Sherman Oaks Elementary School

1800 Fruitdale Avenue

School District

Campbell Union
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
Type

charter

School Map for Campbell Union 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 April 21, 2019

This is our 5th year at Sherman Oaks, currently with one child in 4th and another in Kinder. We are not native Spanish speakers, but we do have some background and understanding of Spanish. The sense of community at the school is incredible. There is a core group of parents that is very involved, and the group seems to change each year, so it is not just the same parents who will eventually leave. My kids are both achieving high levels in both English and Spanish, but they have the added experience of learning another language and opening up a whole different part of their brain. I can't say enough good things about Sherman Oaks.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2018

Such a great family-oriented school. Teachers all plan together so students in all 4 Kindergartens got a similar experience. My daughter's Spanish is amazing and she is progressing well in English as well.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2017

Amazing school! The dual immersion program is awesome and really works! My son is bilingual and he just finished 1st grade. The benefits are priceless!
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2017

Sherman Oaks is one of the gems of the Campbell Union school district. My family is fortunate enough to have the resources to send our child to whatever private school we want. We were happy to hear that our child lotteried into Sherman Oaks I had a mild worry that my non-Spanish speaking and non-Hispanic child might have a hard time fitting in at the school. These worries turned out to be unfounded. While I feel that the teachers, administrators, and parents have gone out of their way to make sure personally my child thrives, I bet my experience is not unique. There are many genuinely caring people who work at or send their kids to this school. My child loves the teachers and the friends that they made here. Learning Spanish did not happen overnight, but the experience of learning a second language has been very empowering for my child.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2016

Campbell Union school district is great and so is this school. Your child will become bilingual and biliterate in Spanish and English by the end of elementary school .. what more could I ask for? My son's first grade teacher, Mr Estrada, is great. The kids are using a lot of technology (they have their own Chromebook) and the teachers use an app to communicate with the parents and also post the homework there in both Spanish and English. My son loves all the staff and has lots of friends!
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2015

As another reviewer noted, if your child does NOT already speak Spanish, prepare for Spanish teachers who aren't willing to care much. My son has been attending Sherman Oaks for two years. Our experience with the English teachers has been great, but with the Spanish teachers, horrible. We are not native Spanish speakers and we have little guidance from the school as to what type of at home curriculum will help. Our son finds learning Spanish difficult and loses focus. The advice we are getting now is not how to help him engage and learn, but to reconsider dual immersion. I was under the impression this school's mission was to teach non Spanish speakers Spanish, but it certainly does not feel that way. If you are thinking of having your child attend Sherman Oaks to learn Spanish as a second language, expect little help from the Spanish speaking faculty and really think about how much time you have to be a 2nd teacher at home, as this will hands down be required. I don't mean helping with homework, that is just being a parent. I really mean committing an inordinate amount of time to being a Spanish teacher. We will be leaving the school and hiring a private Spanish tutor.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2013

my children are currently in Sherman oaks elementary charter, this was a great school up to last year,with a great principal who new each child and parent by their name, she gave her heart and Saul to this school but unfortunately she had to leave. now we have the worse principal who is emotionless, cold and unfriendly. the teachers, staff and students don't like her. I'm thinking of moving my children to a different school next year since the atmosphere in the school is unbearable. think twice before you put your child there.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2013

My son has been attending Sherman Oaks for four years now. Our experience has be horrible and a nightmare. If your child do NOT Speak Spanish your child will be bullied and out cased by the Principal, Spanish teachers and students. If you are thinking of having your child attend Sherman Oaks to learn Spanish as a second language. You will get NO help by the Spanish teachers or especially the Principal. However, I do believe that the PTC is great at Sherman Oaks. They do there best to better the school. If it wasn't for the PTC the school would be much worst due to the principal's lack of genuine interest in the children that attend Sherman Oaks.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2012

My oldest son attended Sherman Oaks Community Charter School for Kindergarten during the 2011-2012 school year. If not for unemployment and a financial need to relocate, he would still be attending for 1st grade. I was more than satisfied with his team of teachers for English (Mrs. Laver) and Spanish (Maestra Bettencourt). They always made themselves available, when requested, and maintained open lines of communication by providing either verbal reports and/or email as to my son. Mr. Jerome is an added positive factor. He thoroughly engages the students and provides discipline in a positive, non-threatening manner. They flock to him like the pied piper. I met with the principal once regarding an incident between my son and his friend; it was addressed and handled appropriately. As for the PTC, I actively participated at events and attended meetings. While there was always a dozen parents that remained consistently involved at every event/meeting, there were a dozen more that were behind the scenes providing their support. With the last election at the end of the school year, PTC will have even more of a presence. Sherman Oaks is a quality school and supportive community. I miss it!
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2011

Sherman Oaks has proven itself to be one excellent school. Even in the worst budget times, the school tries to have students participate in multicultural and learning activities. Twice a year the children present their science or social science projects at exhibition night (bilingually). The exhibitions include writing, artwork, research and technology. They also learn about various multicultural events and participate in them each year. The teachers at this school work extremely hard; coordinating curriculum as a dual immersion language team is not easy, and they do it with enthusiasm. All of my son's teachers made themselves available almost daily for after school or before school homework help, and they are have always been willing to talk to parents who have questions or concerns. If you analyze the test scores at this school, they show that all groups of children are making great progress. Parents do participate at Sherman Oaks, it is just that many of us work. I have always had to do take home work or help at events, because I work full time. Other parents make sure to bring potluck dishes or prepare homework packets. There are always lots of parents at school events.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2011

Sherman Oaks is a wonderful school with amazing teachers. My children love going there and I feel very comfortable with the school and the direction it is taking. Nothing is ever perfect and there will always be something that strikes a person the wrong way but the good definitely out way the bad. "Be the change you want to see" is the only advise I can give to those who are unhappy at the school.
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2011

I have three children at this school. Most (maybe 18 of 22) teachers are good. PTC is horrible. Parents do not like to participate. Principal situation there is horrible. Not one in the time I have been there has been positive. The current one yells at the kids. Dual immersion is so important...it is too bad the environment is not up to par. Other great immersion schools in the area. I suggest you look to them first.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2010

Im very proud of my son, he is now a bilingual little boy. Spanish is the primary language of approximately 330 million people around the world. It is a second language for nearly 50 million people. In a world that is rapidly growing smaller, thanks to technology and a global economy, the value of being able to communicate in Spanish should not be underestimated. Further, access to a rich world of art, literature, history and music becomes available through one's knowledge of Spanish. Children receiving an early bilingual education at Sherman Oaks Elementry have a unique advantage. In addition to the developmental and educational benefits of learning Spanish early on, they are better prepared to thrive in and appreciate a multi-cultural environment at any age.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2007

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