| Date | Who | Comments |
| 10/15/2012 | parent | Parents of special needs children: Do not enroll your child at this school. There is one classroom for all special needs children K-5. My child is a twin. His non special needs twin is allowed library access, given art projects, homework, spanish language. My SN child was only given homework after I insisted. He has not been allowed any of the other wonderful IB participation. I offered to supply an IPAD for communication and although he uses it at home his teacher insists that he isn't ready for it. He is supposed to be part day in a regular class, so far he gets to interact with his peers at recess. The condecension I have been shown is shocking. I was told when I first questioned his segregation from his peers that I was welcome to go to our home school since we were "choiced" in. So far we have had one unsuccessful meeting with therapist, teachers, principal and parent. The abuse and disrespect has worsened since that meeting. His twin loves the school and the parents and other teachers are wonderful and involved. I should have kept looking for a great school when the SN teacher said," He'll either do it my way or he won't stay in the program". Star rating for other teachers! |
| 4/25/2012 | parent | This is an excellent school with terrific teachers, principal, and best of all a community that cares. We feel so fortunate to have this school as our public school option in our neighborhood. The PTC rocks and has terrific fundraisers!!! |
| 4/25/2012 | parent | McKinley Elementary is a wonderful school. Parental involvement is greatly encouraged and the teachers make parents feel like partners in their childrens education. When budget cuts are forcing other schools to do away with Art, Music, Spanish, McKinley's PTC and Foundation work hard to keep these important components of our childrens learning intact. We love our school! |
| 12/26/2011 | parent | Great School! We moved out of the area ( 20 minutes away ) 5 or more years ago and I continue to take my kids there. My daughter went to school there from kindergaten to 5th grade. I have a son who is now a 1st grader and I plan to continue take him there unless we move out of state. |
| 4/3/2011 | parent | We love McKinley! The principal and teachers are so caring and I believe the best feature of the school is the community/parent support. It really is a neighborhood school where everyone cares about the students. The diverse student population is also a plus! |
| 3/6/2011 | parent | Although it is facing budget cuts like the rest of the state, McKinley's ties to the community is its saving grace. The active and friendly PTC organizes inventive fundraisers to pay for the arts (ceramics!), music and Spanish class we otherwise couldn't afford. A school garden and afterschool clubs are open to the students, and the IB program keeps the curriculum from being test-based and keeps the teaching fresh. The dedicated principal seems to know the name of every kid and the teachers I've encountered are experienced and caring. Best of all, the kids seem happy here. |
| 2/18/2011 | parent | McKinley is a fantastic neighborhood school with talented teachers and an EXCELLENT principal. We live in a fairly affluent area of the McKinley School District, and most of our neighbor's children go to private or charter schools. However, they all told us that they would have started their children at McKinley if it had the reputation it does now when their children were starting. |
| 10/29/2010 | parent | I am a parent of a kindergarten student at McKinley and am very proud to say so... Last year, when it was time to choose a school for my daughter to begin Kindergarten at I had so many options.. I looked into all of them did lots of research and decided that I loved the International Baccalaureate Program. So when I found out that McKinley was authorized by the IB organization as an IB World School in July of 2010 I knew this was the school for us... McKinley has exceeded all of my expectations. I know that I made the best choice for my child and am confident that she is in a learning enviroment that will ensure she develops to her fullest potential.. McKinley Elementary International World School gets an A+ from me!!!! |
| 10/13/2010 | parent | My son is in the first grade at McKinley. After a year, I thought my enthusiasm might have dimmed, but I just love this school. The teachers are committed, many have been at the school for many years and help out at events after hours. The parents are welcoming to everyone and tireless boosters. The principal is amazing. And mostly, the culture of the school is so positive, I can't imagine a better place for my child. He is learning by leaps and bounds. |
| 7/4/2010 | other | I Grew up at McKinley! I loved this school as a Kid. So when it came time to do my student teaching the choice was easy, I went back to McKinley! Surprisingly Some Faces were still the same. The Principal was genuine and caring with the students. The kindergarten class I worked in was Well organized and fun for the children. They learned a lot. I Would compare this school with a Montessori program. These children partake in Music, P.E. Art and even had Language classes. This is a Great School. |
| 4/24/2010 | parent | McKinley is the heart of the community and improving all the time! |
| 10/29/2009 | parent | McKinley is a happy, little neighborhood school. We can walk our boys to school, and we always enjoy the interaction with other families. There is an active PTC that raises money, lobbies, works with the kids and teachers, and it really has a strong impact on the school. The teachers are strong educators and caring. We have 2 children at McKinley, and they both enjoy their experience and are gaining much from it. I like the focus on teaching the 'whole child' with the International Baccalaureate Program, and it's great when the kids come home and tell me about the world. They are learning more than math and reading - and they are gaining a consciousness about the world around them, and what they can do to help. |
| 10/17/2009 | other | Because it is a wonderful safe place with caring teachers and staff! |
| 10/7/2009 | parent | The teachers are great. I love the relationship i have with my son's teach Mrs. Sonia. She is very thorough and helpful with all my questions or concerns. |
| 10/1/2009 | other | my nieces love to go & the teachers are wonderful |
| 9/30/2009 | parent | Friendly, awsome staff & parents! The best GATE TEACHERS/program. |
| 9/30/2009 | parent | McKinley has spectacular teachers and staff who produce spectacular students! |
| 9/28/2009 | parent | My son just started in kindergarten and I am already impressed by the quality of the school program and the teachers as well as the parent involvement and the Principle. My son is very happy and loves to go to school. Although I work full time I look forward to any volunteer opportunies that I can be a part of whenever possible. I considered serveral other schools but I am so happy with my decision to send him to McKinley. I looked for a school with a diverse population, a Principle that was very involved with the school and students(not just someone standing at a distance supervising) a pleasant comfortable environment--a school I knew my son would be happy--this turned out to be the perfect choice. I am even more impressed with the work of the PTC (Parent/Teacher Club)--it is fantastic. |
| 9/18/2009 | parent | Wonderful teachers, great parents, diverse student population - a gem that reflects all the great things about the neighborhood we live in. |
| 9/15/2009 | parent | great volunteer generated art and music programs. Excellent principle. School is now attracting neighbhorhood kids who are in greater numbers opting for public school over private school. |
| 9/15/2009 | parent | This is a school where ''everyone really does know your name.' It's a city school where parents and faculty embrace diversity and try to emphasize values as much as test scores. It's a school that is constantly working to excel and where folks really care about each other. Faculty has been there a long time and most live in the area. It has incredibly strong parental involvement and parents and the community have worked together to raise funds to hire both a music and an arts teacher and have worked hard to advocate for minimal funding cuts at our school. At a time when a lot of potential families are going to private or charter schools or even home schooling their children, many families in our community are ''coming home' to McKinley. |
| 6/17/2009 | parent | Both my children attended McKinley K-5, and I will truly miss the parents and staff now that they've both moved on to middle school. The staff and PTA rival any '10' rated school, and the tests scores rose every year my kids were there. Don't even think about choicing your kids to a different area...McKinley is the best you'll find anywhere in San Diego. |
| 5/25/2009 | parent | McKinley is a welcoming, active, exciting place for our two children, kindergarten and 4th grade. Our fourth grader has been here since kindergarten, and has talented, dedicated, high-quality teachers at every grade. The student body is fairly ethnically and socio-economically diverse. There is a group of highly involved, highly dedicated parents who make sure there are lots of worthwhile extracurricular activities as well as monies to support the curriculum. |
| 5/20/2009 | parent | McKinley is GREAT! My daughter was accepted to a very popular charter school but we decided to go with McKinley. She has learned a lot and I appreciate how the teachers tailor lessons and homework to individual needs. The sense of community is fantastic. More and more students from the neighborhood are enrolling and the choice list is growing! |
| 5/19/2009 | parent | We looked at several schools for our daughter, and were even accepted into two '10' schools before deciding to attend McKinley. Even though McKinley rates a 6/7 to us it's a top 10! Community and commitment mean lot to us and at McKinley we have found both of these values. Teachers, staff, volunteers and students are fantastic. We highly recommend McKinley! |
| 3/2/2009 | parent | I'm in my second year as a McKinley parent and have been fortunate enough for my child to have Ms. Appleby for two years running (she swtiched from K to 1st as we did). We are so pleased with the education our daughter is getting. At six she's singing a song naming all the continents, learning science, math and ceramics and her reading skills just jumped by leaps and bounds. She is very happy and we are enjoying meeting so many neighbors. Check out Ms. Appleby's website to get a feel for the school and what the kids are doing: ms-appleby.com. |
| 9/30/2008 | parent | My daughter just started in Kindergarten this year and so far we love McKinley! The Parent Teacher Foundation is very active with lots of events / fund-raisers planned for the coming year. My daughter is learning to spell and read and write at an amazing rate. The teachers are always welcoming and invite active parent partnership in the education process. Great school! |
| 4/16/2008 | parent | This school rocks! Great staff, great teachers, great environment. |
| 8/19/2007 | other | I moved to North Park in the Fall of 2001. As a retired language arts teacher, I wanted to volunteer at McKinley. Good thing for me, both the volunteer coordinator and the principal accepted my request and hooked me up with a 'position'. That was 6 years ago and since that time I have had the opportunity to see first hand what happens at this neighborhood school. I see a high expectation academic approach through out the school, which I support as it was my experience as a teacher that students will rise to meet those expectations if mandated. I see an emphasis on respectful behavior/both in the classroom and on the playground. In the lounge I see a comfortable comraderie which plays out in the support teachers have for each other. That is important! Starting in kindergarten, schedule is posted and reviewed. The beginnings of time management? Pat Taylor |
| 6/7/2007 | parent | McKinley continues to evolve as a great elementary school. Last year, a teacher took the initiative to negotiate with a local theater to stage the annual variety show. One June 6, 2007, the theater was packed with lots of families and friends cheering on dozens of McKinley students performing on stage. What other school does that? I have 1 daughter who graduated (and is now at Roosevelt) while another is in 4th grade. The teachers and staff are great. Thanks also goes to the PTA. -Shirley Chin |
| 5/29/2007 | parent | McKinley is a fabulous neighborhood school. My son is so happy here, and there is a very involved PTA. The principal is fabulous and is a strong presence at every school event. There are many fun activities throughout the year including a jog-a-thon, a carnival, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, music concerts and variety shows. I have been impressed with the availability music, PE, and the amount of art children do within their academic areas. The academics are fantastic, my son has come so far this year, and the teachers are dedicated and qualified. It says something that many of them have been there for more than a decade. As an educator and a parent, I highly recommend McKinley. |
| 12/27/2006 | parent | We love McKinley! I knew this was the school for us when my daughter started kindergarten and I soon knew the librarian, the principal, the PTA parents and her teacher all very well. These are key people at McKinley who all strive to make McKinley a success. They have an awesome sports program that carries on as a legacy from Mr. Mike Miller, who won teacher of the year last year for the whole SD county. We feel very blessed to be a part of our neighborhood school. If deciding where to have your child attend school, stop by, McKinley speaks for itself. -A proud parent |
| 9/23/2006 | parent | I currently have a 2nd grader at McKinley, and a 7th grader at Roosevelt(a graduate from McKinley). I can't possibly say enough great things about this school. The principal, has a great relationship with the parents & students. I attended my first PTA meeting last week, & felt very welcome by all. I love this school & so do my girls! Thank You McKinley & 6 to 6 as well! You rock! |
| 9/10/2006 | parent | This is a jewel of an urban neighborhood school. The teacher and parent involvement is superb, teachers are friendly and involved in the life of the school outside the classroom. I pulled my children out of a private school because they weren't learning and I have been so satisfied with the attention given them at McKinley. Mrs. Ashton-Gray, the principal, cares about so much more than just test scores, she is present at every evening meeting, works weekends, late nights and early mornings. She is an integral part of the community around the school. Working with the PTA and thre school's foundation, McKinley has been able to add a music program, a Spanish language program and the physical education program is excellent. |
| 8/19/2006 | parent | We are looking forward to this coming year as we'll have both sons attending McKinley. My oldest who will be in 1st grade enjoyed his kindergarten year and his teacher Ms. Appleby was a great influence on all her students. He went from not been able to read to read by the end of the year. McKinley teachers do care for their students and I highly recommend this school. I know with teacher/parent participation, we can make this school better than before. |
| 6/28/2006 | parent | My son has had an average education there at this school. I do not get too involved because of work, but from what I see it looks like the principal doesn't care about anything else but test scores. Overall the school is ok, some of the teachers at the school seem ready to punch out. Unless leadership changes, this school is going anywhere special. |
| 6/11/2006 | parent | My child is in the special education program and I feel the focus on task completion has really helped my child progress. The teachers have been very willing to communicate with me about his progress and to set new goals as they arise- not just at parent-teacher conference time. My son has recieved a fair to average amount of individualized attention. Overall, I am happy with the school. |
| 3/22/2006 | parent | The leadership from the Principal down is excellent. Ms. Ashton-Gray is very involved in the students activities, both during and after school. Our daughter's teacher, Ms. Pickett, offers a well-structured program. The 'intangibles' of McKinley that make it a pleasing experience for my child are the emphasis on physical activities with the 'Run for Your Life' program before class begins, the parent involvement in the school and the general attitude of everyone at McKinley looking out for one another. |
| 3/6/2006 | parent | My son was at this schools and he had a lousy teacher who could barely contraol the class. The staff is stretched thin with budget cuts and have no patience or tolerance for students who may need a little bit of ectra help and attention. |
| 8/26/2005 | parent | Great school that is on the rise! |
| 7/6/2005 | parent | Great principal, good facilities. my daughter had a good experience in kindergarten here |
| 10/9/2004 | parent | I was unsure about McKinley at first, being an 'inner city' school, but it has exceeded my expectations. The campus is large and the classrooms well equipped, and most importantly, I have confidence in the teachers. The phys ed teacher was San Diego's Teacher of the Year and so physical education and nutrition play a big part at McKinley. The average looking API scores reflect the number of English-learners at the school, not the quality of education. |
| 9/1/2004 | parent | My child went to Mckinley for two years and she really loved it. She went from an average student to Outstanding Achievement the 1st year and to Honor Roll the second. The teachers really care about their students. |
| 8/25/2004 | teacher | McKinley is an excellent school filled with smart students and hard working teachers and staff! We love it...come check us out! |
