Booksin Elementary School

1590 Dry Creek Road

School District

San Jose Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for San Jose 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 November 12, 2024

Booksin is a gem in an otherwise lackluster school district. We started at this school prior to COVID and have watched the ups and downs as the district tried to adjust to a new educational landscape. We have seen a lot of improvement at Booksin over the years including so-so teachers leaving, smaller class sizes, and a greater emphasis on character building and social-emotional learning to create a well-rounded student. Academics are strong and the school leadership is great. One of the best parts about Booksin is the welcoming school community. There is a lot of school spirit amongst the teachers and students and the high parent-involvement makes social events and enrichment programs possible - art, music, garden etc. We are very happy at this school, I only wish the other schools in the district were as great as Booksin.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2024

This last year was our final one at Booksin after 12 years total and my kids have loved their time here. They have had so many great and caring teachers, fun experiences that they remember fondly. There were some bumps in the road but it’s mostly stabilized now with a steady staff. and thankfully smaller class sizes now. The community is strong and involved with lots of volunteer opportunities and fun annual events. Kids get to experience science, music, art, garden, PE programs which enrich their learning and imagination. My HS’er still goes back to volunteer every chance she gets. Overall great school and memories.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2023

I’m not sure how they come up with the ratings but we’ve been at Booksin for 12 years now and it’s been great overall. Our kids loved it here and the parent community is very involved in making it a fun learning environment. We are so sad this will be our last year and will always have fond memories. Most of the teachers are dedicated and very liked by the kids. There was a few years with revolving principals as they moved up to bigger jobs but it’s been steady now for the past few years.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2023

I’ve had two kids go through this school and we have loved it. Of course some teachers are better than others, but overall they have been great. The community is very involved, and kids love their school.
Submitted by other on June 01, 2023

This was the best school in my whole life!
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2022

My son is progressing well with his academics as well as socially and got the extra reading help that he needed. He’s had amazing and caring teachers all 4 years and loves his school. There was always a strong sense of community though covid put a crimp in that for now. I am impressed with how they’re managing the pandemic and it seems the kids are all happy to be back. Most of the kids I’ve talked to say bullying is a big no no - just maybe the yard duty people sometimes. Many new young teachers have joined and the class size was smaller last year which is great. It’s unfortunate that many parents love to complain about revolving door principals, who leave most likely because of these complainers. Get involved & volunteer - that’s how you make it a great school!
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2021

I love the school. My kid has fun and thriving. The community is great but it is getting too big. I hope they will be able to manage the size by adding teachers and rooms
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2020

Over-subscribed and relying on previous commendations, Booksin is no longer a "good" school to send your children too. The school needs a new principal to come in and *stay* for at least five years to turn it around and address the issues. Some long-time teachers need to be moved on as they ignore 504 plans and simply "don't believe" in autism and neurodiversity. Yelling and belittling are used to "motivate" from the third grade onwards. The school district is strongly to blame with few resources and allowed over-population.
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2020

Very impressed with the school and the parents organizations. Our kids have thrived based on the solid foundation Booksin provided
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2020

The teachers are effective and there is a real sense of community. Only negative is overcrowding because it's no longer just a neighborhood school.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2020

3- We left the school after too many years of my child having horrible teachers & ineffective leadership.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2019

We purposely moved into the neighborhood so my kids could go to Booksin , my daughters experience was fine - my son less than stellar - he was bullied in the classroom and his teacher never noticed until The Vice principal was in the classroom on a rainy day . recess. He was also bullied at recess. There has been 4 principals in 5 years! There are way to many students - recess is a mad house Needless to say I have put my son at a different school and have no regrets. Only wish I would have done it sooner
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2019

I went to Booksin as a child, and my children have spent most of their elementary years here. I have fond memories, and in many ways it is the same. It's a school that strives hard to be a quality public school, and mostly succeeds. BUT BE WARNED... The school is a behemoth – with about 200% as many kids as it can handle. This strains general safety and quality of education. Not enough yard staff (sometimes less than 1 per 100 children), a large, porous campus with close to 1000 kids, and a district overly concerned with money (penny pinching and daily head counts) at the cost of children's heath and safety. We have had a string of questionable leadership, to the point where we really don't trust the administration at their word anymore. The Principal has changed almost annually since my kids have gone here. Because classes are stuffed with kids, I don't expect mine to get the nurturing education they deserve. In fact, both my kids took a step back from private preschool entering kindergarten here. Another issue is the skewed way they record children's progress. Teachers are not allowed to give kids the highest marks halfway through even if they excel at tests. They only receive their highest mark at the end of the year. This makes it seem on paper that those kids are being taught by the teachers. Even the teachers object to this system. Other high-achievers have really come to loathe school after their Booksin experience, and grow to love it again once they've relocated. So if you see public school as a place for kids to get the playground social education, and need someone to watch them while your 2-income family goes to work, Booksin is a good school. After-school activities, garden, and strong parent engagement are some of the pluses. But if you want your kids to get an academic education at their level and love school for the long term, erm... it's a toss-up.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2019

Only Booksin neighborhood kids should come to Booksin. This school is not built for such a large number of students. School has a new principal again too and she is not liked by the teachers. District really needs to think about allowing too many students at Booksin. People are using grandparent's home address to enroll their kids at Booksin.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2018

Excellent! This is a great school. My son had Mrs. Herrera in Kindergartner and Mrs. Ross in second grade.....both teachers had been terrific, his first grade treacher wasn’t a good match.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2018

This is our 3rd year at Booksin and I can say overall it's a great school. There is a lot of parent/community volunteering which I think is amazing for the support of the school. I do think some of the parents at this school can be really petty. The things that I see them complain about can be ridiculous. To say the students are being bullied by the yard duties is a great example of how petty some of the parents can be . I personally have been a volunteer during lunch/recess time and that is a really crazy time due to the student population. Kids need to follow the basic rules and I don't think that is a wrong for a yard duty or teacher to call them out for not following the rules. As adult we have rules to obey in our jobs and everyday life so I don't see why students should be exempt from this simple logic. I would suggest that every parent volunteers for one day of recess/lunch to really understand. The teachers I have had to deal with so far have been great people. The ladies in the office are very sweet and helpful. Overall my child is thriving at Booksin which is all I can ask for.
Submitted by other on May 16, 2018

Overcrowded, cliquey too focused on test scores.
Submitted by other on February 05, 2018

Highly academic focused. So much more for children to focus on than academia all day at such a young age!! When will people learn?
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2017

The school is on its fourth Principal in less than five years and is now among the largest in the school district with over 900 students. New teachers appear to be targeted by the "old guard" for removal, while certain "veteran teachers" skate by on a long-inaccurate reputation. You should be prepared for a fight with the administration and School District too. Parents with children on 504s or IEPs should be very cautious about enrolling at Booksin; many older teachers are simply not interested (esp. the male ones) and will look to shame and punish the child for atypical behavior. There *are* good teachers here, but you'll have to do your homework working with current parents to find them.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2017

The Principal and Vice Principal, the Yard Duties and the new Teachers need to be "Culled". My Children are terrified of recess. It has been a struggle to get my kids to trust the staff and adult figures when they have been repeatedly been let down by the ones that have been supposed to be protecting them. The ones to be the protecting you from the bullies are doing the bullying. It's insane. I understand the Principal is going to be leaving this year. This will be our 3rd Principal in 5 years. This last Principal created such a wedge between the teachers, there was an actual "walk out" of teachers. We lost most of our Native teachers. If your child has problem finding having friends on the playground, please do not hope he or she will find solace in the Yard duties. They will yell at your children. Look at the turnover rate of Teachers at this school, it is public, you will be amazed. If you child has any type of behavior problems or concentration problems, this is not the school for you.