| Date | Who | Comments |
| 8/19/2012 | other | I intend to visit the school soon to inspect in order to compare and select the best school for my children. |
| 8/17/2012 | parent | My son (and only child) is starting kinder garden at this school, and so far everyone from staff have been very helpful, polite and have welcomed us in the best way they can. The principal has two children ( I think) attending to this school, which that itself says a lot and gives me confidence that he will be in good hands. At orientation, I got to meet his teacher, the classroom and facilities and so far I"M LOVING this school for my son. I'm happy I picked Miraloma, even though it wasn't my first pick, I am happy that things happened this way. Very satisfied! |
| 5/11/2010 | parent | The parent-teacher community is wonderful. The school itself is a bright, happy place - my spirits lift just walking in the doors. Everyone is always smiling. The principal is very accessible, he walks the halls and yards every day, and knows every child by name. It's a special place. |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | Miraloma has a supportive, inclusive environment. I have loved all my daughter's teachers, the principal is amazing, parents are welcomed and encouraged to volunteer in the classrooms or in many other capacities. I can't wait until my son starts. |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | Miraloma Elementary is an amazing school! Our oldest daughter is on her 3rd year and our youngest is about to enter kindergarten. The teachers, staff, and parents here at Miraloma help provide an eductional environment where our children learn to thrive intellectually and socially. I would recommend Miraloma to anyone! |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | The school has all the elements that a good school should; Caring teaches, and principal, involved parents and good children. |
| 4/18/2010 | other | the entire staff is caring and creativein promoting learning and living |
| 4/18/2010 | teacher | A community of people dedicated to the best interests of the children. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Excellent Principle, devoted teachers, progressive student inclusion and conflict resolution programs |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | The Teachers are compassionate, commited and invested in the kids. The principle does a great job building this school into a tight community. The parents are active and involved. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Most amazingly compassionate, inclusive, smart, and action-oriented community I've ever been part of, from teachers to principal to parents to kids. Child-centered and teacher-centered learning environment at its best. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | A sunny place full of energetic kids, volunteer parents, dedicated teachers, and an inspiring principal. Colorful art and crafts are created along a spectrum of subjects that include singing, dance, gardening, ceramics, and poetry. Children are active participants from 'runathons' to 'readathons' - all in all a great place to be a kid! |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | this is a wonderful elementary school with great teachers, a fantastic principal and a very involved parent community. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Miraloma Elementary has a diverse, engaged community of families, dedicated, creative teachers, and is led by a Principal with vision and charisma, who knows every child and parent. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Great staff and a terrific community of families! |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Our son loves his school. We look forward when our daughter will go there. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | Great teachers,principal, and parent community! Kids are happy and engaged. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | No bungalows, spacious play yards, lots of natural light, children's art & poems decorate bulletin boards & showcases, students' melodic voices floating through the hallways on sing-a-long Thursday and Friday mornings. Pro-active, friendly staff & families. Great gardening teacher & awesome gardening program! |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | LOVE this school. We have a very strong community with amazing parent involvement. The principle is great and the teachers are caring and amazing. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | We feel privileged to be at one of the top primary schools of a surprisingly great many in the San Francisco Unified School District. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | We are in our seventh out of 11 years at Miraloma. We have seen the school grow and change. We could not be happier with the education our children are getting. The teachers are fabulous. They care about the children and are willing to change and individualize the curriculum to meet the needs of the students. Every teacher we have worked with has gone above and beyond the call of duty. I can't say enough about the principal. He is just fabulous. The entire community of children, parents and staff is such a treat for our family to be a part of. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | Great staff, principal, and family community -- unbeatable combination! |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | My children love going to school. I have been impressed by the great teachers, supportive principal and a remarkable community of parents. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | My kids thrive there! Never could have imagined the school years being so exciting. |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | Great teachers, staff, parents and kids! |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | top rated teachers, extracurricular, great parent community, fantastic curriculum, KIDS love IT |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | Miraloma is an amazing community. The school is safe, positive, nurturing, spacious, creative, has an incredible garden program, super-involved parents and an innovative Principal. We love our school and feel so lucky to be there! |
| 4/17/2010 | parent | Wonderful community, happy kids, fantastic extracurricular program, great teachers and an amazing and very engaged principal! |
| 4/16/2010 | parent | Parent involvement at this school is over-the-top amazing, the prinicpal is professional and responsive and the teachers are generally strong. |
| 10/3/2009 | parent | Miraloma is welcomes new ideas and constantly looking for ways to make our students lifelong learners. |
| 9/27/2009 | parent | The teachers, parents, staff and principal work together so well to support the needs of its students. Everything they do is focused on educating the students as well as possible. I couldn't wish for a better school. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Great Teachers/Staff - FUN! - Terrific programs - Rising scores - Great people - Kids love learning there |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Miraloma is a fun, inclusive school with an incredible teachers, staff and parent body. It is always improving and offers something for all children to learn. We are very happy there. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | We have the best teachers, principal and parents you could ever want. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Everything about the school is so great: students, teachers, parents, staff, location, program, campus. Couldn't be happier that my daughter is there. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | The best public elementary school in San Francisco (the kids the parents and the teachers are the best!) |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Miraloma has the best teacher, principals, kids and parents. Everyone pitches in to create a great community with learning opportunities around every corner. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Our school is an amazing community of teachers, parents and staff members who have one common goal - the children. There's a unique blend of amazing and talented parents who dedicate themselves inside the classroom, fundraising, and community building, to name a few. This is a special school. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Fantastic principal, love the morning circle and the family community. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Miraloma has a great community of teachers, parents, staff who work together to make learning fun and approachable for every child. The PTA pays for many extras such as SF Arts Ed, gardening, chorus, PE, etc. We've got two afterschool programs. |
| 9/23/2009 | other | Outstanding pta organization love the teachers |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | Miraloma elicits from my children that rare and precious combination of happiness and intelligence. The top drawer teachers and administrators are supported by an inspired and infectiously invigorated parental community. Miraloma Elementary is truly a public school gem. |
| 9/23/2009 | other | My grandson has been attending Miraloma since kindergarten. The school is incredibly supportive of children and has an excellent teaching staff. I love the fact that the parents are so involved and that the school supports their integrated engagement in the classroom as well as fund raising activities. |
| 9/23/2009 | parent | I love the Miraloma community. It is good to know that you have a strong group of friends looking out for all the kids. |
| 9/22/2009 | parent | The combination of great Principal, teachers and parents can't be beat! |
| 9/16/2009 | parent | Great teachers and staff. All three of my children are students at Miraloma, and they feel safe and happy here. |
| 9/16/2009 | parent | my oldest daughter graduated last year and consistently scored in the upper 90th percentile in standardized tests, and it her sister is doing the same now. That speaks of the level of quality of the teachers and staff. What makes Miraloma unique though is it's sense of community where everyone is made to feel welcome and there is an active culture of inclusion. There are several community building activities throughout the year that really brings cohesion to the school. Plus, our skateboarding, pink mohawk sporting principal is too cool for school, almost! |
| 6/24/2008 | parent | I find the principal and teachers to be very responsive and creative in their approach to both teaching and problem solving. I disagree with the comments about teaching to the test--I think they maintain a good balance between a pragmatic emphasis on testing (the reality is that testing DOES impact the success/fate of the school under NCLB) and focusing on the whole child through a more integrated approach to teaching that incorporates arts, music, science and other disciplines. As for the community, I disagree with parent comments that you are an outcast if you do not volunteer. As in any community, participation is different for everyone and it is a two-way street. I know plenty of people who do not have time to volunteer but manage to stay engaged by keeping up with school communications and coming to the occasional school event. |
| 3/31/2008 | parent | We've been at this school for many years now. Yes the test scores have gone up (because of Marcia Parrott), but the quality of education for 4th and 5th grade lacks experience and ability to relate to the the students. There is also the lack of experience from the principal who at times can be disrespectful. If you not a rich middle class who volunteers relentlessly or a poor Afrian American, you are told your child doesn't deserve the best education because your parent should make up for the failures of the school Now comes a new time to teach the kids how to test, not how to think. If your a working family, you won't fit in too well here. You'll be shunned for not participaiting more and they will let you know it. |
| 3/31/2008 | parent | We've been at this school for several years. It has increased in test scores, but at a price. Kids are no longer taught to learn, but taugh to test because of the push by the new principal who is inexperience, lacks communications skills, fails to follow through, and dumps his responsibilities/failures on others to deal with. The 1st-2nd grades have the best teaching staff, but 4th and 5th grade teachers lacks experience or skills or both. The other down side is that if your a working family who doesn't have the time to volunteer you are pretty much an outcast. This place has become more of an an up and coming country club than a school. |
| 9/1/2007 | parent | The teachers are great. One great things about this school is there aftercare program MEEP. I am a single working parent, this means I know homework will be taken care of, but also my kids are having fun and they're getting a lot of enrichment which would of taken up our entire weekends. BTW they use several credential teachers in the aftercare who work directly with the day teachers to ensure you student is getting any additional help in areas. |
| 3/25/2007 | parent | We looked at public, Catholic, and private schools in San Francisco and fell in love with Miraloma immediately. It looks and feels like a classic American elementary school, with a gym, cafeteria, auditorium, and has a nice park next door. The children participate in a character building program called Tribes, which teaches them how to be good friends and cititzens. The staff is friendly, cohesive, and experienced. My child entered kindergarten already reading, and has been appropriately challenged at Miraloma. It is not the easiest place to get to, which is one of the reasons it's not as diverse as some other SF schools. It is a tough place to get to if you don't have a car. The flip side is that the location is quiet and idyllic - you feel as if you are no longer in the city. This school is truly a diamond in the rough. |
| 2/8/2007 | parent | The school itself is fine. I am uncomfortable with the community, as the school has turned obviously very upper middle class, with the majority of the kids coming from well-educated homes. These parents are very involved (great, right?) However, they are very clique-y, and if you are a working parent, you might find you and your kid on the outside of the 'fantastic community'. Don't get me wrong, the school and the teachers are good. |
| 9/19/2006 | parent | Miraloma is an extraordinary place. Underfunded as any public school in the state, the school has managed to create a vibrant community of fantastic and dedicated teachers and staff, a smart and enthusiastic new principal, an unusually large group of passionately involved parents, and wonderful kids. Through PTA funding and some creative fundraising, we have managed to cobble together a music program, art, dance, sports, poetry, an organic gardening program, visiting performers, and a staffed library, as well as a parent-run tutoring program. Academics improve each year. There's always room for improvement, but we couldn't be happier. |
| 3/19/2006 | parent | We have been very impressed with the quality of the teachers and staff at Miraloma. Our kindergarten experience has been terrific. The teacher has organized field trips, brought in guest speakers, and writes a newsletter. Lots of parent involvement. Active PTA. This is a serious school, but not an intense or high pressure environment. A good alternative to Rooftop or Alvarado. |
| 3/17/2006 | parent | Our three children have been at Miraloma for three years. The staff are incredibly dedicated and the parent community active and involved. We've been particularly surprised and happy with the support we've found at Miraloma for our learning disabled first grader. The school offers great extracurriculars: Our daughter participates in Chess Club, Chorus, and the (Sports4Kids- run) Volleyball team. We highly recommend Miraloma! |
| 1/12/2006 | parent | Miraloma was not on our first round list of schools due to it's proximity to our home. We did however add it to our second round list and were thrilled when we were assigned to it. Two weeks after starting, our daughter got accepted to a private school we were considering. We decided to stay at Miraloma. Our daughter is in first grade, this is our second year. She is reading well above state standards, is doing second grade level math and gets art through every lesson. The school has a poetry and a phy. ed. program that is funded in part through the PTA. The school is safe, diverse both ethnically and economically, the teachers and principal are exceptional and accessible, and we are part of an amazing community. The school also has a great afterschool program, a must for a family with two working |
| 3/13/2005 | parent | This is a wonderful school where you feel everything is how it should be. The kids are happy and the parents are very involved. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable to all. The strong principal and teaching staff make this a great place for any child to succeed. |
| 11/17/2004 | parent | Miraloma is an amazing small, friendly school, and it keeps getting better. Marcia Parrot, the principal, is dedicated and knows most students by name. She personally assures that all the teachers are great, and has lots of training opportunitys for them. Many parents are from local co-op nursery schools, and used to working 20+ hours/week for the school. What more could you want? |
| 11/17/2004 | parent | We've just started in Kindergarten and love the strong sense of community that Miraloma has. The principal is great and has a broad vision for the school which is to focus on each child. There are dedicated teachers who go above and beyond to make the learning experience a good one for every child. We also really like the aftercare program because it is structured and flexible and has been a great way for our child to meet other children across the grades. |
| 7/22/2004 | parent | I think Miraloma is an up-and-coming school that is really beginning to turn itself around. |
| 2/23/2004 | parent | We had a lot of anxiety over choosing the right school for our children. We are so happy with Miraloma Elementary and are pleased at how our children have grown. The teachers are very friendly and approachable. The parents are great and are really working hard to improve the quality of education at the school. The principal is a tireless leader who has pulled this school together and created a wonderfully safe and enriching atmosphere for our children. |
| 1/21/2004 | parent | I had 4 children who attended Miraloma. This school and the district have all the same curriculum--I should know I worked for the SFUSD for 18years. the students are below average. I moved to another County and my children were below average for their grades in comparision to the other children. After one school term at their new public school my children improved tremendously. That was 4 years ago, now our eldest daughter is a straight A student approaching Calculus this summer in school..... |
| 1/7/2004 | parent | We happened on Miraloma 2 years ago and do not regret turning down our spot in what was our 'first choice' schlool. Marcia Parrott is an amazing Principal; she knows every student by first name and is intimately involved with every students education. My son has had the most talented and dedicated teachers I have had the privledge of getting to know. They are alway open and egar to discuss my son's progress and willing to change to suit each child's needs. The Mirlaoma Educational Enrichment Program (MEEP) is a wonderful afterschool program. Students learn Karate, study Drama, and have access to Forign Language Study as well as time for homework and outdoor play! The Miraloma PTA is an amazing, growing organization! All of the parents and staff members who are involved truly love what they do and are dedicated to making Miraloma the best school in San Francisco! |
| 10/23/2003 | parent | Our son is five and originally started kindergarten at an expensive private school, but was soon asked to leave because they found him unwilling to participate in a meaningful way. We soon thereafter enrolled him at Miraloma where he quickly was made to feel welcome by his new teacher and classmates. Best of all our son is finding his new school to be a most enjoyable experience. As parents, you simply know when your child is happy and doing well. We now couldn't imagine our son going to school anywhere else or getting a better education at any price. |
| 10/11/2003 | parent | We have a kindergartener at Miraloma Elementary School, which is located on top of Mt. Davidson in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. We feel very lucky to be at Miraloma. The small school feeling makes it easy to build a community where parents, teachers, students and staff come together to make it a very welcoming place. Together we are continuing our goals for making academic achievement, health and safety, and a comprehensive arts curriculum a priority, so our children can thrive. Some of my favorite things about Miraloma that I think make it a special place are the morning assembly, the weekly sing-along, the bright and sunny school facility, the growing parent community, the fabulous and dedicated teachers, an outstanding, friendly and committed principal, and a diverse student body. |
| 10/10/2003 | parent | I have a kindergartner and a second grader. When we started at Miraloma the energy and excitement was beginning to build, now I see all the hard work has been appreciated. The school community has grown and we are so excited that other people have noticed. Miraloma is an example of the staff and parents working and achieving together -with nothing more than our children in mind. Marcia Parrot is the kind of principal who is on the playground, in the classroom and there for the kids, parents and staff. Her dedication is amazing. |
| 10/10/2003 | parent | Miraloma is everything we hoped elementary school would be for our child outstanding teachers, top-notch facility and a wonderful sense of community among families. On several occasions, different teachers have confided that they love teaching at Miraloma and that they have a advocate and mentor in Principal Marcia Parrott. My child s teachers have both been talented educators with insightful perspectives on my son. What was one of my greatest concerns going into the school has turned out to be a personal joy the energetic and friendly parent group. Parent involvement has grown exponentially since Ms. Parrott joined the school 4 years ago and is making great contributions to the arts program, improving the facility, supporting the teachers and much, much more. There is a sense of excitement at Miraloma as well as a commitment to the needs of all the children and families in this diverse community. |
| 10/9/2003 | parent | The leadership provided by the Principal, the quality of the teachers, and the level of parent involvement is exemplary. The Principal maintains order in a cheerful manner, from the beginning of the day with the orderly morning drop-off scene, the welcoming and community-building 'morning circle', to the end of the day, with the orderly pick-ups scene. Ms. Parrott seems to have a simple-to-follow, efficient way of handling all aspects of the running of the school, and a warm and welcoming presence. The teachers knowledge base is extensive, and their enthusiasm for their work and genuine interest in the children is everything a parent could want. The PTA raises thousands of dollars for supporting wonderful activities and programs at the school and so far I've seen no evidence of politics. |
| 10/2/2003 | parent | I have two children at Miraloma--one in fifth grade and one in first grade. They are both extremely happy and doing great academically and socially. They have had amazingly gifted teachers and the school gets better and better every year. |
| 9/30/2003 | parent | We are new to Miraloma this year. The school came highly recommended through a group of Co-op Parents we have worked with. Miraloma has history, diversity and a commitment to the family. I believe that the teachers, staff, curriculum and facilities are essentials to building a good school. But a great school is birthed when the good school is empowered and served by active families in a context of broad history and diversity. Miraloma's leadership has welcomed us as parents. The commitment of the entire community is contributing towards the making of one of San Francisco's better schools. A community of participants, not consumers. |
| 9/30/2003 | parent | My daughter started at Miraloma this fall. We are very happy with her kindergarten (17 kids), the class and the school. I've spoken to at least 10 other parents new to the school who say the same thing. Several parents I've spoken to have been in the waiting pool for other schools and would not now change even if a spot opened up in their original first choice school. Miraloma is small and personal, with has a great principal who is involved in every aspect of the school, and hugely supportive of the staff. The teachers are happy and committed. The building is large, bright and clean, in a totally quiet and safe neighborhood with a playground next door. It has an auditorium and a gym as well as a large lunchroom. There is A LOT of parent involvement- parents are staffing the library, helping in the computer lab etc- and the PTA is currently raising money for an arts program. This is a school with a great buzz and a lot of well-founded optimism among parents and teachers. |
| 9/29/2003 | parent | We liked Miraloma from the first moment we stepped in its doors for a tour. Now that we're there we love it. Our son loves to go to school, and we are ever impressed witht the curricular things he tells us are going on in his classroom. Everyone -the parents, the teachers, the principal - is dedicated to doing what is best for the students. Having the neighborhood park adjacent to the park is great and more than makes up for the lack of afterschool activities. Our son does take Spanish after school on site, though. |
| 9/29/2003 | parent | My son started kindergarten this year. As a shy child, I anticipated he would be lost in the crowd, but his teacher and classmates have brought him out and he is thriving. I am impressed with the parent participation, so much so, that I have joined the PTA and School Site Council to become more active myself. Miraloma is an overlooked gem with great leadership and outstanding community involvement. |
| 9/29/2003 | parent | My son is in kindergarten and so far we are thrilled with Miraloma. He loves school and his teacher. I have yet to see or hear anything to make me think less of the school. Everyone is friendly, the program seems top notch, the facility is fantastic and my son is happy. |
