Silver Spur Elementary School

5500 Ironwood Street

School District

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Palos Verdes Peninsula 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 July 09, 2024

Great teachers great school everything great my daughter is going to 4th grade this year and thank you to the teachers she’s had my son attended this school before and he did so great I’m happy they go to this school now my son is 13 yrs old going on 14 this July 18th and he’s now at Pvis going to 8th grade this august so proud of my kids
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2023

This school has a good vibe and well organized staff and community. Also the best part is the teachers. They have a passion for their students and academic atmosphere.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2021

Wonderful school!! We have two kids who attend Silver Spur and have been extremely happy. The teachers are phenomenal. They teach to each child and provide appropriate attention and resources to foster individual growth. Our son tests well above his grade level; every teacher he has had recognized his potential and has challenged him with extra/higher level work to facilitate his love for learning. Our daughter has less zest for academics ; her teachers are extremely talented in finding ways to encourage learning and teach with different methods that enhance her interest and retention. I can’t say enough great things about the high quality teachers here.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2021

Superior school. Great teachers, facilities and resources.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2019

The experience has been amazing so far and I look forward to our 2 other children's years there.
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2016

This school is amazing, the staff is amazing and the grounds are beautiful. We were new to this area for the 15/16 school year and it was seamless. Our son has some very special needs and so we worked with 8-10 staff members to create a cohesive IEP and educational plan and we were absolutely thrilled. It isn't the school, but I understand why this district is so good, the community pours a ton of money into the education foundation (PEF) and the PEF takes the multi-millions dollars of donations and pours them into the schools. This allows for high caliber musical education, PE teachers, art supplies. The parents themselves pour their time and effort into the schools. The great schools help keep area home prices solidly in the 7 figure range. It's a win-win, kind of. I have not met one parent who wasn't spectacularly successful of married to someone who was. There is a strong air of entitlement and if this was high school, these parents would be the "mean-girls." But, that doesn't impact the level of education that the children are receiving.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2015

Silver Spur is a great school but not perfect.Good: The curriculum is advanced if compared to other socal schools. The campus is open and beautiful and safe with a staff that the kids love. The kids are supported and overall the school functions well and meets most everyone's needs. The demographic is mostly highly educated families which benefits teachers and gives them a nice academic and work ethic base to work off of.The bad: They do some "teaching to the test" though they say they don't but I don't have a problem with that. There is a high ratio of "DK kids" that are a year older than the average. The district seems to encourage this. (extra year for these students ups total district enrollment and state $, plus it probably helps test scores) I am not a fan.Ugly: Parent involvement can get out of hand and I feel like the biggest challenge for the teachers is managing some of the parent and related politics instead of focusing on the children. This might be unavoidable in a neighborhood of financially successful people and over achievers that are used to getting what they want and managing other people. This environment demands a strong effective principal which is what they had up to 2012/13 when she retired. There is a new principal in 2015/16 and its too early to tell but so far so good. The 2013-2015 principal was too easily pushed around by parents and didn't seem to have the teachers' full support or confidence.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2013

I don't see what all the fuss is about & frankly am very surprised by a lot of comments. All this school cares about is API score. There is no respect for the students, if your child does not keep up they are not helped but told to hurry up. There is no scope to teach the individual either those that excel to push further or those that require help. The school is akin to a military camp where everyone must march at the same pace. Every child, given the right environment yearns to learn, in my opinion that environment is lacking. Maybe we had a bad experience but there was no communication from the teacher to us informing then of the expectations of the teacher, we only found out at reports evening when told your child is behind! After discussing with the child they said they could have completed the easy tasks but didn't want to & wanted more challenging tasks which take longer. This one would have thought would be a positive BUT the teacher said do the easy ones to increase your score, hence the conclusion API scores are more important than teaching or learning. Another example of no respect, our child was told to "go away" by a teacher! Are API scores that important?
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2013

Silver Spur elementary, my child is in second grade and his teacher is not good or nice. Like other comments, the principal does nothing to correct the disrespectful way in which the teachers communicate with the partents. We get treated like idiots for asking questions regarding unclear instructions, etc. The principal also does nothing about bullies, even allowing a terrible repeated bully to remain in the school after moving residence out of the school boundary for attendance! It is pathetic, and I'm extremely disappointed. In addition, the kindergarten students are not effectively watched by adults in the morning, which is a huge safety concern that I've brought up to the principal time and time again along with other parents. Any adult can freely enter the campus at any time and go into any classroom. I also second that any parent that is able to give LOTS of money and responds to their non-stop requests for money gets preferential treatment at every turn. Each year I am asked to pitch in for at least 4 separate gifts for the teacher alone, in addition to paying the annaul fee which already covers a teacher appreciation breakfast/gift.
Submitted by teacher on February 17, 2013

This school is run by an ineffective principal who never addresses the issues brought on by concerned parents. This school is all about conformity and any parents who ask questions or bring up issues concerning their children get absolutely no support or assistance from the principal. Her responses are always short and vague that never offers solutions or corrective actions. It seems that she is a pawn to influential parents who seem to run the school. Very few teachers are effective with most being ineffective due to the poor leadership at this school. Most good teachers have been forced out because they don't conform to the robotic non nurturing environment. This school is all about who has the money and who can raise the most funds for the school and district. The principal chooses to look the other way regarding district, state and federal policies to appease those who can benefit her position. The children have no examples of good moral characters except for the few teachers who try to break out of the disingenuous mold. This campus is in need of new leadership so the focus can go back to the safety and well being of the students.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2012

Silver Spur has a number of strengths: good teachers, excellent parental involvement, and great programs in place for intervention and enrichment. My main issue with the school is the fact that about half of the kids in each grade are a year older than they are supposed to be. A ridiculous number of parents send their kids to developmental kindergarten, which drives the curriculum for each grade level up to the next grade level. So, your first grader will be expected to work at a second grade level, etc. If this problem was addressed, however, I would have mostly good things to say about the school.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2012

Overall we are happy with this school. Academically challenging and well structured. Caring teachers and principal.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2012

Silver Spur is a wonderful school with caring teachers and a fabulous Principal. Parents are highly involved in both the classrooms and the PTA. I'm very happy that both my kids have had a chance to attend such a great school.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2012

If you are looking for a military style bootcamp school this school is for you. Kids do not get required age appropriate exercise. Kids are not allowed to run at recess in the yard. Kids are not allowed to contact even during free play. This school is very poor in emotional nurturing of kids. Some teachers are great but most are rigid. This school is all about conformity - if you would like a programmed robot child rather than a creative and critical thinker then this is the perfect school for you. This school maintains its rating by weeding and bullying out the children and parents that do not fit their mold. This school was a traumatic experience for my child. Write your own review
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2011

The best elementary school on the hill! Due to the great teachers there, knowledgeable principal's leadership and all the parents that choose to be involved. Very competitive!