St. Frances Cabrini Elementary School

15325 Woodard Road

San Jose, CA 95124

20 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 31, 2025

We have been at this school for 10 years now. This school use to be great, but it’s now a horrible place to send your child. The academics cannot compete with other schools in the area. The teachers are rude to the students, some even bully them. There is poor leadership at this school, so the principal has no control over the teachers conduct. This school does not act Christian in anyway. They could care less about your child’s well being. If you value your child’s happiness and feelings, please stay away from here.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2024

Saint Frances Cabrini is a wonderful school and community. They really look at the whole child and try to educate them not only academically but also socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Students can be challenged but also can get support when or if needed. The teachers really care. We have been so happy here and recommend this school to anyone in search of a well-rounded education.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2024

This used to be an AMAZING school under the older principal but things have changed.... I used to love participating in school activities, the principal before was so so kind and was the biggest draw. Now, I don't know how many horror stories I heard about the current principal. The school system has changed with zero empathy for those that need the extra support. You provide school feedback to her, she directs me to her staffs, who then directs me back to her and never gets anything resolved. Things are decided amongst core members. They say they conduct surveys to make changes but I don't see much and even when we do, the answer options a solid yes or no with no comment feature when in reality, nothing is really that simple... it's hard watching new parents coming in not knowing about the principal today. The Catholic way is to help others. Understand each other. Being kind...the principal broke my child's heart into pieces and I will never forget that moment.Ask the parents of recent graduates about the current principal and then decide if this school is right for you. And she wonders why registration is dropping...It was heartbreaking to see how the culture changed.
Submitted by other on March 10, 2022

This school was horrible. I have spent 8 years at this school and hated every year of it. I have had horrible experiences with teachers. Some teachers are decent and actually do their jobs, but some, especially the Junior High science teacher, are terrible. Many teachers don’t even teach but just tell students to go on a website while the teacher sits around doing nothing. I still remember when I was in primary school I cried every day due to stress and teachers constantly screaming at me. Instead of accommodating for ADHD, teachers just got more angry at me for something so hard for me to control, especially as a young child. This mental torture led me to have anxiety later in my life. To any parents considering sending their children to Saint Frances Cabrini, If you have any respect for your children and value their feeling, do not send their here as it is a hellhole. There is so much more to speak about such as the racism, bullying, constant stress, and expectations completely unrelated to education.
Submitted by student on September 07, 2021

The teachers do not do anything to help the students, many of the teachers have expectations that do not even remotely apply to the subject, and even if you are deciding to go to a public high school, St. Frances Cabrini still requires you to take the HSPT. The school's equipment is outdated and on many instances falling apart. Only somewhat recently has the school tried to get some new equipment for students, and this was mainly due to a massive effort on Student Council's end. Speaking of Student Council, the system of election is rigged. The way to be elected is how outrageous and popular you are going into the ballot. Once you are elected, you will be surprised to realize that Student Council does nothing except for one or two decisions each trimester.
Submitted by student on April 06, 2020

It sucks soooo much thank god im leaving that hell hole. Please don't put your kids through a miserable experience there like I had to endure for 7 years. It caused terrible depression I am current on medication for.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2019

Overall, our experience was great. The makeup of the school (student body) is quite diverse, which is representative of the area, so that was a big positive.The overall culture was supportive and friendly, which was one reason why we chose this school. It felt embracing and open vs the more standoffish impression we had from some other schools.The athletics program is strong and their hot lunches are really high quality overall - not at all typical frozen food and most of the time, things were made from scratch.They did away with the mandatory scrip program, which is good. The volunteer hours I never found a problem to meet. SFC also seems to have a very high acceptance rate into the competitive Catholic schools in the area. I don't think the 3 stars average rating is representative. 4 stars would be fair, as there are things that can be improved, but overall it's a very good school and we were happy to have our child attend.
Submitted by other on February 28, 2019

0 out of 10 stars. This school is actual garbage.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2018

This school takes an active interest in every part of your child’s day. They are aware of not only your child’s educational needs but also their social behavior. The best way I can describe what a change this school was for my son is by using his own words. “Mom! Some of these kids can be annoying but nobody is mean.” His statement says a lot about the school & the parents.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2015

We have been quite happy at SFC since starting in Pre-k a few years ago. Every school has its pros and cons, and overall our experience has been positive. We love the parent community and have had good luck this far with teachers. I continue to recommend SFC to friends and colleagues.
Submitted by other on August 05, 2014

I'm an alumni from Saint Frances Cabrini, however my experiences in junior high at this school were so-so. The pros were that my peers and I were very challenged in each subject, whether it be English, History, Math, etc. It helped build a strong foundation for our education. Most students seem to be very close to one another. The cons are the behavior of the students. Many of them are polite, however, like all schools, they are going to be some rowdy ones. Unfortunately, I was a student who was bullied and frequently picked on by a student. Because of this behavior, it caused my performance in this school to drop. In my opinion, many of the gifted intelligent students are left unnoticed all the time here. Not all kids are fit for a private school environment, whether you come from a religious family or not. It's a hit or miss, and depends on your child. Your child can have the time of his/her life here or struggle for the next 8-9 years.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2014

I I enrolled my son end my daughter to St.Frances X cabrini School I'm so happy My children have never been happier than they are now, and They love everything about St.Frances X Cabrini School and I knows that it is the best move I could have for them end they agree!!
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

We are relatively new at St Frances Cabrini (our daughter started in pre-K and has now completed almost 2 years at the school), but we couldn't be happier with the school. It is a small, faith- and community- centered school, which instills good values as well as a great education. In my experience, the teachers are excellent - they form strong relationships with the students and provide top-quality education in a nurturing environment (again, we've experienced Pre-k and Kinder!). The principal seems to be an inspiring leader. She is warm and friendly towards parents and students, and is actively involved in all aspects of the school. Initially, the Scrip and volunteer-hours commitment seemed a little daunting; but in reality it is very achievable. The only slight negative we have, is the frequent activities and fund-raising that require monetary donation. That said, for a private school, the fees are relatively low and the school must cover its costs somehow! Short of a major personal life-change that would force us away from the area, I would imagine that we will be at St Frances Cabrini until our kids out-grow it.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2013

Class sizes are 36 or pushing that & academics are not nearly as strong as the were 5 years ago. The child is no longer taught, but rather the class is. All 36 students (72 for each grade as there are 2 classes/grade) need to be on the same page at all times. Even "advanced" groups are taught the same thing as the "regular" class but just given more problems to do -really, shouldn't the kids who don't understand the work be doing more problems to help them understand? If a new teacher with fresh ideas comes in, they are paired with an "experienced" teacher who has been at the school forever who has complete domain over any new, possibly helpful, thoughts or ideas. If you're looking for a standard, average, ok education that will teach your kid how to get into high school, then SFC is just fine. If you want a school to teach your child, will be ready for high school & who will be capable of succeeding in high school & beyond, then keep looking.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2013

Saint Francis Cabrini offers a safe environment for students to learn. We appreciate the small school, intimate feel where students and teachers get to know one another. The academics are rigorous and challenging and there are incredible field trips and on-campus events that make learning relevant. We especially like the strong emphasis in the middle school years on service. The students do many wonderful activities to help others via organized events at school and in the community at-large. It's felt that the study and preparation skills our son is being given will help him easily transition into a college prep high school environment.
Submitted by parent on December 27, 2012

Our son started at SFC in middle school and absolutely loves it. The staff and teachers are amazing and he is thriving in their warm and nurturing environment. Academically they are solid and they are doing a great job of preparing him for a private high school. We have looked at many other private schools in the area and we highly recommend this one.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2012

My family had a terrible experience at SFC. I would never recommend SFC to any parent. The children are put under a lot of pressure and the expectations are not developmentally appropriate. They are not accepting of all children and do not believe all children can learn. They only accept children who fit in a certain box, this is a direct quote from the previous principal.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2012

We've been VERY(!!) happy with SFC and all it portrayed itself to be... The staff has been open about requirements and expectations financially and physically and we haven't felt any issues with anything. Out daughter is a full time Pre-K student this year and were absolutely THRILLED with the (new) program and skills learning she's experiencing. The teachers are wonderful and can acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of the children immediately which is very important. We do 'have' to participate and do so willingly as they ARE our children and we do want the best and want o be involved. There is homework even in Pre-k and I encourage it as its practice for her - and us, as we enter her later years. The Pre-k program starts early - 7:45am but we love it since we're used to our kids having care when they were younger. Then after that class they begin at 8am. It's a great system for early morning drop off as well. The non education staff are wonderful and have a genuine care and concern for the student body. I feel very comfortable with the surroundings and elements the school provides. The children at this school are very grounded and seem to have strong family ties
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2012

We've been at SFC for 5 years. Most teachers are great, some are not. We had a small class size (23-24) 3 years ago which is good. The last 2 years they increase the class size to 36, that makes the class very crowded and teachers don't get enough one-on-one with the students. The Pre-K and K class time is ridiculous (7:45am). We left for Charter School instead.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2012

Not as good of a school as it used to be. We've been at this school for six years & class size has rapidly grown. I don't feel the school was ready for such growth. Classes are full or near-full, kids who can successfully keep up are kept back because of those who have trouble. Parent involvement is rated highly because it's mandated. Some teachers are incredible, others are not & are very ineffective. Luckily, new teachers who start offer a glimmer of hope & enthusiasm. Mandated SCRIP purchase based on profit per child in school is insane. Not sure if there are any better alternatives in the Catholic school system in this area, but better private schools are definitely out there. The "Wow Factor" we had when we found this school has definitely worn off.