Sandy Grade School

38955 Pleasant Street

School District

Oregon Trail 46
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Oregon Trail School District 46

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 September 17, 2024

Great school in a great town. Teachers are involved and actually care
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2024

I would not recommend this school at all. Learning: My children fell behind in areas they originally had done well with both in reading and math. My child struggled with math and we were told that until they are several grade levels behind, they won't intervene. We ended up needing to put our child in expensive private tutoring, with no help from the school. Social Emotional Support: The behavior in the classrooms is so unbelievably atrocious, no wonder why learning is not happening. There is only one counselor for the entire school, and there is not a SPED room or behavioral classroom. Therefore, many students with extreme behaviors and special needs are not properly being tended to. The kids with extreme behaviors basically rule the school. At most, the school can separate your child from the bully but other than that, you're on your own. There are many kids who need more help and they simply aren't getting it.Safety:Horrible- zero out of 10 2 out of 3 of my children have been harmed at this school. There were issues with violence, threats, foul/inappropriate language, and inappropriate touching. This all happened in the younger grades! The staff will not support you and the teacher's hands are tied. In fact, the 'discipline' is the exact opposite of what you may expect at a school. The kids with bad behaviors are rewarded by getting play time in the office. If they earn their stickers, they get to "take a break" in the office, which includes letting the children play with toys and kinetic sand and fidgets, for a specified time. The office is a jungle of disruptive kids who have somehow earned a break from class. While on the other hand, the students who do their work, stay on task, and do not hurt other kids have to stay in class and finish their work. This is utterly backwards and any reasonable person can identify this.Special Education:non existent! Do not send your kid with special needs here! They do not have the support needed. There aren't enough aides and there's basically no help. Send your kids to kelso or naas if your child needs extra help. They will not get it here. Family Engagement:The family involvement overall seems incredibly low at this school, it does not have a family centered feel to it. There are not many options in the OTSD if you're looking for a quality school, however, I could not in good faith recommend this school to anyone.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2022

Sandy Grade is horrible and should be shut down. I pulled my student out after a week. I have a Bachelors in Education, so I have some understanding of how a school should operate. I have nothing good to say about Sandy Grade. I feel sorry for the students.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2022

If you're coming here from somewhere with good public schools, involved parents, and a culture of accountability: brace yourself for a world of disappointment.The curriculum is focused on Title 1 minimum standards. There are an above average number of kids a grade level or two behind - no doubt due to the failure of remote learning during the pandemic, but also a result of the many families that can't (or won't) prioritize academics for their children enrolled here. There is no homework, which is a huge mistake - parents are let off the hook being involved in their children's education. TAG appears to be stalled and/or not happening at all.The staff at SG do not communicate proactively with parents about the curriculum happening in the classroom and much of what's being taught is below grade level outside of the Title 1 sphere. Communications are limited to conferences and announcements of events that are controversial in some way and/or require parental approval. Being ghosted by the principal and teachers on issues you've raised is common.SG's curriculum and discipline protocols prioritize keeping kids out of the principals office and in the classroom where they're free to disrupt and collect "Yikes" writeups that amount to nothing. Discipline is largely hands off and there isn't enough monitoring. Sadly, many kids are groomed at home and online to attempt "getting away" with thing when no adults are looking. Lots of reports of kids defacing the bathrooms and squabbles in the hall when nobody is looking.The enrollment is bursting at the seams as Sandy grows and class sizes are hedging on 30 students per class. The building is nearly 100 years old and bulldozer-ready, yet nothing is being done to prioritize improving the situation by the district (or at least, nothing that's been shared with parents.) There is no PTA or fundraisers of any kind to supplement much needed school funding. On the plus side, the school has good security measures in place to keep the kids safe and the school lunches + breakfasts are free (at least for now). There are a number of really wonderful families who are toughing it out with their kids attending SG. As for alternatives, the district has a single charter school that has a waiting list for all grades. So if you live in district, your options are limited to supplementing education at home, full on homeschooling, enrolling at Firwood (not far away), or one of the many private schools in the area.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2022

Great school . Teachers actually care! Only issue is some kids need extra help with their emotions and keep causing disruptions in the class .
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2021

My family is overjoyed to be a part of this school community. The staff are warm, welcoming, pushing my students to get the most out of them. We have been impressed with the communication from both the principal and teachers. Our family really enjoyed the craft and literacy night. Our children are excited to come to school each day and we are feel safe and secure.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2018

It has unfortunately been pretty much what I expected, based on the reviews of the school. One thing I did not expect though was the absolute incompetence of the school's security. My ex was deemed by the courts to be a dangerous threat to our daughter, and not allowed on school grounds. This was conveyed to school staff and teachers in person, and via court documentation. They took it upon themselves to allow an exception without notifying me, and let her mother visit her at the school. This school deserves to be shut down. Alas I don't believe this is a solely a symptom of this school alone. It seems to be a failure of Oregon's public school in general.
Submitted by parent on December 24, 2013

This is a great school. 3 kids have gone to this school. Great teachers And great staff
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

My daughter has been at this school for 5 years and we have had wonderful teachers. Teachers that really love the kids and work with them as individuals to inspire them and teach them to love learning. My daughter has been pushed to improve and grow and I am very happy with her academic progression.