Venetia Valley Elementary School

177 North San Pedro Road

School District

San Rafael City Elementary
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for San Rafael City Elementary 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 October 26, 2023

We have been at venetia Valley for years now, from 2008 to currently. This school is only been amazing for my 2 girls, great responsive teachers. We have loved every teacher we have had, teachers at VV go above and beyond with students and their families. They offer a lot of support for everyone not just low income. It’s sad that all neighbors are taking their kids to what they believe is better schools because the ratings are higher but they fail to see that VV is 89% Hispanic (English learners) doesn’t mean that kids are not learning. These kids are going to thrive as adults because they are bilingual and we all know how amazing it is be able to think and write In 2 languages. Graduates at Venetia Valley are at advantage to monolingual students. I highly recommend venetia valley, my neighborhood school for ver 15 years.
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2023

HI my name is globed world i am a studen't at venetia valley in reallly recomend this school because it a good school.I agree that Venetia Valley is a great school. The teachers are wonderful. They really pay attention to the needs of each kid and have promptly responded to me whenever I have had a question about my children's academic or social development. We have a beautiful library, computer in labs and in the classrooms, Playworks is onsite to organize recess and lunch activities, a new kindergarten play structure and much more is happening. It is not full of gangs and bullies, or lacking in supplies. There are not hundreds of kid bussed in from Richmond. FALSE RUMORS!!!!! Do not believe them. VV is a public school and like all public schools, it needs parents and others to volunteer time and/or money. But the kids are learning the same things kids at other schools are learning, they are safe and surrounded by caring teachers, staff and parents. Those that are spreading the negative rumors are the types who will complain no matter where their kids go to school. If we want this to continue to be a great school, we need our parents and community to be part of the solution, not the problem.V.V. is a great school. Yes it has problems but what schools don't. The teachers are the best, and no they are not tired. I volunteer at least 3 hours every week so i am there and the problems the last reviewer stated are just FALSE. We do need more parents to step up and care,and help in these tough financial times. We need parents who care and are willing to help their children and local school succeed, and not just walk away. V.V. will keep improving, if parents and the community will work together,but it takes time. I am glad these people with bad attitudes are leaving, since they are the ones showing no respect to their community, or children. A child needs to make friends where they live and not be dropped into a new class and community due to a short sighted parent. False facts like the ''droves'' leaving are false, just check the enrollment figures..I grew up in San Rafael and I am proud to be an 'involved parent of a child at V,V.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2022

VV staff is doing a great job building a community with the school families. They are very communicative about what is going on with school and the free breakfast and lunch has been wonderful!
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2022

Great Schools ratings are problematic because they are better at showing how WHITE a school is than anything else. I say this as a white parent who was born and raised in Southern Marin. Don’t believe me? Look at the socioeconomic and racial breakdowns of the the schools to compare. The White students at VV outperform state averages, and give the school an 8/10 rating—just as good as Southern Marin, mostly White schools. However, Venetia Valley is 86% Hispanic and so many of the students are learning two languages at once, and most White families in our neighborhood get inter-district transfers to whiter schools because they only look at VV’s overall rating, and not the breakdown. Ultimately, it’s the White families who are missing out on an amazing multicultural experience VV can offer with teachers and an administration that is top notch and always going above and beyond for our kids. The bilingual children at VV catch up to their mono-language peers by 5th grade and then begin outperforming them. Bilingual students perform better at more complicated tasks, show more flexible and creative thinking, have brains hardwired to be resistant to geriatric memory loss illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and can command higher pay for their bilingual skills. The future, especially in California, is going to be bilingual and you better believe college admissions administrators already know this. VV graduates will have the upper hand. So, to all the White families afraid to give VV a chance and are thinking of transferring to the whiter schools in the district, take the time to look at the breakdowns on this website—you will see the school is actually an 8/10 for your children. VV recently won a Blue Ribbon Award for outstanding academic achievement in closing the equity gap by implementing a dual language immersion program—which is now available for English speakers as well! There is value in exposing your children to classmates who look different from them—an education that cannot be taught from a textbook. Stay, support your neighborhood school, and prepare to be so impressed with the close-knit, small community feel, staff who respond to your emails after hours and on weekends, teachers who are passionate and engaging, a culture that celebrates diversity, multiculturalism and multilingualism, and a curriculum focused on leadership and social justice! We are so happy we chose VV for our children (who are now in the bilingual program learning Spanish!)
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2021

Great! My child enjoys going to school here and all the teachers have been wonderful.
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2020

We just love Venetia Valley! We were hesitant going in- as the talk of the neighborhood was not to send out child here with no valid explanation. We went anyways and fell in love with the school! I immediately got involved in the PTA to be apart of the changes we want to see in the school. So many are quick to judge, but it deserves a shot! If you see inadequacies, then join the PTA, provide input and help! ALL of the teachers are excellent. They go above and beyond. We are so happy we made the decision to go to and support our neighborhood school!
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2015

VV is an excellent choice! Both of my sons have attended VV starting in kindergarten. One is about to go on to high school and the other is about to enter VV middle school. VV offers a intercultural experience and a small community feel. Both of my children test above average if not advanced on all standardized state tests and do not suffer at all due to the overall low scoring of this school. Many students at VV are bilingual and are tested in their non-native language thus the low overall test scores. These students will master at least two languages before middle school. How many of us can say that about our children? Fantastic!
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

Venetia Valley school is a great school with supportive parents and a great atmosphere where kids can learn. We have great after school programs that are so reasonably priced that allow your child to participate in a variety of enrichment programs. My children love going to school everyday and are learning so much on a daily basis. We have educational coaches that assist the teachers and can report how my child is performing against our educational standards. Check out Venetia Valley for yourself. It is an undiscovered gem.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

I have two kids here, and we have LOVED every teacher we have had, we've been here 6 years. Juan is great and will only get better. Come on Santa Venetia, support your local school and make it the best!
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Fantastic new Principal is bringing great things to VV: new programs, new environment, new attitude. Loving it!
Submitted by teacher on August 10, 2013

My school works hard and tries hard. The teachers strive to continue to improve this school each year. I am really proud of our hard work and dedication
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2013

I have two kids at VV, and I couldn't be happier with what's happening there. The systemic problems of the past are being remedied - Juan Rodriguez had a great first year as principal and really changed the tone on campus. The teachers are great - some of the most dedicated people I've ever met. My kids are thriving, and things are just continuing to get better...
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2012

I live in the neighborhood, and was very nervous about sending my kindergartner to school here. I had heard so many bad things about VV, but my kid is just a poor fit for the private school my other children have attended. I have to tell you that I have been very pleasantly surprised by our experience with VV. My son's teacher is the best Kindergarten teacher that any of my 4 kids have had, and it seems that the new principal has really upped the level of leadership at the school. I have no complaints--I think this school has the potential of becoming really great.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2012

I have one child here, and another joining next year. VV has some of the best teachers, and now one of the best principals in all of Marin. After a series of district failures to provide consistent leadership, Juan Rodriguez is a prayer answered at the helm. The school has a new and exciting energy to it which you won't see anywhere else. Issues involving test scores and community involvement are simply, directly and literally solved by local families choosing to send their children there. We hope the new leadership and vision will inspire exactly that.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2012

Both of my kids attend this school and are doing great! I am impressed with the new administration and all the changes being made. This could be a great "neighborhood" school if our neighbors would just attend. This school offers tons of diversity and a real life experience.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2012

Our experience at VV was not a positive one. I hope for the sake of the school that the new leadership really takes a firm stand against bullying and lack of dicipline in the classroom. Most of the kids in our neighborhood attend private school but we wanted to give VV a chance. We lasted a year and that as it.