Simonds Elementary School

6515 Grapevine Way

School District

San Jose Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
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 April 23, 2024

Simonds Elementary has been an amazing kindergarten experience for my child! The teachers are patient, caring, and incredibly skilled at making learning fun and engaging. The staff is also top-notch, always helpful and friendly. My child has blossomed at Simonds, not only academically but socially as well. We couldn't be happier with our choice of school!This extended review adds details about the teachers' teaching style and the overall impact the school has had on your child's social and academic growth.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2023

Fantastic school with a focus on teaching thoroughly. Teachers pay keen attention to each child’s capabilities and prepare plans with a goal to hone the students skills wherever there is room for improvement. Lots of PTA sponsored activities for the whole family. My kids love going to Simonds elementary school and are excited to learn under the guidance of their fun and caring teachers.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2023

Simonds Elementary School is great for students with special needs and English learners. The staff is so patient, confident and helpful, I'm completely excited with progress of my special boy. They carefully managed students conflicts and teaching them respect and social networking. There is so much fun activities! My son always comes back from school in good mood.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2023

We moved from Cusd to SJusd and Simonds was our home school. I must say the teachers and the resources have been great and it's almost like a big family of Simonds community. Academic progress is a little slow but great exposure to StEM activities hands-on gardening and a fun classroom set up made our transition fairly seamless. Very active PTA. Teachers have been very nice and respond to questions and concerns. Overall a great school for kids to blossom.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2022

- Great balance with academics & fun- Focus on student's character- Experienced teachers
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2021

Great teachers, great students, and great neighbors.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2021

Amazing school. My kids are challenged and love their teachers. Many caring teachers.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2019

We have had a great experience at Simonds. Our daughter is finishing kindergarten and we couldn't be happier. Simonds has amazing parent involvement, in our daughter's class there are 15 parents volunteering for 2 hours in the classroom every week. Because of the parent volunteers, and great teachers working together, it helps each kid to excel in the classroom. The PTA and SMTF are also very active and plan events weekly to keep the kids engaged, and connected.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2019

We love this Simonds. We specifically moved to this area so that our two kids can attend this school. I think the aspect that sets any school apart from others is the level of parent participation, and Simonds has a lot of parent involvement. The staff at Simonds really encourage the parents to participate, and the parent-run organizations (PTA and SMTF) have so many activities and events planned for the kids and their families which builds a very strong bond among the kids, school, and parents. When the parents take an active role in their kid's schooling everyone benefits. The staff goes above and beyond for the kids and I feel very blessed having parents who care so much and take time out of their day to help out where they can from volunteering in the class, to coordinating afterschool events and so much more.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2018

This school has gone up and down since we started here 3 years ago. Unfortunately our principal left again, along with a few wonderful teachers and the result in my opinion is a mess. No consistency at all between the teachers, and as a parent I feel like i'm sending my kids into a black hole. Shame as the school felt very much like it was back on the up last year. I hope it gets sorted before it starts falling again.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2018

We love it here. School is filled with welcoming families and outstanding teachers.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2018

My child is in first grade. The PTA is amazing and my child has so much fun learning. No complaints about his teachers. They have all been responsive to any questions. Our new principal is also doing a terrific job! Simonds was just awarded as a California Distinguished School for 2018.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2018

Our experience is very positive. We appreciate the teachers and school staff for their effort!
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2017

We moved here last year, and my son started 1st grade in January. Now he is in the 2nd grade. Both his teachers are very good! The school has a very strong Parent-Teacher Association, with a number of very interesting events held every year. New principal is very good!
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2017

Interim Principal is fantastic! Hope she can stay and make it great again.
Submitted by teacher on July 10, 2017

We are getting a new principal this year. I have a favorable outlook for the leadership of this school for the future.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2016

I'm very sad to say the school is a mess. Please, SJUSD, send us a new principal to fix things. We'd welcome Mrs. Samuels back with open arms!
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2016

I agree with the other parents re: principal. She is rarely around & very hard to reach. It took several weeks for her to respond to my emails requesting a meeting to discuss my child. With 29 students, my sons teacher is overwhelmed & disorganized at best. Her classroom is cluttered, uninspired & messy. In fact, the entire campus looks shoddy with litter strewn about. Each day on our way into the classroom we pick up several wrappers & discarded trash. Overall the school feels very institutional, lacking any personal feeling or specialness.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2016

The principal is going to run the school into the ground. She is a horrible 'leader' and has alienated both staff and parents. She doesn't care anything about the kids - either academically or socially. She is combative and unprofessional in dealing with parents and is NEVER even seen out on the school grounds
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2016

Under the current principal, the school has really gone downhill. She is rarely on campus and she obviously doesn't care about the students. It was telling that after almost two years since becoming principal, I heard several kids ask who she was. In contrast, the prior principal was well known to all of the kids and respected as an authority figure. Pictures of her drinking wine during a "girls night" with a couple of the moms she knows well were posted to facebook a year ago. These pictures have been circulated and seen by the kids. This is not the kind of example a elementary school principal should set in my opinion.