Onaga Elementary School

58001 Onaga Trail

School District

Morongo Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for Morongo 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 August 15, 2024

Recently Becky who works at the front desk was involved trying to have my son kidnapped by my son's father and I was so scared went to the school immediately pulled my son out of school and he will not be returning!!! Caution to all single mom's do not send your children to this school!!
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2024

A lot of experienced teachers who really care.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2022

Both of my children attended Onaga 2014-2019, we had zero issues with the school staff. The teachers are kind and put in a lot of work to make sure students are successful. The PTO works hard to provide student enrichment and family activities. There are very few family volunteers and yet the events are always successful. My only concern was the turnover rate for administration.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2017

This is the worst school I have dealt with ee just moved here and I really am thinking of homeschooling
Submitted by parent on April 08, 2015

We are so disappointed in how Onaga has slid downhill in academic focus and social climate. Our daughter's best friend was bullied so horribly by a staff member's daughter that she had to attend another school - and her mother worked at the school! The principal completely sided with the staff member even with strong evidence of the bullying time and time again. And now we hear that the PTA president is using funds for her own personal use - the same one whose daughter is a terror at the school. She brags all over the softball fields how she can do whatever she wants and constantly trash talks about all of the staff. We have supported many fundraising efforts yet see nothing being done for the teachers or students with those funds as teachers are constantly trying to raise their own funds for class materials and field trips. Does the school district not notice the fact that test scores have drastically dropped since the new principal took over and people are taking their children out to attend other schools or homeschool them? This community should be concerned that the school board supports such a person who allows and encourages this despicable behavior.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2014

I have had 3 of my children attend this school from K-6th. My biggest complaint is how extremely rude the two front office women are... I've dealt with a couple bad teachers but have had more good than bad. I have a two year old now and will do everything in my power to have him attend a different school.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2014

My daughter started first grade here when we had to move to yucca. At her old school she was a few pts away from advance, she had many friends and loved going to school. As time went on my daughter started drastically changing she was picking up extremely bad behavior from other students and she was getting bullied. My bright happy social girl became almost opposite she even got to the point where they were threatening to hold her back a grade. I finally had to take her out and homeschool her this place does not stay on top of their things I notified them I took my daughter out yet I still git calls everyday saying she was not at school and even had the principal and cop come to my house as if I was keeping my child out of school. Plus their classes are extremely crowded. The bus alone was terrible the kids get picked on and not much is done about it.. Sad to say they really changed my daughter and not for the best! If you don't mind the over crowd of the classrooms and the full of children that are bad influences than enroll here.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2014

Onaga continues to get worse year after year. The Principal apparently walks on water after Teachers & Parents rallied behind him a year or two ago ago. His morale & ethical values are atrocious! Teachers morale is at an all time low! Test scores continue to plummet.
Submitted by teacher on September 10, 2013

The principal of this school has poltical agendas that have become oh too obvious in light of recent events. The staff themselves exhibit bully behavior which he condones to weed out problem students. Don't be surprised when his next move is a run for office. He doesn't care, but wants your future votes. Reference the movie Pump Up the Volume. Elitism is key.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2013

I would like to give a hats off to a lady who works at Onaga and has helped my 2 boys. Miss Trish has worked wonders for my babies and I love having her there every year. Someone told me the other day that she has been at Onaga for 6 years in a low paying job. I was shocked to hear this. She would be the first one that I would think a raise would be thought about given to. She loves all of Onaga kids and treats them like her own. I do not know Miss Trish personally but I bet if she has kids of her own that they are walking a straight line. She is tough but full of love. Our nation needs more people like her. Onaga is an outstanding school.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2013

Addressing parent concerns of the staff, teachers, and FFA (parent volunteers), I can say I have never been treated rudely by any teacher, staff or FFA parents. On the contrary, they welcome any help they can get, but understandably get frustrated by criticism when no help to resolve the issues is offered. I too am a busy parent, but I volunteer whenever possible. I just want to say thank you to the handful of FFA volunteers and the time they constantly and selflessly give to our kids. This also includes the teachers and staff that I see go over and beyond the call of duty because they care. It takes parent involvement to make change. If we all work together, we can watch our kids do amazing things! -C.L. Fraschetti
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2013

We love Onaga! We have been at this school for 3 years now. We are also a Military family and came to the Great Schools web site to see where we should live. We are also stationed out of 29 Palms and my husband deploys a lot. I do not worry about my 3 children in grades 1st, 3rd and 6th at all. Mr Hannah has been more than pleasant with my children and me! He totally " Get's it" and has thanked ME for my husbands service several times which as a military wife, we do not get too often! As for the FFA... That is the name of it.... It is not a "club".... I have met the women and volunteered with them in the book fair and Santa Shop. I have seen hard work and dedication from this parent group and no time to be "catty or mud sling". As for the teachers... No child of mine would attend a school that has a "static" staff. I see nothing but a GREAT SCHOOL. One that I wish we have at every station we are at. Just my two cents.....
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2013

My child is in third grade at Onaga Elementary School and he is very happy. We are a military family based out of 29 Palms, but chose to live in the Onaga school district because their curriculum was the closest to his previous elementary school, which was an accelerated school in NC. I am a prominent volunteer in my child's classroom, and elsewhere if needed. I feel the school does need more parental involvement, but only the parents can rectify that situation. I am very disappointed in the Superintendent's decision to demote Mr. Hannah, our current principal, to position of assistant principal at the middle school. Mr. Hannah has brought many wonderful programs to Onaga. Onaga is our son's third elementary school since starting kindergarten and I can not name the principals at the other schools (even with being a consistent volunteer with both schools and eventual staff member at the last one). Mr. Hannah is not just a figure-head, but an active member of the staff. He attends school functions, directs traffic during parent pick-up, leads Flag Friday assembly, and visits the classrooms on a daily basis.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2013

Hoopla about Mr. Hannah leaving! It is sad that the principle position has been so very transient but teachers and staff need to pull it together themselves if only for the children! But really, you can't give a guy a promotion, and then come back to him and say, "sorry, you need to stay put--uh, we changed our minds", can you? That seems very unprofessional. Perhaps a new set of eyes will give the school the kind of overhaul it needs to improve rather than remain static.On a positive note, I will say that the drop off is much easier in the mornings (finally!) but pick up is still a mess, but that's the case at most schools. Also, in response to an older post--yes, the coach STILL plays inappropriate music for the kids. No music complaint from my kids, but I'm not too thrilled about it. Overall, I'm not impressed with this school's ability to provide a high quality level of education. We do live in a low socio- economic area, so I'm not too surprised. If you look up the numbers, you will surely see a correlation. However, numbers aside, it really is up to the parents' involvement and the will of each individual student to make sure that they are college bound and ready.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2013

We were so sorry to hear that the current principal, Mr. Hannah, is going to another school next year. I haven't had much contact with him but he always seems pleasant and cheerful and is always out and about the campus. Our main complaint would be how childish and rude some of the parent club women are as well as a handful of teachers. They are not inviting at all. While the teachers seem like they are all, for the most part, well trained and dedicated to teaching, it seems there is a lot of strife at Onaga. People are wary of each other and prone to negativitiy. I do hope that the situation will improve with a new principal or if Mr. Hannah gets to stay he will get people to act more professionally. It is not healthy for children to be around such mean spirited and catty adults. A friend who subs at most of the elementary schools in the basin says that Onaga is the coldest place she has worked at and teachers and parent helpers don't think twice about mud slinging each other. Perhaps if the staff could read what the public thinks about them, they will act more professionally around their job.
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2012

I talked to the teacher and he said my child was failing. I got his report card and there is no improvement . Maby I should had have then change classroom`s?
Submitted by other on April 09, 2012

While I don't get an opportunity to visit the school as much as I'd like, my granddaughter is very happy and loves going to school. That says a lot about the school when kids like being there. I hear about the unhappiness of the teachers but I'm not hearing it from my granddauhgter or her friends. Onaga continues to still be the best school on the west end of the valley.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2012

It's nice to see some new life being breathed into Onaga. This is our last year here and we were ready to home school our kids. The teachers seem to be putting more consistent effort into academics but still lack in making school a fun place to be. The worst part of Onaga is how staff treat each other. If you sit in the office or work in the workroom for any length of time, it's pretty awfull what is said about certain teachers. I don't get it because the ones who get dragged down the most are great teachers and kind, quiet people. So, I can't give Onaga 5 stars or even 4 when there is no visible compassion or kindness towards everyone who works there. They need a lesson on professionalism and keep their mouth shut when parents are around. Maybe character counts isn't just for kids? We hope to see continued improvement in Onaga. It used to be a great school.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2011

My two sons have just promoted from Onaga elementary. They have attended the school since kindergarten. The teachers, staff and administration have always been great. Very easy to talk to and work with. I have always been very active in helping the teachers and participating with the parent group. My children thrieved there. My advice to all parents who want their children to do good at Onaga is get involved. Help out in their class and also with the parent group. Even a few minutes every week help alot. Just wanted to thank the teachers, staff and administration for giving my sons a great educational experience. Keep up the great work!
Submitted by parent on July 17, 2010

My children have attended this school for a few years now and I am not impressed at all. We have always heard wonderful things about this school, yet have not seen what all the hype is about. My children have been blessed with excellent teachers, however the class sizes are completely out of control. There is no way possible the children can be held accountable for their actions with class sizes so large. The front office has been rude off and on and we have had trouble with bullying of one of our children with nothing being done for days about it, and even then it never stopped. The PE class plays completely inappropriate music and I was appalled to hear what was played and danced to at the talent show which was all approved by the staff.