Orchard Center Elementary

7519 E BUCKEYE

School District

West Valley (Spokane)
Grade

1-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for West Valley School District (Spokane)

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 June 03, 2022

I read these very old reviews and the entire office staff and principal have changed. The new principal has been there for about 7 years and the secretary is also named Trish but she is not the one other people are referring to. I have had 3 kids go though this school and am very impressed with he leadership, and every single teacher. They take time to get to know individual students as learners and as people. I love OC! My last child is leaving next year and I am already sad.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2014

Orchard Center is extremely accomodating. When a child needs more attention, they get it. When they need more challenge, they get it. Parent involvement is impressive and for working parents who cannot be in the school often, the teachers and other families help each other out. The staff and principal uphold the no-bully policies. They teach more than books - socialization, manners, respect, citizenship, and so much more. I'm so happy my kids went to OC.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2013

Awesome School .... Felt very welcome when we switched our boys from district 81 out to the valley.
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2013

As the school year comes to an end, we are moving just to get our child away from this school. Huge bullying problem through all the grades. great lack of leadership. The principal blows a lot of hot air, but no real action. The receptionist, Trish is cold and unfriendly. Save yourself a lot of hassle and try Seth Woodard Elementary down the way, I always hear glowing reviews from other parents and wish we would have put our child there first!
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2013

My daughter went to Orchard Center from Kindergarten to 5th grade and we loved every minute of it. She was actually "choiced in" as her daycare was in the school district. I volunteered for 5 years to run the Fit for Bloomsday after school program and got to know a lot of the kids. The principal was awesome and truly cares about the kids. All of my daughters teachers were awesome and when she had a problem with reading in 1st grade they had her in a special program to help her out. She did great and never had a problem since. We now live in the school district as she is in middle school and just love WVSD all the way around. I would send her there again in a heartbeat. She got a great education by caring and involved teachers/principal. Parent involvement may not of been that great but in this day and age both parents have to work. There were always great turnouts for bingo night, "Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Mom", student of the month breakfast, school carnival, etc.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2013

no communication, and the staff/principal of the school tend to rely on the excuse "we are a low income neighborhood and don't have involvement of parents" as a way to distract from their shortcomings and huge lack of organization.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2013

NOT the school to have your child attend it they have special needs like ADHD, Autism, or others. They are VERY behind on special education services and needs. Huge lack in communication. If your child is a "star student" and does not require much, they will probably do fine. However, if your child is developmentally behind don't count on the staff to inform you of progress regularly. When your child does struggle to meet academic objectives, the blame is pointed at parents, a typical staff scapegoat. There is no consistency in staffing aides or schedule for your special needs student. We will be looking into a different school this next school year, as Orchard Center is ill equipped to deal with learning disabilities. The past 2 years at Orchard Center have hindered the success of our special needs child.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2012

My husband and I love this school. All of our children have gone to Orchard Center and three are still currently attending. They all have excellent test scores and I have nothing but kind words to say about the principal and the rest of the staff. I love volunteering regularly and I ALWAYS feel welcomed into the school. I hope the other negative reviewers child gets such a great education elsewhere that he or she can teach their parent that neighborhood is one word :)
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2012

My student has attended OC for the past 3 years, and we've been extremely happy with the school, teachers, staff, and students. We feel that the teachers/staff go the extra mile to help the students. The Principal is fair and has great leadership that the students look up too. We have a great core of parent volunteers that are there to help our students! I highly recommend our school! My son attended another school for a year after moving to the area and he was unhappy and was glad we moved into the OC area.
Submitted by other on May 11, 2012

I just read the review by a parent who was not very happy with Orchard Center's Quality of education. It was very discouraging. I am a grandparent to two Orchard center students. I have been involved from time to time in some of the school activities. I only have great things to say about their teachers and staff. They not only care about teaching students who fit in the box of standardized education, they go out of their way to teach "special needs" students. This process of including those children in each classroom is very enriching for kids who would not otherwise be exposed to people who are not exactly like themselves. The teachers go over the top to include all the children in their education in practical involvement in their community and their environment as a whole. Perhaps the best thing would have been for those interested in what really goes on in the school to attend some of the classes and assemblies and observe what really goes on instead of looking at statistics. Sometimes the best thing to do is to join in the education process instead of trying to change it.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2012

They have been on academic probation for quite some time now. We went to speak with teachers about how the school got there and what they were doing to change here are a few of the answers we got. It hasn't changed for sometime and trust me it isn't going to be changing anytime soon We don't have parents who involve themselves so what more can we expect Then we went to speak with the principal his BIG excuse that he kept saying was, "Demographically speaking we are in a low income neighbor hood. Parents don't have the time and don't put in the effort." So because we live in a low income neighbor hood my family members do not deserve a good education. We tried helping with programs and trying to get the school involved we waited all year and at the end of this year we have made the decision to switch schools. Nothing has changes lots of talk but no action. I actually went to find out about enrolling my children there before we knew this. The secretary couldn't give me any info on the school and when she went to ask the principal he wouldn't come out of his office to greet us he sent her back with a sticky note with a web address on it. So who not participating Orchard Center?
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2010

This school has helped my child so much!