Newcastle Elementary School

8951 Valley View Drive

School District

Newcastle Elementary
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Newcastle 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 June 13, 2020

Excellent. All of my kids have gone there and we love this school
Submitted by other on May 16, 2018

I am a graduate from this school and had a fairly decent time in a few of the grades. In terms of teaching skills, 7th, 3rd, and 8th were really the only impressive ones. The leaddership at this school could use vast improvments from the uninvolvment, to the lack of care about the students. Many of my fellow classmates had input on how the year could be improved, which was completely looked past. Other years, I experienced struggles with bullying, verbally abusive teachers, and more. There are so many ways that this school could be fantastic, but outside input was never accepted. Especially in the upper grades, students are expected to perform a drastic ammount of homework as well as an overload on un-taught materials. A majority of the staff was just looking for a power trip. The current principal is uninvolved and incredibly unsupportive towards the student's efforts. The superintendent looks for ways to gain more power but not actually help the school or community. The people actually trying to improve the learning of those who are impaired such as the one to one aides are always overruled and never get a chance to have a say in the student's struggles. Bullying is a hugely overlooked issue at this school. Teachers and staff know about it, they just don't properly handle it.
Submitted by other on March 04, 2018

As a student who graduated from NES, and is now graduating from high school, I looked up my old school just for fun. After reading the comments on this site, I want to set people straight. The comment about teacher turn-over is very true. By the time I graduated, there were AT LEAST 20 new/replaced teachers including 3 principals. Some teachers came and went in one year. I also only learned after graduating that Newcastle kids are considered to be the “bad kids” out of all the schools in the areas. We weren’t invited to dances, we didn’t participate in the Del Oro High School homecoming parade floats, and we didn’t go on nearly as many educational/organized field trips as the surrounding schools. I felt, even as a student there, that NES was particularly unorganized. Teaching methods were drab, even for me as an honor student. The only grades I enjoyed because of the teaching/learning were kindergarten, 1st grade, 4th grade, and sixth grade. Commenting on another comment: the bullying was extremely bad. Teachers and principals knew when kids were being bullied but did absolutely nothing to stop it. I had to stand up and take the beating because I could handle it while sometimes other kids couldn’t. I remember going home on multiple occasions crying my eyes out because my peers (and in three cases, teachers) had verbally and emotionally abused me. It didn’t matter where I went either, computer lab, lunch room, library. They would come and pick on me. Even younger kids would make fun of older kids. And having rallies about bullying and drugs was defective. Quite dumb actually, as some of the things heard at the rally’s were just new ideas put into our heads about how students could be even more awful to each other. Another huge problem I had with the teaching: kids that were worse or better than average academically were not helped at all. I’d say kids that were smarter and more advanced had the biggest disadvantage. I personally was told I couldn’t read books higher than my assigned reading level/grade because I had to wait until I was older. After all of these negative things, I do have a few positive comments to make about NES that made my personal experience there unforgettable. Library time. Probably the quietest you will hear a kid be for a long period of time is when they are listening to a book being read before check out time.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2015

I have three children who attend Newcastle Elementary School. I absolutely love this school. My daughter has been at NES since kindergarten and she is in 7th grade. She has never had a bad teacher. The new principal is outstanding. She sends out a weekly announcement so you never feel out of the loop. She greets each student as they arrive to school by their name. The teachers are loving, hard working and hold high expectations for the students. Every week the students (TK-5) participate in PE, rhythm and movement, Spanish, library, computer lab, and music. NES has never taken away programs for the students even with financial cut backs. The field trips that the students take are amazing and create life long memories for the students. NES invests their money into the students. The communication between parents and teachers is excellent. I always know how my kids are doing in class. The teachers are very accessible and easy to reach for any reason. NES is a family. The small class sizes and big buddy/little buddy program allows for everyone to know each other and develop relationships beyond the class room. The school is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Disciple issues are handled immediately. I feel so blessed to have found such a great place for my children to learn and grow into their teenage years.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2015

I have children who have attended all grades at Newcastle Elementary School and I could not be happier with the teachers, administrators, and fellow parents that attend this fabulous school! Newcastle School educators love their students and it shows! I feel incredibly blessed my children attend this outstanding school!
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2013

We are in our 3rd year at this school. We LOVE it. I work in a school within our local district and I still choose to charter my kids in to Newcastle. We have a new AMAZING principal this year and so many amazing teachers. Low class size is a huge thing here as well as communication. All students are treated great, and the older students really take care of the younger ones. Sports is building with our amazing athletics director and I cant wait to see all the wonderful things that are yet to come! Really that small town, everyone is welcome kind of place. MANY MANY families charter in from outlying areas, even Sacramento and Colfax just to be at our amazing school.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2011

. Newcastle School consists of exceptionally dedicated, talented, diligent and compassionate educators. The school's standards of academic instruction, discipline policy, follow through, community involvement, and fairness toward all students are excellent. Most educators today can "talk the talk" of implementing practices that are current, highly effective and fair. Yet, it is only at Newcastle that we have experienced educators actually "walking the walk" of providing a truly outstanding education for all students. My daughter has internalized the importance of striving to improve in all areas, and the hopefulness that comes from being part of a school that values fairness, equality and opportunity, no matter who your parents are. There is absolutely no bullying of any sort permitted, ignored or denied at Newcastle Elementary School! She can now move into high school as the best that she can be as far as her morale and her preparation are concerned.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2011

We just completed our first year at Newcastle Elementary School and we love it! Parent involvement is fantastic. The PTO does a great job of trying to do one big fundraiser, rather than nickel and diming us to death. There is a wonderful dad s volunteer group that helps out too. The teachers and administration are very proactive. I have had great communication with my son s teacher, she will even email me with updates. The support for technology is fantastic, which is especially impressive in light of the financial pinch the state has put them in through increased regulations and deferment of funding. In response to earlier reviews (many are out-of-date): Safety has been a big focus in recent years. There is a lot of new security both inside and outside of the school. Great attention is given to current threats, such as cyber-bullying and drugs. Educational events are sponsored for parents too. The school fosters a great community spirit, through local field trips and community service graduation requirements. This is an excellent place to send your students, and we wouldn t go anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2011

This school has a great enriched enviroment! Coming from a private parochial school enviroment, we were not sure what to expect... What a great change to excited teachers and teaching enviroments. My children came in far behind in Math, writing skills and reading. Their grades went from being C-D students to Honor Roll Students within the first year! The teachers and staff went above and beyond to help them catch up and to make sure their adjustment went smoothly! And in this very tight educational budget. recessive economy, it's wonderful to have a principal that goes after every dime, grant, and funding she is able to apply for! Mrs. Daugherty takes the time to get to know this children and is also a presence in their classrooms, she is not just an administrators! They also have a very strong anit bullying atmosphere and problems are addressed immediately! With wonderful communication between, teachers, staff and administrators!
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2009

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