school is a wonderful, engaging learning environment, with teachers and administration that take time listen to students and engineer an environment for optimal learning. The inclusion of the outdoors in their program is the icing on the cake!
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2018

Overall the school is above average, particularly with experiences “outside the classroom”. However, the school principal is not particularly approachable, nor is the upper grade language arts teacher. My children enjoy the small class sizes and outdoor education opportunities. The school is part of a small mountain community. Overall, our experience at Mt Baldy has been very positive.
Submitted by other on September 29, 2017

We currently have strong leadership at the school. Teachers are wonderful and using researched based practices. Social/emotional learning is part of the school day. Kids get to be kids and are in a small setting. My children and now children get to experience this very special school.
Submitted by principal on April 02, 2017

This school has been through a few administrator changes. We have a great superintendent and principal who are fantastic. The teachers are also wonderful.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2017

We love Mt. Baldy!!! We are a second generation family and we are so fortunate to have this school in our lives. Important to note that we have a new Principal and Superintendent and Mrs. Sirski and Dr. Hovey could not be more loving and supportive. Ifor you are looking for small classes, a chance for your children to just be kids and a loving environment, this is your school!!
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2015

I gave this school an average rating. It could and SHOULD have been a 5 start rating. Everything about this school is spot on. Small class sizes, excellent teachers and office staff. The principal is what brings this score down. He is STILL a bully to the utmost degree and protects other bullies and punishes the kids and parents who speak out against him. This school would be amazing if they would replace him. Transfer students, SpEd students, and strong WOMEN beware. He will not respect you at best, and at worst, he will do everything in his extreme power to remove you.