R. Roger Rowe Elementary School

5927 La Granada

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

School District

Rancho Santa Fe Elementary
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Rancho Santa Fe 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 19, 2025

School was horribel for my daugther and she would cry every day because of the kids that this school that would bully her!!! the teachers did NOTHING to help her and pushed away her problems making the bullying get even worse and we transferred her after a while because it was so heartbreaking to see as a mother. i would NOT recommend this school. THEY NEED TO DO BETTER!!!
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2024

Great elementary school but middle school was just something else. There are some good teachers, but they get outweighed by the large number of really mean and unsupportive teachers and staff. When you hear about bullies, one might think student to student. I would actually say it’s more like staff bullying students and singling them out. So so so happy that my eighth grader is finally done with that school and we never have to return
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2022

Our son and daughter attended Roger Rowe K-8th. Their experience was outstanding from the facilities to teachers to community support. They continued on to Torrey Pines H.S. and were well prepared educationally and emotionally. Upon graduating one attended the #1 public university and the other the #1 private university in the nation as cited by the Wall Street Journal. We moved to the covenant of Rancho Santa Fe because of the exceptional quality of the public schools. We are so thrilled we did!
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2022

The school is run by below average administration and a revolving door of teachers and paraprofessionals. Most families have opted for private schooling after getting a feel for the chaotic and unorganized environment. Other public schools seem light years ahead in terms of curriculum content and social emotional programs.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2022

Teachers are great; however there is very little representation of parents concerns (but much with foundation donors). Very conservative board and one gets a feeling this school is stuck in the 60s with their lack of awareness/addressing of societal and emotional issues affecting children today (racism, classism, bullying, drugs, world issues, environmentalism etc).
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2022

Bullying is a huge problem at Roger Rowe. The administration is inept at handling it. Cliques with scary bad behavior are rampant starting in the elementary school. This is part of the huge attrition problem going into middle school here. Parents and teachers have spoken out about this for years. Do not send your children here.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2022

Communication to parent community is nonexistent. There is only a very small amount of opportunities for parent involvement. Bullying is rampant, the administration excuses it away. Intolerance towards LGBTQ+ is accepted. The administration is weak, is pushed around by the parents to get what they want. School decisions are based solely on what a group of vocal parents want, not what is in the best interest of the students’ education or health/safety. If you’ve had your kids in another school district, you will quickly discover how watered down, basic the curriculum is. If you’re child is an average student, they will be a high performer at this school. If your child is already a high performer at another school, enroll elsewhere. They will learn nothing new, will not be challenged. Half the teachers care. The other half doesn’t. Maybe it’s because the administration doesn’t ever have their backs… to busy pleasing parents.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2021

This school is unfortunately in decline since the mass firing of teachers/administration for budget reasons in 2019. Academically, the curriculum has been completely watered down and access to advanced material is extremely limited. The administration and many of the teachers are inexperienced and it shows in how they manage the pandemic, bullying and parent engagement. After a difficult two years for everyone, I want to be sympathetic, but so many of the problems are self-inflicted. There is a lack of control over what happens on campus. Most kids are very nice and focused on being good students, but there are a number of disciplinary issues that are not managed, emboldening the kids to behave even more poorly. Whatever your thoughts are about masks, the reality is that the State requires kids to wear them while in classroom, yet compliance rates are low and the kids just don't seem willing to listen to teachers/administration. Communications from teachers and administration is almost non-existent and you are somewhat left on your own to figure it out. High teacher dissatisfaction/turn over due to several factors such as less competitive pay, fewer benefits and lack of respect demonstrated by students. Many long term subs of questionable quality on campus because they can’t fill the positions with hired teachers. This year, staffing shortages have closed the library and and half the playground during recesses, which is less than ideal during Covid.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2021

As much as the school has good teacher to student ratio. Quality quality of teachers are great. The General Ed program at the school is very good but the special education program is equally bad.They had a teacher for 20 years of experience in special education. She was excused from her services due to injury at work. They upgraded an aide to teaching position with no credential in teaching only as an instructor with less than two years of experience and no experience with ADHD autism and other disabilities. When I approached school they said she’s the only option available that’s not true they did not look or advertised for a teacher. I wish I could post pictures of my sons classroom work and how bad the teacher was engaging him on zoom. I had to pull my son out because school refuses to do anything about it. Both said the same thing she was the only person presented so we had to except or they didn’t even I guess check the credential that she doesn’t have teaching credentials. If your child is a special-needs I would not recommend to school at all please check the teachers credential online before youMake your decision.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2020

Roger Rowe School is the reason we moved to the Covenant of Rancho Santa Fe! Our kids went K-8 and had a fabulous experience and cherish the friends and teachers to this day.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2018

This school is really something special. We have had our children in other top-rated public schools with very high test scores and in private schools, and R. Roger Rowe is by far the best school we have experienced in every regard.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2018

Having been at private school in the past, we have been thrilled with our experience at this public school that feels like a private school!
Submitted by teacher on October 26, 2017

Great learning environment. Very supportive faculty and staff.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2017

Saying your great but showing your great is another. The elementary has NOT been one of the top 5 schools in the county for years! Yet it has so much support- small class size and large parent donations .
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2017

This school is great! class ratios are perfect and small sizes. Mrs, Carp is the best teacher my daughter loved her and had the best year!!!!
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2014

There are people posting on this forum who clearly have an agenda. It just smacks of politics. So disappointing. If you're looking for facts, why not get them? - The Foundation DOES NOT have $5 Million in reserves. The money is managed by the Endowment, a separate entity governed by rules set in place by the original donors. If you need more info, ask. The money cannot simply be used. - The District is 100% transparent. Instead of playing the game that you are, why don't you walk into the Super-indendent's office and ask her for information? Or is it that you'd rather gossip monger here? - You don't have to donate $10000 every year. You don't have to donate anything. This is a public school. But the more of us that band together, the more we can change public school education and give our kids some pretty amazing opportunities. That's what YOUR kid is getting here, right? - Where does the Foundation money go? The money goes directly to the teachers and programs that take the school a level above most public schools. There is an annual report on the website. Bottom line: this is an amazing school. Your kids are being educated here and you should be supporting it, not fighting it.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2014

This school is Amazing! No class has over 20 kids in it when most public schools in CA have up to 35 per class! The parent community cares about the kids and helps to make up for public funding shortfalls by supporting the education foundation. My kids are getting an excellent public education for a FRACTION of the cost of private school. This district impresses me so much - I just found out that the board members have no pay - they work for free! They felt it was wrong to take money from the kids! Where else does that happen???
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2014

I'm confused why the district was going to ask for a $18mi bond for a new school gym, then I open the paper and read they have enough money to purchase land for fields and parking lots. Why not take the $5 mil you would have purchased for parking and update the gym and not ask taxpayers to foot the bill? Where did the school get all that cash?? Let's keep the dollars in the classroom and stop asking for more money. The Foundation has $5 million in reserves and the School board has purchased a house on that they rent out. Why not sell the house? Should School Districts be Landlords? Let keep to education.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2014

I am a former parent and I am surprised yet encouraged to see the discussion in the previous posts about the Foundation. I believe my child would have had a far better education had there been no parent funding. It sounds like a great idea but the money ends up compensating for poor teaching, bad curriculums and weak administration. They have more money than most schools in ca without the foundation help but just can't seem to deliver. We are much happier in private school. As for the previous post, the things listed are provided at most public elementary schools in North County and if those parents are even required to contribute financially it is a much, much smaller amount. I think every Rowe parent needs to ask themselves why they give this amount of money to the school. What are they expecting in return? Obviously parents feel they get something - why else would you give over $10,000 a year - but it is not for what the Foundation advertises as these things can be provided with little if any additional money.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2014

I AM IMPRESSED. The staff and teachers are amazing. I had my child in a private school $15/yr. To switch our child to this school - It was decided with much research & examination. The academic program, reading- writing program is impressive. The enrichment classes & lunch clubs offered are fabulous. The children are taught to be responsible for their actions & their work at a young age. Children are very prepared academically for the future - the results (via scores & where children go on for HS & College) speak for themselves. The school goes above to enrich: Nasa engineer speaker (last month) etc. Partner with the Scripps & Birch programs - being taught by marine scientist. Academic competitions, DRAMA, ART, PE, MUSIC.. even the lunch program is modern-forward thinking - a recycle bar for kids and the garden! The school works hard to promote KINDNESS thru various programs other schools do not. What impresses me the most is to hear or see kids that see another not so nice act, and the KIDS step UP and say - hey thats mean - thats not OK. That and those kids will make the difference and I want my son to learn in that environment. There are bullies everywhere in life.