Podesta Ranch Elementary School

9950 Windmill Park Drive

School District

Lodi Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Lodi Unified 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 September 03, 2021

As a parent of student who attended Podesto Ranch, I recently chose to place my child in private school due to the lack of compassion and empathy for students especially the younger children who are just entering the school system. The first grade teacher would not allow my child to use the restroom after repeated requests - luckily she did not wet her pants which would have been very embarrassing for her. In my daughters words "the teacher is really good at ignoring kids when they ask questions". Her teacher also admitted to me that rather than take my daughters recess away (for closing her Chrome book when she went to recess) she had my daughter walk in a circle for 10 minutes. She did this because she told the children to leave them open because she doesn't have time to log them all in - my daughter has always been in the habit of locking her devices and knows how to log on herself which the teacher admitted but since all the children do not she asks that all the children leave their devices unlocked. Taking a child's recess the second day she received the device was harsh to me. I then got a call that I needed to pick up my daughter because she had hurt herself pretty bad on the playground, I left my job to pick her up and just as I was pulling up I was told it wasn't my daughter - it was another child.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2018

My experience as a parent at Podesta Ranch Elementary was a level 10. The community atmosphere allowed my child to excel academically and socially.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2015

My children have attended this school since it opened many years ago. It was a wonderful school until the previous principal left. After that the school fell apart with the new principal and vice principal. I have nothing good to say about it now. This school was also an open school, so anyone could send their child here and guess what they sure did. It went downhill fast and the newest parents are not for volunteering or helping out. The classes are maxed out and not enough one on one with students. The teachers are great, at least most of them are. I wouldn't recommend sending my child here. :( Signed, a disappointed mom
Submitted by parent on April 08, 2014

My son has been going to Podesta for almost 6 years and loves it here. His teachers and principal have been wonderful and supportive. The PTA is strong and puts together great events. Last years Harvest Fest was the best! We are really going to miss this school when he goes off to 7th grade this year.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2013

The teachers are great! The school has a great PTA. They are a very organized school.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2013

Good staff,great principal & the pta is greatly involved! My kids love their school which makes it fun & more enjoyable for them to learn!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2013

This is my daughters 2nd year at Podesta Ranch coming from a private school. It's not true that you get what you pay for. We were paying almost $500.00 in tuition when we switched to Podesta Ranch. Sadly and unknown to us that our daughter was behind and the wonderful teachers at this school had to catch her up to where she should be. Awesome school!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2013

Our daughter has gone to this school for the last two years and we absolutely love it! It is a small school and we feel she gets great one on one attention from her teachers each year. We could not be happier with this Podesta Ranch Elementary!
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2013

When walking on to the Podesta Ranch campus you can feel the good energy radiating from the classrooms. My daughter will be part of the first class to attend from kindergarten to sixth grade, since opening. We are so pleased with the school, and feel like we are part of a family, we are sad she only has one more year before going to middle school. There are truly some superstar teachers at Podesta Ranch, creating an exciting yet challenging culture for students. PTA is active and visible. The principal has built a great team, including a new vice principal this year. Podesta...our school rocks!!
Submitted by other on October 08, 2013

This school has an amazing community. Every parent is involved in some way of the students lives. The teachers are always doing something extra for their kids even when its on their own time
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2013

Our school is great! Have four kids that attend here and there is a wonderful sense of community. Principal and staff are really amazing and work very hard for our kids. We have been hit hard with all cutbacks but we have a hard working PTA that really strives to fill in the blanks.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2013

Podesta Ranch school is a farily new school (6th year open). We had the unfortunate luck to open right at the same time that the recession started. This left our school with minimal resources and still the families, the community, and staff have all rallied together to make PODESTA RANCH a great learning enviroment for our students. I can not say enough good things about Podesta Ranch. I feel that my children are trully lucky to be a part of such an amazing school.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

This is a great school - principal is hands on, teachers are great. I am sorry that this is my daughters last year and we will miss it when she moves on to middle school.