Irvine Elementary Schools (Orange: to rent, credit, neighborhood)

[JesiJay]

Is Culverdale Elementary really the worst school in Irvine? The reviews for it sound terrible, I keep picturing seven year olds with motorcycles and switchblades beating up my daughter because she wears glasses.
We finally found a place to rent and got approved (which is virtually impossible in Irvine since there are people still in this day and age with perfect credit, and unless you are one of them you get tossed to the back of the line). So anyhow, since pretty much every single elementary school I've looked up in Irvine has been a 10, I'm a little dissapointed that Culverdale, which corresponds to the place we picked to live, is really a crappy school.
If anyone's child attends this school, or has in the past, or if you've heard anything in regards to it, I'd greatly appreciate any input.

[Charles]

It ranks a Great Schools 7 out 10, pretty good for just about anywhere, on the low end for Irvine. I seriously doubt this school is crappy. Sort of like saying Shaq is a crappy center compared to Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

Culverdale Elementary School - Irvine, California - CA - School overview

California School Performance Maps ranks it a 9 out of 10.

I just did a Google Street View and the neighborhood looks squeaky clean and pretty.



Parent reviews:

Parent Reviews of Culverdale Elementary School - Irvine, California - CA

[CAVA1990]

Probably just has a lower percentage of hothoused Asian kids.

[JesiJay]

The school is 43% Asian. On the school website I read something about a lot of kids not speaking English which is why I guess the reading scores are not so great, but math is also significantly lower than the district average. My husband says I need to look at the positive side, that our daughter might be speaking a second language by the end of second grade, LOL. Shame on us since we are both bilingual to begin with.
The neighborhood is supposedly very nice. My husband is the one who went to see it and he loved it. We didn't even think of looking at the school until today, since pretty much every other school in the area is so great.
Oh and another thing, he told me that he ate lunch at a Thai place and he got the dirtiest looks for being there. In Houston you get people from all over the world and everyone pretty much just coexists with no problem, and there is an interest in other people's cultures. Is it different in Orange County? Does everyone pretty much stick to their own little group?

[JesiJay]

Oh and Charles thank you so much for the info. you posted!

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by JesiJay

Oh and another thing, he told me that he ate lunch at a Thai place and he got the dirtiest looks for being there. In Houston you get people from all over the world and everyone pretty much just coexists with no problem, and there is an interest in other people's cultures. Is it different in Orange County? Does everyone pretty much stick to their own little group?

A Thai place that caters only to Thais? That's a first. I didn't think there were any Thais actually dining and not working in those places.

[albinoazian]

A bad school in Irvine? lol And I HATE Pleasantville, err, Irvine. Besides it is a small percentage of the equation. Are you good parents? Are you educated? Will you spend time with your kids? Then ANY school in South Orange County will be more than fine.

[JesiJay]

Unfortunately, Texas schools are at a higher level (in pretty much all aspects) than California schools. So to get her out of an excelling school in Texas and put her in the worst of Irvine would not really be a good decision. Yes IUSD is great, and it might be one of the best in CA, but compared to TX schools, it's not all that. We are not necessarily moving to OC for the great schools. Please don't take offense! Peace!

But within the report is small silver lining for Texas:
...differences in public policies, systemwide strategies, school site leadership, teaching practice, and perhaps other systemic investments can fundamentally influence student achievement. California and Texas, for example, are two large states with similar demographics. Yet as shown in Exhibit 7, Texas students are, on average, one to two years of learning ahead of California students of the same age, even though Texas has less income per capita and spends less per pupil than California. (details on p.58/57 chart here)

"California has the most students of any state and has a relatively high income level but low achievement level. Texas is the second most populous state with a medium income level and relatively high achievement levels." (p.114/113)

[CAVA1990]

Yes but comparing statewide averages somewhat overgeneralizes. Would be better to compare your current school district with the one you're considering moving to.

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by JesiJay

Unfortunately, Texas schools are at a higher level (in pretty much all aspects) than California schools. So to get her out of an excelling school in Texas and put her in the worst of Irvine would not really be a good decision. Yes IUSD is great, and it might be one of the best in CA, but compared to TX schools, it's not all that. We are not necessarily moving to OC for the great schools. Please don't take offense! Peace!

But within the report is small silver lining for Texas:
...differences in public policies, systemwide strategies, school site leadership, teaching practice, and perhaps other systemic investments can fundamentally influence student achievement. California and Texas, for example, are two large states with similar demographics. Yet as shown in Exhibit 7, Texas students are, on average, one to two years of learning ahead of California students of the same age, even though Texas has less income per capita and spends less per pupil than California. (details on p.58/57 chart here)

"California has the most students of any state and has a relatively high income level but low achievement level. Texas is the second most populous state with a medium income level and relatively high achievement levels." (p.114/113)

Jesi -
Don't get to smug about TX v. CA schools. The students in Irvine are very competitive and there is a big dose of the sterotypical east asian study or die ethos in IUSD. However fast your kids want to go, they will find pacesetters in Irvine to run with.