Paloma Elementary School

42940 Vía Rami

School District

Temecula Valley Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for Temecula Valley 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 May 02, 2024

Concerned and disappointed. After picking up my child from the school provided day care on campus my child informed me that another student spit in their hair. My child went on to explain that the other student did it intentionally from above. A third student witnessed the incident and informed my child that it was done intentionally. My child was hurt and mortified. The following day I discussed the incident with the school principal. I was completely disappointed with her lack of professionalism and any attempt made to follow up on the incident. I was informed by the principle that because the incident occurred at the after-school day care that she would not be following up on the incident or issuing any disciplinary action. I informed her that this is unacceptable and that I will require some follow up on this incident, the principle stated that she would have the after-school day care contact me regarding the issue. Unacceptable.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2024

Teachers are great and I love that they encourage good values/morals with the trait of the month and help students learn how to control their emotions. Lots of positive feedback and rewards. Have loved every teacher our 2 boys have had so far. Wish they had a "good news club."
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2018

I cannot say enough good things about Paloma! My child attended Paloma as part of their SEAL program (supporting children who struggle with behavior). He loved it there and so did I! It’s nice to have a team you feel confident are doing their best to support your child. We have an IEP and our team was so helpful! I am specially appreciative of M’s teachers: Mrs. Meyers and Druhe for being Super Teachers! We also felt incredibly supported by Mrs. Gradstein (and loved receiving a copy of your IEP notes!), we appreciate Ms. Cosby and cannot begin to say how appreciative we are of everything Mrs. Daab did for us! You are all incredible people, who are truly making a difference in these children’s lives!
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2017

Paloma Elementary goes above & beyond! There are amazing and caring teachers that love on the children and do all in their power to ensure the students are thriving in their best possible way. Smiling faces are found all around the campus, from the secretaries, administrators, students, parent volunteers, custodian and on and on! This school has a great balance of fun activities and striving for the best in education- this is something that is very important to me, kids should be having fun and creating life long memories while working hard and learning!
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2014

We started halfway through the year and have had an excellent school year. My kids are sad on Fridays because they don't "get to go to school". In my many years of parenting, I have never heard that comment before. We felt welcomed and included from the get-go. The teachers we've experienced have all been superb.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2014

Paloma is a wonderful school. We moved into the district last summer and my kids feel more at home at Paloma than they did at their previous school. love the family atmosphere and the caring attitudes!
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2014

In response to the teacher review below: shame on your grammar and shame on you for taking a defensive and reactive position rather promoting a proactive, problem-solving environment. You should be encouraging parents to seek solutions. As a parent who is dissatisfied with the quality of teaching and the favoritism of some parents and their children over others I can honestly say you've just put yet another nail in the coffin of Paloma Elementary. Way to set an example. Where should the shame really be pointed?
Submitted by teacher on February 12, 2014

I just have to respond to the last review posted in regards to Mrs. Gradstein. Mrs. Gradstein is an amazing administrator. Yes, it is her first year and she is doing an fabulous job. She welcomes all new families with giant smiles and a welcoming heart. She has quickly learned so many of our student names and recognizes each and everyone (students and staff) for any accomplishment, small or large. She has had to take on this school with many cut backs from the state and has made adjustments in order to make our school fun and successful even though so much has been taken. She has brought in many new fun and exciting programs for our children so that the impact of the cut backs are minimal if even felt at all. I have been a part of Paloma for many years. I have seen many changes. Never have I never experianced a bad one. I know first hand that the only difference in Paloma since Mrs. Gradstein has taken over our school are only positive ones. I am angry for someone to express an opionon about someone they do not even really know and are quick to judge just because of change. Shame on you. I know first hand that all the staff I am involved with are very happy with Mrs. Gradstein.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2013

Paloma was once a wonderful school when under Mrs. Johnson. There is a new principal, Mrs. Gradstein, as of Aug 2013. Mrs. Gradstein is also a first year ever principal. Her leadership has drastically changed the school for the worse. She doesn't make an effort to get to know the students by name or even acknowledge students who say "hi" to her. She is an authoritarian "do as I say because i am the principal" leader which creates unhappy staff, students and parents. She lacks the interest to listen to others and form collaborations which has elicited many of the long time PTA volunteers to want to step down. Staff has expressed exasperation and wanting to quit their jobs. Students have been put under undue stress by her changing many of their traditions and school rules. Mrs. Gradstein is not very welcoming to parents and has created as many roadblocks as possible. Students need to see the adults at their school demonstrate by their actions the words they are promoting. Mrs. Gradstein fails to demonstrate true care and concern for being "student-centered" because the students are not feeling that they are considered or heard.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2013

I felt compelled to respond to the last reviewer. There are some things I don t think some parents understand. In our state there is zero money for the schools. Schools fundraise so that the students can have those wonderful extra programs and activities such as art programs and dances. At Paloma we have a group proactive parents who work hard to keep these programs and run the activities. It wouldn't be a small group of people doing so if more parents were involved and helped. I am new to the school and have always found everyone to be warm, friendly and welcoming. I love my Child s teacher and I think the principal really cares for the students. I think more parents need to be proactive in their children s education and if you don t like something then join the PTA and/or go to meetings. Make your voice heard. It easy to do nothing and complain. Overall, my child is very happy at Paloma and I think it is a positive learning environment with wonderful teachers.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2013

Laser beam focus on test scores. If your student is at grade level they will get very little attention because all they care about is bringing up the lower students. Sadly the best teachers left in the most recent round of layoffs. Principal came about 4 yrs ago and one by one took away all the enriching programs and activities to focus more on testing. A lot of fundraising which happens all the time and is run by a small group of women who can be clique-y. The new "Sixth Grade Academy" is concerning because those students might be very behind when they get to middle school. The information being taught there does not seem to be at the same level of what students get at the regular middle school. Also if you have an advanced student they will not get pre-algebra in 6th grade like they will at the middle school, which sets them off to be behind by a year for math and science in high school because they will be missing pre-reqs. Overall feeling of school is very closed off and unfriendly. Staff morale seems low.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2012

This is an updated review from a previous one I made in 2011. I wanted to make another review because since the incident that took place in 2011, my daughter has done very well and she loves her new teacher and Paloma. Unfortunately, because of that incident I don't spend much time at the school- I honestly don't like running into the principal or the teacher. However, this is something I have to deal with and does not reflect the performance of the school or the majority of it's staff. I'm happy that my daughter is happy and that's all I care about.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2012

Paloma Elementary not only earned the prestigious title of "California Distinguished School" last year, but they also piloted the brand new 6th grade Academy this year. They are a school that never rests on its laurels and I appreciate the willingness to always go above and beyond. I give them an enthusiastic thumbs-up and a score of 5 stars!
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2012

Love this school just worried about the over crowding. More children will make it harder for the teacher to give any one on one. So you better be ready to work with your children after school. So they don't forget what they have learned for the day. Teachers are great and staff too! If you have the time Volunteer. Also funds are low so we as parents need to buy supplies for the school.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2011

I'm very dissapointed with the school. We moved here this summer and our daughter is having many problems. The concerning thing is that instead of helping my daughter to adjust, they are telling me about my parenting. Where are we, Stepford?
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2011

We've been in Temecula for about a year and a half. We started mid-term, and everything started out great... but my child was very unhappy after just a few weeks. I became aware very quickly of cliques even amongst the youngest children. The new principal was great at working with the kids, but the last teacher was just terrible. They don't do much for gifted kids as far as I can tell... I had to fight hard just to get my kid work hard enough to keep things interesting. So much of it was too easy, and the teacher couldn't care less about the kids as long as the shut up and followed the crowd. Some of the parents were great- but most won't even look your way if you're new. For "The Best School in the District", they're more focused on PTA numbers and fundraisers than they are on making sure the kids are happy and challenged, not teased or bullied. We will probably home-school if the next teacher is anything like we just went through this past year.
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2010

After 2 years of my daughter attending Paloma (starting at K), I am not particularly impressed. Nothing terrible, it's just OK - that's all. Actually, after my experience with Paloma and the entrenched bureaucracy, I'm starting to understand why people Home School their children.