Rachel Carson Elementary School

4245 Meg Drive

School District

San Jose Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
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 15, 2024

My son who is in 4th grade, loves it here. My daughter went here when she was in kindergarten to 5th grade and she loves it as well. The school principal, Mr Wheeler, makes sure all the kids are safe and responsible. They also provide a good amount of homework. Not too much, not too little. The school also recognizes kids for following the expectations, which encourages others to do the same. The teachers also help students when needed. They also have afterschool programs and an autism program. I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2020

Carson is a small, wonderful school with a supportive atmosphere.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2019

I would give this school a 9. We've had a wonderful experience thus far. The principal, faculty, and PTA are truly dedicated to student success. The school is known as small but mighty.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2015

My son attends a special needs class for the second year . It is a great school under keadership of Principal , Ms Palmeri . She is a Leader with Passion . Always listens with empathy. Teach Ms Bailey is professional , willing to listen and take action.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2015

WORSE SCHOOL EVER. Where do I begin. Every year it has been horrible. My son is in 3rd grade and he hasn't had a teacher this whole school year. It's been sub after sub. They put him in a combo class (1st and 2nd grade together) when he was 1st which set him back. The yard duty don't watch the kids. My son had about 8 head injure the first month. They denied kids food and bathroom breaks. my niece peed her pants twice in class cause they refused her to go to the restroom. My niece and son both had severe chap lips and the school took away their chapstick, they came home with bloody lips. And the list continue. Every parent I talked to about this school also showed how much they hate it there. This school should just close. Take your kids.somewhere else.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2014

Reading a couple of the negative posts regarding the Kinder class is what prompted me to write this. I have two kids that currently go to Carson, and they both went through the Kinder class. Yes, the two K classes were combined (as of 2013-2014 school year they are no longer combined). I was very apprehensive at first, but the two K teachers are EXCELLENT! 2 kids spearated by 2 years - most of the kids from each of my kid's classes loved the two K teachers. I think they told me that they will still be teaching once my 3rd child reaches Kinder age. I sure hope they are still teaching! ALL the teachers at this schoo are good except for one. (I type that comment based on the experience I have had with my kids' teachers as well as feedback from parents of other teachers.) Most parents that have been a student of this one particular teacher did not like this teacher's teaching style - lots of handouts (a lot more than any other teacher at this school) but not a whole lot of actual teaching (ie learn from the handouts). Other than this one teacher, this is a great school for educating your child.
Submitted by other on June 04, 2012

I am a teacher at a local high school and so far every single student that came to our school from Carson elementary has been academically driven, responsible,polite, honest and speaks highly of the social environment of the school and the positive involvement of the principal and staff.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2011

My son attended Carson, K-5. I am afraid I must disagree with the one parents comment. My son, was a young kinder, and with the attentive teachers he had they recognized his disabilty. He was left handed...they found a college student to help him with his fine motor skills. He was retained, his academic skills were off the charts but they felt that he would benefit from one more year to hone his fine motor skills.Their sensitivity was that as they put all the students names in a hat and drew out "special helpers" to come back next year. He is a 3.8-4.0 student. I feel that Carson and the teachers there have paved the way to my sons academic success. I also feel that strong parent participation and being aware of your own childs needs are important. In the two years that my son was in the Carson Kinder...I was active in the class. Never once did I see or hear an unkind act/word towards a child. There was always a balance. The children knew the rules and were expected abide by them. But never berated or ridiculed. They were being prepared for the real world outside of the comfort of the kinder class. I am so thankful for everything this school and teachers have shared with my son!!!
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2011

wow! So shocked to read the negative blog concerning carson's kinder class. I've had three kids go through that class, two years of sixty kids, and I can't say enough wonderful things about the teachers, their organizational methods, and how they treat the kids. They not only showed that they cared about the children's success, but were loving and respectful. My children didn't want to leave at the end of the year. Maybe, this negative parent should of kept the child in the class longer than two months. These teachers have a fantastic track record!
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2011

My son attended kindergarten at Carson for 2 months. The first day we were surprised to find out that the school had combined two kindergarten classrooms, so there were 60 students in one class. Although there were two teachers, we were deeply concerned about how they could manage 60 four, five and six year olds. Through yelling, humiliation and robotic, uncreative lessons it turns out. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a kindergarten classroom would be so unpleasant. Volunteering there was so stressful, at times depressing to watch how the students were treated. Almost zero regard for their emotional well being. The lack of parent involvement was also surprising until I met the principal. I then realized that the cold, entrenched attitude came from the top and parents were discouraged from getting involved in anything other than raising money. We transferred out after two months. This school needs a serious overhaul in leadership