Carlton Hills Elementary School

9353 Pike Road

Santee, CA 92071

School District

Santee
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

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 November 03, 2024

This school only cares about money, and how they can use you and your family to secure funding. I get more fundraising emails and requests for family flier night than anything else, and it drowns out everything important. They send home questionaires and cards requesting personal family information, but when a child needs actual aid in school they will not provide anything beyond school counselor visits (no in-class support) without paperwork from doctors allowing them to secure funding. Class sizes are way too big, and there is now allowance at all for very young kids who are too young to diagnose with behavioral disorders, but can't sit still in class. I atended this school in the mid 90's. It was a conservative nightmare then, and it has not changed much since then other than the traffic on Pike, which is one of the worst cases of traffic management I think I've ever witnessed. The "Safety Patrol" is an absolute joke, and I have had to physically grab my 5 year old child walking from our car to class to avoid him being run over.TK and Kinder students have no drive-up option to drop off, and are not allowed to use the parking lot, so we are forced to park on the street and walk up, which seems like terrible prioritizing.The Class Dojo app they require parents to use for communication AGGRESSIVELY shills the premium version by every available method, and the teachers seem to have no concept of how it looks on the parent side. Also, don't you dare advocate for your childs needs or request an accomodation of your teachers on Dojo or, they become wildly offended.My child comes home every day unwilling to talk about anything that happened at school. He's in trouble every day for being an excitable 5 year old who can't sit still. The school meals are chocked full of sugar (Yogurt, Applesauce and a Pop Tart for Breakfast, and both Chocolate Milk and an Icey at lunch) and almost no real food gets into him until he gets home, at which point he's hangry.Not a good school for parents or young students. They expect your child to sit still, shut up, keep to themselves and be a good little automaton. If you have any behavioral issues at all, be sure you have physician documentation or this school will do nothing for you while flooding you with behavioral write-ups for your kid.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2024

This school has zero care for a child’s well being or mental health. My child attended this school for two years and now asks me why god made him a bad child. I’ve received notes from the teacher saying he had a hard day because he threw a frisbee in a tree… the vice principal is extremely fake, likely has no children by the way she reacts to them, and does everything possible to avoid actually helping kids. Please do not send your child here.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2023

worst School ever in the whole world. my disabled son ran from the school and came home and they did not notice it until we returned him to school. they are giving the kids a bad attitude and scare kids.
Submitted by parent on July 15, 2020

Horrible! If I could switch their school I would in a heartbeat.
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2019

Phenomenal! We are so glad that our kids can attend here through middle school.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2015

Carlton Hills is wonderful school and the students receive high test scores at this school even beating the gate program in the past. Office staff and administration are personable and available. No bullying issues. Teachers overall are wonderful with the exception of two jr high teachers that are unorganized and do not appear to enjoy what they are doing. They miss alot of school days over a couple years which appears to leave students with alot of busy work on all those days and weeks. However there are several teachers that you can tell are just passionate for teaching and make the differance...Stanley , Tade and Desharm are amazing and CARE and help kids that are not even in their class.
Submitted by other on January 20, 2014

I love Carlton Hills. I am a current student there and all of the teachers are nice and helpful there. My sister and I have only been there for 2 years and it has been awesome. There are some arguments here and there, but nothing major. However, each year, they are losing some jr high classrooms and adding more primary and intermediate classrooms. I love Mrs. Ducharme, she is the best jr high teacher ever. My sibling has Mrs. Tomaszyk and she is fun as well.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2013

Great School! The staff is friendly and helpful.The teachers are friendly an willing to help. And the students are well behaved.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2012

My son started at Carlton Hills for kindergarten last year, and is doing great. Many of the reviews that are negative are from parents whose children are doing poorly in school. As a parent, if my child were struggling in a course, I would pay for tutors in that subject. Many parents assume that their responsibility lies only within making sure they are at school. The truth is that parents need to be just as active in their children's education if they want them to succeed. Yes, tutors may cost money, but when you have kids, you know they are going to cost money, and as a parent if you are not going to give them ALL the tools necessary to be successful, you are doing a disservice to your kids. Schools provide the foundation for education, parents must supplement that on their own for children to truly gain the most out of their education. Several observations: the parents that maintain constant communication with teachers have more successful children, the parents that are involved in classroom and school activities have more successful children, parents that give their children the tools to be successful will have the most successful children.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2012

My daughter will be going to high school next year so I had to write and say we have always loved Carlton Hills, We have heard about bullies at other schools close to us and we are very happy that our daughter has never had to deal with anything like that. I fully recommend Carlton Hills.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2011

This school is the best school I have ever encountered! I came to California in the 2nd grade and attended a San Diego Unified School District school. I have seen the big difference in this school district compared wtih SDUSD, this district is the best. This school, which my children attend (the older one now in high school) has the most amazing teachers. If it wasn't for the dedication to the kids demonstrated daily by the principal, vice principal, teachers and resourse specialists, my autistic child would not be earning a 3.33 gpa in high school, with no modifications. The staff here really care about the kids, and it shows in the excitement both of my children exhibit about going to school. My kids are devastated if they can't go to school...
Submitted by other on March 19, 2011

I don't know what the other student is talking about with Mrs. Bertrand. She was the most amazing teacher. She teaches with humor and makes learning so much fun. I can still sing the Preamble! Even though there have been so many budget cuts, she still stays late after school for any student who needs it. She also spends her time and money to be in charge of ASB. She went to many of our sporting events at West Hills after we graduated from Carlton Hills and she always made us feel special. Maybe the other student wasn't doing his/her work, because Mrs. Bertrand does have high expectations because she knows we can do it and she doesn't accept excuses. I have had many teachers in my junior high, high school, and college years and I can honestly say that Mrs. Bertrand was my favorite teacher of all time. She is one of the reasons Carlton Hills is such an amazing school!
Submitted by other on January 12, 2011

I am a student that has moved on into highschool now and i have to agree with the upset parents. I struggled alot in Jr. High not only because i was having family problems but also because I have a learning disabilty I personaly though Mrs. Bertrand was a horrible teacher and i think Mrs. Barker needs to work harder one on one with her students when they need help after school. When i first started 7th grade Mrs. Harris was my home room teacher and she was amazing she helped me one on one after school and she would stay there with me even when it was 5:30pm if I wasnt done I was very dissapointed that they let such a wonderful teacher go...DISSAPOINTING!