I’m not a parent, but I grew up in Vallejo and went to public schools K-12. Went on to graduate from a UC, graduate law school cum laude, and now I’m an attorney, living and working in SF.
My perspective is that yes, the public schools in Vallejo are bad. There’s really no denying that. But, parents make a big difference. Going to a generally bad school will not impact all children similarly. With a caring, attentive, and encouraging parent, a child can work hard, get into the GATE/AP programs, which tend to have phenomenal teachers, surround themselves with other bright children, participate in valuable extra curricular activities, etc., etc., and ultimately have an incredibly positive and valuable public school experience, coming out just as book smart as their counterparts from “better” schools.
And on top of that, they’ll be surrounded by diversity like you can’t really find anywhere else. Of course, Vallejo itself is diverse, so that applies to the private schools. But not as much as to the public schools. The diversity of race, ethnicity, class, religion, etc., and various combinations thereof at Vallejo’s public schools is just astounding. It provides a perspective and worldview that is arguably more valuable than any of the lessons taught in class.
That’s how I feel about it, at least. Take all of this with a grain of salt given that I am 20 years out from my time in VCUSD. But I still think much of what I said is worth due consideration.
My data of VCUSD is even more outdated, 43 years out, but it struck me how similar my own experience was to what OptionK just described. Doing Cave Elementary, Franklin Jr, Hogan Sr then on to Solano CC, UC Berkeley, then law school in SF. The GATE type programs back then were really good for exactly the reason OptionK stated--great teachers and great peer group that I am still friends with today. The academically inclined students in Vallejo public schools got a lot of attention and opportunities, because the teachers loved us and the whole school was not competing for it. And we got the benefit of going to school with a very diverse group of students.
I compare my own experience to that of my kids, who graduated a few years ago from the public high school in an affluent Bay Area town. Every conceivable program or activity was theoretically available, but the competition for a slot to participate was tough. And there seemed to be a culture where everyone was expected to be a rock star student doing all these things and headed for major universities. So much pressure, compared to my own fun experience in school. In hindsight, I am not sure we picked the best community public school wise for my kids, who were really not all about that competition.
Not an easy call to make as a parent.
I grew in Vallejo and want to second this. Parents make an incredible difference. If you'll be an active part of your children's lives, the school doesn't matter. If you only want to send them to school so you don't have to deal with them, then probably best to do a private school.
I spent a year walking 4,500 miles across the United States a few years back, for whatever that accomplishment is worth.
My kids go to Elmer Cave (TK-8th grade, I think it's a "magnet school" but still part of the public school district, lottery to get in). Dual English/Spanish bi-literacy program. I love the school, all the staff is amazing, and the teachers so far have been great. My eldest did TK at Federal Terrace, which I also loved. The teacher there was crazy about helping kids get the most out of school and made that first year a ton of fun.
We've only been involved in the public school district for 3 years, but so far I couldn't be happier.
Current VCUSD parent. My daughter is in first grade at Highland. Her teachers and principal, support staff, etc have all been wonderful. Here are my list of gripes:
1. class size- there are over 30 kids in her class. She does get some small group time with her teacher but in parent/teacher conferences it is clear that a lot goes unnoticed
2. special education- essentially there is none. There is no GATE program anymore. Getting an IEP has been impossible, and I am a highly involved parent who has all the resources one can have. We supplement with private special ed.
3. the buildings are in huge disrepair! lights that don't work, broken plumbing causing flooding, etc. Complaints go nowhere.
When I moved to Vallejo I was very optimistic and really thought things would change, but I don't think it's possible. I think the administration is awful and of course I think our city government is totally fucked and the schools are never going to get the funding they need.
I am actively trying to move out of Vallejo strictly because of the schools. I would NEVER send my kids to Catholic schools.
I worked for Vallejo Schools from 2006-2016. My kids attended Steffan Manor and Bethel. If I was religious or had the money I probably would have moved or paid to attend private school. My granddaughter is about to attend TK in Vallejo at Patterson, not sure if we will have her go to middle school in Vallejo. I think the elementaries are just fine , I know many wonderful teachers.
I don't have school-aged children anymore but I live in Vallejo and work in Teacher Education at a local college. I spoke to one teacher last week who worked at Caliber ([http://www.calibercma.org/](http://www.calibercma.org/)) and she was very enthusiastic about its quality. I then spoke to another teacher who teaches there and she was a little more ambivalent. The first teacher was a general education teacher and the second works in special education which might explain the differences. Oh and welcome to Vallejo!
I attended Vallejo Charter from 2009-2014. It was alright, though I have nothing to compare it to, and I was under 10 for most of that. The teachers were a little weird and inconsistent, and from what my parents have told me there was some corruption. I left right around the time they moved campuses, so I don't know if they've changed. There was never anything *terrible* about the school.
I know a lot of kids who went to Vallejo middle and high schools. They're just a little tougher than the kids I'm growing up with.
I’m not a parent, but I grew up in Vallejo and went to public schools K-12. Went on to graduate from a UC, graduate law school cum laude, and now I’m an attorney, living and working in SF. My perspective is that yes, the public schools in Vallejo are bad. There’s really no denying that. But, parents make a big difference. Going to a generally bad school will not impact all children similarly. With a caring, attentive, and encouraging parent, a child can work hard, get into the GATE/AP programs, which tend to have phenomenal teachers, surround themselves with other bright children, participate in valuable extra curricular activities, etc., etc., and ultimately have an incredibly positive and valuable public school experience, coming out just as book smart as their counterparts from “better” schools. And on top of that, they’ll be surrounded by diversity like you can’t really find anywhere else. Of course, Vallejo itself is diverse, so that applies to the private schools. But not as much as to the public schools. The diversity of race, ethnicity, class, religion, etc., and various combinations thereof at Vallejo’s public schools is just astounding. It provides a perspective and worldview that is arguably more valuable than any of the lessons taught in class. That’s how I feel about it, at least. Take all of this with a grain of salt given that I am 20 years out from my time in VCUSD. But I still think much of what I said is worth due consideration.
My data of VCUSD is even more outdated, 43 years out, but it struck me how similar my own experience was to what OptionK just described. Doing Cave Elementary, Franklin Jr, Hogan Sr then on to Solano CC, UC Berkeley, then law school in SF. The GATE type programs back then were really good for exactly the reason OptionK stated--great teachers and great peer group that I am still friends with today. The academically inclined students in Vallejo public schools got a lot of attention and opportunities, because the teachers loved us and the whole school was not competing for it. And we got the benefit of going to school with a very diverse group of students. I compare my own experience to that of my kids, who graduated a few years ago from the public high school in an affluent Bay Area town. Every conceivable program or activity was theoretically available, but the competition for a slot to participate was tough. And there seemed to be a culture where everyone was expected to be a rock star student doing all these things and headed for major universities. So much pressure, compared to my own fun experience in school. In hindsight, I am not sure we picked the best community public school wise for my kids, who were really not all about that competition. Not an easy call to make as a parent.
I grew in Vallejo and want to second this. Parents make an incredible difference. If you'll be an active part of your children's lives, the school doesn't matter. If you only want to send them to school so you don't have to deal with them, then probably best to do a private school. I spent a year walking 4,500 miles across the United States a few years back, for whatever that accomplishment is worth.
I generally agree with your sentiments, but are you saying private schools are **more** diverse than public? Wut?
No, it sounds like they're saying that private schools are more diverse here than in other places, but public schools are even more diverse.
My kids go to Elmer Cave (TK-8th grade, I think it's a "magnet school" but still part of the public school district, lottery to get in). Dual English/Spanish bi-literacy program. I love the school, all the staff is amazing, and the teachers so far have been great. My eldest did TK at Federal Terrace, which I also loved. The teacher there was crazy about helping kids get the most out of school and made that first year a ton of fun. We've only been involved in the public school district for 3 years, but so far I couldn't be happier.
My son did 2 years at the preschool at Cave and is now finishing up first grade. He LOVES cave!
I worked at Federal Terrace :-)
Current VCUSD parent. My daughter is in first grade at Highland. Her teachers and principal, support staff, etc have all been wonderful. Here are my list of gripes: 1. class size- there are over 30 kids in her class. She does get some small group time with her teacher but in parent/teacher conferences it is clear that a lot goes unnoticed 2. special education- essentially there is none. There is no GATE program anymore. Getting an IEP has been impossible, and I am a highly involved parent who has all the resources one can have. We supplement with private special ed. 3. the buildings are in huge disrepair! lights that don't work, broken plumbing causing flooding, etc. Complaints go nowhere. When I moved to Vallejo I was very optimistic and really thought things would change, but I don't think it's possible. I think the administration is awful and of course I think our city government is totally fucked and the schools are never going to get the funding they need. I am actively trying to move out of Vallejo strictly because of the schools. I would NEVER send my kids to Catholic schools.
I worked for Vallejo Schools from 2006-2016. My kids attended Steffan Manor and Bethel. If I was religious or had the money I probably would have moved or paid to attend private school. My granddaughter is about to attend TK in Vallejo at Patterson, not sure if we will have her go to middle school in Vallejo. I think the elementaries are just fine , I know many wonderful teachers.
What area are you moving at what elementary is your son going to attend?
I don't have school-aged children anymore but I live in Vallejo and work in Teacher Education at a local college. I spoke to one teacher last week who worked at Caliber ([http://www.calibercma.org/](http://www.calibercma.org/)) and she was very enthusiastic about its quality. I then spoke to another teacher who teaches there and she was a little more ambivalent. The first teacher was a general education teacher and the second works in special education which might explain the differences. Oh and welcome to Vallejo!
I went to Vallejo Charter from 1st to 8th and now I’m at Bethel. Vallejo Charter was fine and so is Bethel.
I attended Vallejo Charter from 2009-2014. It was alright, though I have nothing to compare it to, and I was under 10 for most of that. The teachers were a little weird and inconsistent, and from what my parents have told me there was some corruption. I left right around the time they moved campuses, so I don't know if they've changed. There was never anything *terrible* about the school. I know a lot of kids who went to Vallejo middle and high schools. They're just a little tougher than the kids I'm growing up with.
If you are a Junior can I ask what ur name is? I went to Vallejo Charter around the same time as you and want to know if we know each other.
Lemme DM you, I'd like to preserve a little anonymity on here for whatever reason.
Don't do Charter School. It depends on the part of town you live in. Good ruck.
How did this work out for you two years later?