Summerland Elementary School

135 Valencia Road

School District

Carpinteria Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Carpinteria 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 other on January 10, 2025

This school is just beautiful. Its been over 10 years since I went here but it really shaped me as a person. Even after leaving for middle school, I came back and volunteered until all the teachers who had taught me had left. The teachers really care about the students. They accommodated the needs of students very well, and they formed connections with students that still have an impact on me until this day. I wish I could experience those days again. This school provided such a good stepping stone into academics, even when their resources were spread thin, they tried to help each student get what they needed. Afterschool programs were amazing too. I remember my favorite program was shut down due to funding issues, but they still provided afterschool care if it was needed. I have vivid memories of sitting in the library well after school was done, and the librarian (and lunch lady) cut me up an apple and sat down with me. The staff really care about their students. The community is great too. Friendships I made in elementary school are still going strong to this day. I believe I am the person I am today partly because of Summerland School. It was a godsend!!!!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2017

What a fantastic experience my daughter has at Summerland. After a mediocre start in other schools, she finally found a perfect environment allowing her her excel academically and socially. The close knit student body and parent community are what make this school a 10.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2016

Summerland School is a great school for our child who is thriving here. We like it that there are many families from Summerland and Carpinteria. Some of the kids transferred here from other schools (Aliso, Canalino, Family School and Crane). It is nice that everything is on one campus, so all the kids know each other since they have recess together every day. The teachers are vibrant and seem to really enjoy their jobs (the 2/3 teacher is Carpinteria Educator of the Year), and the kids seem happy to be learning together. They are getting ready for the whole school musical (I heard that this is their 7th year of putting on a musical production). Summerland is known for the arts , and they have a great gardening program, too.
Submitted by other on December 09, 2015

My kids loved going to the camps that are offered through the school. CIMI and the Astro Camp.
Submitted by other on May 26, 2015

This school is literally a God send. We live in Canalino District but were able to petition for Summerland School because our son needs to be academically challenged. The staff and teachers are amazingly supportive and go above and beyond to help our shy son to feel safe and loved. In addition, Summerland School has gardening, art, and theater which most schools no longer offer. Lastly, the parents are phenomenal: loving, supportive, and committed to keeping our children safe and thriving.Summerland School is the public school that feels like a private school and we could not be happier.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2015

Summerland School has been such a huge blessing for our family. We had always imagined that our kid would go to Family School until we learned that there was a lottery, and our kid did not get in. In retrospect, we feel so lucky that we ended up at Summerland School. Summerland is like a charter school with a very active gardening, art, music, theater and PE program. The teachers are very passionate about teaching and instill such a love for learning in our kids. Our kid just loves to act out the water cycle! The K-1 class begins each day with a community circle, where the kids greet each other in different languages, sing songs and do many other exciting activities. The result is that all 20 kids in the K-1 class have so much love for each other. They come from many different backgrounds, but they are like a tribe, and so are the families. Parents linger around after school, so there is a great sense of community, and many of them are very active in the parent organization. There are regular K-1 play dates in the park. Most importantly, our kid is on fire and cannot wait to go to school each day!
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2014

Summerland School is definitely one of the best-kept secrets for families in Summerland and Carpinteria. It s a public school but with such a private school feel. It has a very vibrant gardening, music, art and theater program. The teachers are absolutely amazing. They care so deeply about their students and really know how to make learning fun and interesting. This place has so much heart (and it doesn t hurt that it s only a block away from the ocean). Our kid loves it here (and can t wait to go to school every day), and we love it, too, as well as the wonderful sense of community it provides. We re so glad we found our way to Summerland. We couldn t be happier.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2014

Our son is excelling at Summerland Elementary. He loves school. He is bummed when he has no school. Summerland is a small school, only a handful of students in 1st grade. Our son is far beyond his grade level in all aspects. Thank You to the Teachers,, Staff, and involved Parents. I may not be the most involved Parent...But I recognize the important foundation my son (and younger son eventually) is getting to develop good study habits, strength in friendly academic competition, challenging assignments with reward incentives, and the list goes on. The teachers care. The students care. And Each student looks after the other students to achieve their goals. It is amazing...and I was an early skeptic.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2013

Old moldy school need to be separated from Carpinteria district because they do not care for this school it should have there own district like Montecito union . time to rebuilt a new school for Summerland
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2012

As an involved parent at Summerland School, I am horrified by the review of another's perception on May 8th about ours being a "horrible" school... and I disagree wholeheartedly. I see our AMAZING CHILDREN growing, learning, thriving in small classroom environments. I see incredible teachers with undaunting drives to educate and understand each child. I see a new principle with an eagle eye for details and a heart full of compassion. And I see passionate parents who care deeply about their children in our little Summerland School by raising enough money each year to pay for teachers aids in each classroom, a P.E. teacher so ALL the kids can get some phyical education a couple of times per week, plus separate arts and music teachers to round out their cirriculum.. .and more! When I look at Summerland School, I see happy children and a lot of HEART. I'm thrilled my kids are a big part of such a small environment for elementary school; and I'm proud to be part of the school by involving myself and my family in it's sucesses.
Submitted by other on May 08, 2011

We do not recommend anyone we know of send their kids to this school! Like most other parents, we originally heard some positive things about this school such as its high academic performance and small sized class. We also heard that this school is snobby from a parent who took their child out of this school. These are all correct. We also found out that in one year the school's enrollment went from more than 70 down to 50. It was true that the 6th grade was terminated that year, but it was also true that there were only 3 six graders in Summerland School at that time. WHY were people leaving? What we learned about this school is as follows: 1.) There is a high pressured push for academic performance for its external PR purposes regardless of student's readiness. 2.) The principle does not return phone calls for weeks if you are not her type of parents. 3.) Awards are frequently given to students whose parents are financial sponsors of the school. We hope children can go to a school where kids are supported and nurtured, and equally treated. Mostly their curiosity is encouraged as the motivation for their success, not just some score report for elementary students!
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2011

I do not understand why Summerland School is not considered part of Carpinteria Unified School! I searched for Carpinteria Unified School and I couldn't see it. Summerland School countinually earn the highest academic ranking in Santa Barbara County; and Summerland School is among the top 5% of California Distinguished Schools in The State .Summerland ranked # 1 in Santa Barbara County to this date. Please give Summerland School credit!
Submitted by other on April 24, 2010

Great School, Small Classses,Good Teachers and Lots of Parent Participation!
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2010

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