Marvin Elementary School

5720 Brunswick Avenue

School District

San Diego Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for San Diego 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 February 14, 2023

My son is in Kinder this year at Marvin and we could not be happier. His teacher is involved and cares about his success. Whenever there is an issue she needs to bring up, she takes a collaborative approach and works with us, instead of pinning it on us to fix. My son is learning so much so fast and he is thriving. The PTF is amazing in providing math, science, art, and music to all class levels, even if the district only pays for 3rd grade and above. Most of the teachers have been there for their whole carreers, which says a lot about how much they care for the students, and how well the school site treats the staff. The Principal is also very involved in every day activities, and you can always see him outside helping with the school drop off and interacting with parents and students.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2020

Excellent experience with teachers and staff, all caring and professional people, over past 3 years.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2020

Great school and very awesome teachers and staff!
Submitted by other on February 08, 2016

Wonderful parents, great involvement. Long term teachers with commitment to their students. A family atmosphere, a happy educational experience for young kids to grow.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2014

Marvin is our neighborhood school and we love it! Our son is in kindergarten, and he loves to go to school every single day. His teacher is fanstastic, Mrs. Brainard, and we couldn't be happier with her. So glad we didn't choice into another school.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2014

I live near Marvin Elementary School and want to say to the former review, the principal has no authority over what the city implements. The community complained to the city about no wheelchair access for the disabled. The principal sent out an advanced warning reporting the construction the city was implementing. This was out of the districts control. We thank San Diego School District for all the positive responses this principal has made to upgrade the access for the disabled. The parents and staff understand having access for any disabled is very important. The atmosphere at Marvin is very professional with many parents involving themselves in the school and it's activities. This is why Marvin is one of the most chosen and best schools in the district. The teachers take much interest in all the students and their academic development. The principal is very professional and is involved with the academic development of all students. We love this school and are greatly satisfied with the principal and staff at Marvin. Marvin is labeled as a California Distinguished School. We thank the principal and staff for taking Marvin to this level.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2013

First let me just say we choiced into Marvin. Our neighborhood school is actually Green. I am so glad we did. Last year our teacher was Ms. O'Hara. She is great and very active with the class. We just started first grade and so far so good. I have heard stories about the principle but every experience I have had has been positive and feel confident that when it gets down to it, he makes sure every child feels included and needs are met. I look forward to the many years of being apart of the Mustangs! The ptf fully funded a PE teacher, a new art program and lots of other cool stuff. As far as the negative reviews, I am sorry that other families experiences at Marvin aren't positive. Kids can be cruel, I know first hand. But because there is an issue doesnt mean you need to transfer to get the issue resolved. In my opinion that is setting an example to our kids that is it ok to run from your problems. Sometimes it is necessary, however in the real world you cant do that so why teach our kids that. In my experience I have become a stronger person by taking a stand. If the teacher and principle arent giving you the results you need to go to the district and get it resolved.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2013

My daughter has been going to Marvin since Jr K and I have nothing but positive things to say. The prinicpal has been approachable and effective. I have volunteered in each class that my daughter has been in and feel as though they are getting quality education. Most of the parents are very involved and the PTF raises enough money for programs to be funded, such as art class, science class and PE. I believe that it is not only the teachers and principals that make a difference in the school, but parents as well. Marvin has this. There a quite a few teachers that work at Marvin that went to this school as children. They are now teaching at Marvin and some of them even have their own children attending Marvin. This says alot. This school is a small neighborhood school that I feel safe sending my daughter to. She has grown by leaps and bound and I have nothing but positive feedback!
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2013

I have 2 children at Marvin and love this school. Parents are friendly and we love the teachers. I volunteer in my childrens classrooms and always feel welcomed and are surrounded by nice people. We live in the community and walk to and from school with is especially nice. We have a great science program where the kids go to science class weekly. There is a Marvin Garden, PE program, art program, marvin orchestra, GATE and Seminar classes and a lot of parent involvement. I highly recommend this school. I believe attending your local elementary school and not choicing out is the best way to create a strong sense of commiunity and ultimately will make your community school better. Children will attend schools with kids on their block and it will promote more parents to be involved.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2013

This is our first year at Marvin and I've been very happy with the experience. Our JK teacher is fantastic - She is funny and kind, she appears to treat everyone fairly, and she has been totally open to all communication - my emails are promptly responded to, and she will chat with me before and after class. Any problems I've had have been addressed immediately. I believe communication is a 2-way street and parents MUST bring issues up with teachers AND make themselves available and willing to hear feedback. The school grounds are beautiful - clean and full of mature plants and trees. We toured nearby Hearst (a better performing school) and I was dismayed to see so much trash on the ground. Another nearby school was stark concrete with high fences like a prison. The surroundings of Marvin were a significant factor in our choice and we will probably return next year. I want to add that I wish Greatschools would filter results. Reviews with one sentence like, "The principal is bad" are not helpful to anyone, and so many such reviews for Marvin here make me think there is a troll lurking. Please elaborate your reviews, and PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHERS.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2013

There is a problem with a male teacher bullying students and the principal will not help.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2013

We're not happy with this school at all. My child attends kindergarten and we had a bullying problem, they did nothing to help my child. The teacher allowed boys to bully my son and the principal is condescending and refused to notify the parents of their childs' wrong doings. We are looking at better schools for 1st grade.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2013

This school is very safe and the teachers are very caring. They work very hard and have the best interest of the children in mind. Some of the reviews on this page are ridiculous and mean. If you have a problem, go to the teacher, don't write a review on the internet slamming the whole school based on one off day.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2013

The principal has a couple of years until retirement and is just biding his time. He regards parent concerns with condescension and does nothing to make sure there is a culture of communication with teachers and parents. Teachers don't respond to emails, and only respond when you see them in person. We have this modern tool called computers, which apparently the teachers are not encouraged nor required to use. We will be trying to transfer our student next year.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2012

This school is going down. I enrolled my daughter in it based on the reviews, and the score. but they made my daughter she is in the K hates going to school. teacher doesn t care about the students feeling and has no emotional effect on them at all and the worth thing ever is; my daughter had cut in her neck deep one and no one bother to call us or even tell us when we picked her up from school. I don t recommend this school to parents who want their kids to be in a safe environment and looking for good learning experience to their kids.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2012

My daughter had always enjoyed going to school and learning until this year. The first day of the current school year she came home crying and had actually spoken the words, I hate school ! Not something I had expected to hear come out of her mouth. Part of the problem is Marvin has some wonderful teachers and some not so wonderful ones. The Principal at the school is ineffective at leading. The GATE program is a joke. In the third grade, they introduce GATE seminar/cluster kids to the wonders of the GATE program and what they can achieve in it. Then in the fourth grade, they turn their backs on the cluster kids and only provide GATE learning for the seminar kids. If they can combine seminar/cluster for third graders, why can t they do the same for fourth and fifth graders? They say the GATE cluster kids are in a combination GATE/non-GATE class but all of the kids in this combo class are learning the same things at the same speed. They are not being challenged. We had been happy with Marvin until this year. Hindsight is a powerful tool. Had we known what this year would be like for our child, we would have switched schools when we had the chance.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2012

My daughters 3rd grade teacher Mrs Henetz ---FABULOUS !! The best experience ever. She teaches 3rd gr GATE seminar and integrated learning and fun into her ciriculum. My daughter excelled in every subject because her teacher made learning fun. The kids were crying the last day of school, because they were going to miss her. Marvin also started an art program and PE program along with a fun science program already in place. It just became a Calif Distinguished School, and so it should be. I went to Marvin and loved it and now my kids get to experience that too.
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2012

I was so disappointed in this school. I had heard a lot of good things and read many great reviews of this school. My daughter went to this school for 4 years (K-3) and i desperately wish i had pulled her out sooner. Her 2nd grade teacher told her repeatedly that she would fail and be left behind a grade if her reading didn't pick up. Instead of helping her, she turned my daughter away from books. This school has no extra programs to help kids with reading and when i had spoke with the assistant principal she told me that the teacher really pushed her students and that was a good thing, but some kids couldn't handle it. I allowed my daughter to stay at this school for 3rd grade because she didn't want to leave the friends she had, but that was a mistake her third grade teacher was by far better than her 2nd, but there was no extra help for my kid.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2012

From Teachers, office staff and test scores, to campus grounds and atmosphere Marvin is wonderful school to attend.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2012

My second child is about to promote from this wonderful hidden gem. We have 10 amazing years of learning and playing here. The PTF has just funded a PE classes and an art program. We have a full time science teacher and the library is still open at this school on most days! This school has a great gate/seminar program that my son has been in .Their special ed programs are amazing and my daughter was in that program for her whole time there. The PTF has great events and the campus is beautiful including a garden. We are going to miss it!