College Park Elementary School

715 Indian Avenue

School District

San Mateo-Foster City
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for San Mateo-Foster City 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 December 12, 2023

I agree with the parent who said that some are trying to systematically dismantle this former 9/10 rated school as it is since it was established. A former city council member and the current superintendent were very receptive to an external study by a graduate student to gain support for a neighborhood school so that they could get our school’s campus and justify our relocation, and of course all the efforts to make this school not what it was such as the last two principals not speaking Mandarin despite this being a Mandarin immersion school, restricting some long-standing cultural traditions on other grounds, using facilities after school for other purposes, not even providing enough funding for proper staff loads for child supervision during lunch breaks. You don’t realize how much this school is dependent on the dedicated parents who volunteer and donate consistently. Now the district may be potentially providing less than the promised resources for the impending transition. This is so disappointing because this was very apparent from the beginning, but the many parents more naive to politics were very accommodative and even worried about reaching out for the inclusion of those not even attending the school. They will learn that few things are just given even if promised especially if you’re on the wrong side of a political position. Not happy with this school board, district and its administrators along with the neighborhood groups responsible and that former city council member who is now a County Supervisor. It’s fine to want inclusion and more resources for certain children, but why does it have to be at the expense of other children who are apolitical and innocent? These parents and kids will find a way since a lot of the success of this school is driven by the parents and their children anyway. These administrators can never take that strength away.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2022

There's a systemic attempt to dismantle this school by neighboring community + school board members. Hurling accusations of UNFOUNDED racism at the mostly MINORITY school (but the wrong minority) has been publicly known.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2022

College Park is a school with such an amazingly involved parent community, teachers who deeply care, and a Principal that is caring and listens. My kid is a Kinder that came in without having gone through Turnbull preschool, so unlike most students, he did not have pre-established relationships - it was definitely rocky for the first semester in terms of making the connections he needed to make. But I have seen parents devote so much time to this school to allow for learning enrichment and donate so much money to make the dual-immersion possible for all including those who do not come from a Mandarin-speaking household. I've seen parent volunteers (who are the ones that make all the school events possible) go out of their way to reach out to new and incoming families, including the GATE families, to include them in school activities and planning. With that said, as with any school, there will be conflict. Asking for a school study team for my child when he did encounter conflicts at school was easy and it was enlightening. I really felt like there was a team of folks at the school with me to help my son be at his best. I would say that the school could use more resources in terms of more counselor staffing or more emphasis on SEL.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022

College Park is one of the most amazing schools I have ever seen and I am so grateful to be a part of it. The administrators, teachers, staff, are all incredible. The academic program is top notch and the culture is very supportive and healthier than any other school in the State in my opinion. My second is about to start there and my first has been there for 4 years, and every day I just feel grateful to the folks that run every aspect of the school as well as the community of other parents and classmates. I am so glad that my own daughters get to start their school career in this environment vs any other.Writing in part because the negative review from March 22, 2022 is so different from what I have seen. To that person, I would suggest you send an email directly to either the Principal Singh or Superintendent Ochoa if you want attention to a problem vs posting a review that casts the school so negatively and in my opinion so inaccurately. I have emailed each of them directly more than once and they have always gotten right back to me. If you need their email address, ask anyone on the PTA Board. I am 100% certain that anyone in the school will rally to help you as the entire community cares for and supports each other so much.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022

This Review is in response to the recent reviewer who brought to light the issues the school has been facing. As another parent in the school, I completely agree with everything stated in that review. I am disappointed that the "school leader" thinks that this is just isolated to one incident. Sadly that is not true, and I am very disappointed the school leader is trying to minimize the gravity of this situation. There have been multiple incidents over the year- vandalism, heavy objects being thrown at children, personal belongings stolen and rummaged through, and the list goes on and on. If we felt we could go to the school leader for help, we wouldn't be posting here hoping the district will see what is happening and will step in. The teachers are LOVELY and we are sure they are also very stressed about this. Many of our kids do not feel safe here and have anxiety over attending and worry about what will happen next. Again, this review is not a personal attack against the school leader, but the note above written by the leader gives us the sense that they care more about the reputation of the school and their own reputation rather than the health and safety of the children. This is highly disappointing coming from someone we are entrusting our children with. Additonally, when the kids were spoken with after the incidents, they were told to only relay to their parents just how safe and awesome the school is. Regarding the bathrooms- have to agree, my child refuses to use the restrooms there because of the poor unsanitary conditions and this is not ok. We have also been hit by kids stampeding out on exit multiple times- nobody is there to supervise and correct this aggressive behavior. Thank you to the parent who posted the original review of recent issues. If things do change for the positive, I am more than happy to post an updated review of the school as I am not a proponent of bringing down a school for no reason or for one isolated incident- again there were MULTIPLE incidents, so I hope the leader can correct this in their response. I also hope that the superintendent of the school sees the review and provides resources to step in . It is completely ok for a principal to admit that they need extra help and support, as we are a partnership. Please help this school!
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022

I don't normally post reviews but I felt compelled to do so because of the 3/22/22 post, which is so different from our experience with College Park that I wonder if it's even about the same school. My child has been at College Park for almost 5 years and I have never been concerned about their safety or felt any of their classmates exhibited concerning behavior. Yes, as with any elementary school, there are rambunctious kids as well as kids who test boundaries. However, I have volunteered many times during recess and lunch and have never seen kids being rough (verbally or physically) with each other, heard kids using the N-word or F-word, and have never been concerned about the cleanliness of the campus (including its bathrooms). In fact, compared to my child's friends who attend other elementary schools (including private schools), I have felt fortunate that they have not been exposed to some of the bullying and snarky behavior going on elsewhere and sometimes wonder if the College Park students are perhaps too nurtured because they seem rather "innocent" compared to same-age friends from other schools. College Park is a wonderful school. My child continues to love going to school, is picking up a 2nd language, is academically challenged, and is nurtured and respected by their teachers, the principal (who is wonderfully approachable), staff, and peers, and supported by a very strong and parent parent community (one of the strengths of the school is the sheer number of parent volunteers and donors and a very active PTA).
Submitted by principal on April 24, 2022

Although it is understood that we all have the right to express our opinions, it is important to remember that our words carry weight and can cause damage. College Park is an incredible place with very respectful and caring children and adults. We have a strong supervision schedule and expectations, like any school, and we meet frequently to talk about those expectations. We hold 2-3 "rodeos" a year where students go through 8 stations to remind themselves of the rules. There is always an opportunity for parents and students to talk with teachers or office if there is a concern. Having one incident occur within one classroom once does not define a school - this is unfair and inaccurate. When we exaggerate to make a point or when we make our thoughts the "norm", it is worrisome. It is important to use our freedom of expression in a responsible and respectful way. A heartfelt and deserved shout out to the CP students, staff and parents who work hard each day to make the school an incredible place.
Submitted by other on March 22, 2022

CP needs a serious revamp! There is a lack of supervision in and around the campus which results in an unsafe environment. Kids have been hurt when some other kid shoved them while running out of the school gate after dismissal or have been slapped from behind or objects have been flung on them. They have been exposed to hearing the N-word and F-word from other kids many times. There are belongings stolen almost everyday. There have been instances when kids have found human feces in toilet sinks and urinals. This is not a safe, healthy environment to nurture and educate children.Over the past few months several parents have complained to the Principal Ms Singh. She's working hard in trying to make the school safer. However I had to post this review as I am convinced this is a bigger problem and she needs more help!!! (Hope someone from the SMFCSD is reading this review)
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2019

College Park changed our lives for the better. The principal, her teachers, the other parents, the volunteers and PTA all make a huge difference. Everyone is so dedicated to the kids. We have been very blessed to go to College Park!
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2018

Fantastic opportunity for the kids to learn another language combined with traditional academic rigor.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2016

The new principal is a breath of fresh air. He has demonstrated integrity, caring, and professionalism. The difference is night and day! Welcome, Principal Chuang. We're glad you're here.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2016

Today is the last day of the 2015-2016 year. Our school community is really looking forward to the arrival of the new principal, at last !!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2015

I agree with the comments from others who believe the school's success has come more as a result of the parents than anything the school has done. The vast majority of the student population are from educated, professional families who are very involved in the daily lives of the students as well as provide many additional enrichment activities (afterschool programs, athletics, music, tutoring, additional language help, etc.). This is naturally going to have an influence on the performance of the kids, and reflect well on the school, regardless of the quality of the school.Pros:- The parent community is great and tries to be very involved. Without them, many of the educational opportunities at the schools (art and science in particular) would suffer- The kids get a good foundation in Mandarin. (I'm simply looking for my child to be able to converse and communicate in Mandarin, not be completely fluent)- For a Chinese immersion, there's a fair (not great, but fair) diversity of the student bodyCons:- There's not a lot of support for physical activity for the kids. Kids are asked to come to school in the morning and be quiet and stand still while waiting for classes to start, because the noise of their playing will disturb the teachers preparing in the morning.- During the school tour, we were told about all the great facilities the school has, including the amphitheater, which I don't believe is ever actually used by the kids.- Parents are asked to perform a large number of activities which I believe should be performed by the teachers. One significant example for me is that the parents are asked to grade the kids' homework.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2015

College Park is just ok. Most of parents who send there kids here is because they want to avoid Chinese schools on weekends. In terms of how fluent they will be, that's anyone's guess. 3rd grade and up, there is no set mandarin curriculum. My understanding is that they're simply translating the common core curriculum and teaching that instead. And I do agree with the other parents that the rising scores is mainly due to the student demographics, and not that the teachers are all that exceptional. Most of the parents here are wealthy with advance degrees and focus heavily on the children's academics. Private tutoring, Kumon, and after school programs are common for the students. My plan is to go all the way up to 5th grade and stop mandarin immersion altogether. The plans for the 6-8th grades are not set in stone and right now it's at Bayside Stem where it is getting very little attention. If you have time and money to donate to this school, this is the school for you. Student to teacher ratio is also on the high side, 24:1. So teachers rely on parents to help correct and grade the homework, be in the room as aids, and of course, help kids outside of class.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2014

We have had our children here from preschool onward. We have no Mandarin at home or in our family. Our kids enjoy school and are doing well with the language all on their own without outside help. I don't see any more afterschool tutors or help at our school than I do all of the local kids at English-only schools who have been going to Kumon since they were 4 years old. Parents will always shape their children's education and provide support. This is a positive factor! And parents definitely need to stay on top of the Mandarin and English workload. All CP students take the same standardized tests as the English-only schools, and you only need to look at the test scores to realize that the kids are doing just fine. But my 4th grader also wrote an essay on American Indians, in Mandarin. Pretty cool.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2014

Of the fifteen elementary schools in the San Mateo-Foster City School District, only one is pending award in 2014 as a "California Distinguished School"; that school is College Park Elementary and the award should be granted as early as late April. It is a credit to the Principal, Teachers, Parents, PTA, District Superintendent, and ancillary support from the local community, former and current state elected officials (who enthusiastically attended recent fund-raisers), and the Friends of Mandarin Scholars organization. The high API scores and its continuing upward trajectory (among all demographics) speak for themselves. This is not a neighborhood school but rather an "application only" school; i.e. you must desire to attend, follow a strict application process, and be accepted for matriculation into the school. This is a public school that presents itself as a private school with its closed gated campus, comprehensive remodeling, uniform-only student apparel, and small class sizes. Parent involvement (creativity, financial, and time) is highly prized -- how many schools have as many Kinder parent-student extracurricular private events? Likely few. A very unique school.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2014

This is a Mandarin "immersion" school. What does that mean? The school still must meet state and federal guidelines/expectations with respect to language arts, social studies, science, and math in our country's native English. The addition of Mandarin is not simply an add-on separate and distinct language course unrelated to the overall curriculum as is typical in middle, high school, and college level courses. But rather it is integrated with the comparative English requirements. For example, the science of our solar system and elements/structures of life are taught in English and Mandarin. Thus, the Mandarin component learning reinforces the English curriculum while contemporaneously teaching its own elements of grammatical structure, writing skills (i.e. traditional character stroke order), and oratory pronunciation and annunciation. But wouldn t this limit the school-day allocation of English learning? Not necessarily. Some required learning such as Social Studies are taught exclusively in Mandarin. After all, topics such as this are more conceptual in nature. Not to say that the hard sciences are excluded. Far from it. Math is taught in both English & Mandarin.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2013

I agree that College Park is a very polarized school. That being said, the API improvement for socio-economically disadvantaged students was 46 points, 7 points higher than the school performance overall. That means the score increase came by working with kids who need help, rather than pressuring students to leave. The technology instructor, Gifford Canteens has worked with students identified by teachers as challenged readers. They receive additional computer instruction on auditory and language processing. If I were a parent looking into an elementary school based on purely the academic opportunities for my child, I would ignore the PTA pressures and consider College Park.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2013

College Park is a fantastic success story and definitely a work in progress. I would like to address some of the older comments with an updated report. In 2013, CP improved its API score by 35 points and moved up to be the fifth best school in the district. With the already high scores of our Asian and white students remaining steady, it was our Hispanic, low income and ESL students who drove this improvement. The PTA is committed to being inclusive of all of our constituencies and continues to try to find new ways to reach out to our Spanish-speaking families. The quality of Mandarin instruction has also improved dramatically since the program started six years ago. During the program's first year, Kinders had only one hour of Mandarin instruction a day. Now most students split their time 50/50 between Mandarin and English. We could have sent our kids to our neighborhood school with better test scores, an establish curriculum and a well-oiled PTA machine. But we're glad we sent them to College Park. We're thankful our kids have this opportunity to learn Mandarin in school. We enjoy being a part of the CP community and this work in progress.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2013

CP has a very polarized student body. The school is perfect for parents whose children have no special needs & who fund the programs and attend PTA meetings. If you do, you will receive attention, praise, & communication from the principal. Of course you will think the principal is approachable if you are on her good side & your child contributes to making the API score higher. Unfortunately, for the hundreds of other students who are not native Mandarin speakers, the school is a very different experience. Students who are, quite honestly, Asian or white, are responsible for the API being over 800, & the principal knows it. The students who speak Spanish are frequently ignored, fall farther behind academically, & receive the lowest scores on standardized tests. Rather than creating programs & support for these lower-achieving students, it's easier for CP to support & guide their high achieving students. Most of the Hispanic parents are not involved in the PTA, but that shouldn't mean that their children's academic needs should be ignored. The Mandarin immersion is a fantastic idea, but this school is hiding behind that to cover its severe problem of not making school equitable.