I hope others can learn from my experience. I'm not trying to be negative but to let others know that my child was not prepared for a middle school other than Abbott. She was definitely behind and took a few years to catch up. And yes, I agree that there are wonderfully dedicated parents at Laurel. However,
... Read more only about 50% of the parent body is committed. The others are not involved with their time or money, and this makes a huge difference. Other schools have much more money, therefore more programs and more resources. A commitment level of 90%+ of the parent body also makes a huge difference. I wish Laurel lots of success and I enjoyed the community immensely. I would not send another child there, however, and I hope that is helpful for some parents to hear. I would recommend comparing Laurel to other programs, and enrichment activities. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/10/09
I'd like to respond to the recent review calling Laurel mediocre and lacking parental involvement. Laurel is a good neighborhood school. Yes, there are some children bussed in but San Mateo is a diverse city with many languages spoken and ethnic groups. I have 2 children who attend Laurel and an
... Read more middle school son who attends Abbott. He was very well prepared for middle school and is thriving there. Also, there many very dedicated, hardworking parents at Laurel who dedicate time and money to the school. I feel my children have received an excellent education and have made wonderful friends at Laurel. We can always make improvements at the school but I don't think such negative comments are productive. Read less
Posted by a parent on 08/26/09
This is a very good school. I removed my son from another school because of poor teacher parent/principal involvement. The teacher made my son very comfortable entering her class mid year and the parents are very nice and acually parent their kids verse the last school which most could care less.
... Read more I recommend this school if you want a safe enviorment for your child to excel. Read less
Posted by a parent on 04/09/09
I have two children attending Laurel this year. So far, we have had a very good experience at the school. I am encouraged by the high level of parent involvement and the dedication of the PTA. There are a variety of activities driven by the PTA that make Laurel unique compared to other schools that I
... Read more know of in the Bay Area. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/03/08
Don't let the recent California Distinguished School ranking fool you. There's much room for improvement, but the staff is not inclined to make any effort for positive change. Teaching to the test lives strong here.
... Read moreRead less
Posted by a parent on 07/28/08
Laurel is a very good school, my daughter is in kindergarten, her teacher is excelent, the PTA is doing a very nice job and the principal is great, my daughter and I are very happy and we love Laurel.
... Read moreRead less
Posted by a parent on 03/17/08
I think Laurel is a very good school. The PTA evolves in activities alot. Mrs. Chinn is a very nice principal.
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Laurel is a great neighborhood school. I would prefer more music and creative arts, but it's not just Laurel that doesn't have the funding for that. The PMT program is terrific, the library is very good. Overall my children feel very happy and safe there, and the teachers have done a great job meeting
... Read more their specific needs above and beyond regular classwork. Read less
Posted by a parent on 03/05/07
Laurel has blossomed under Mrs. Chen's excellent leadership. The teachers seem happier, my children are learning material well above state standards, and the after school program (the Laurel Annex, run by Vanessa) is exceptional. It would be nice to have more variety in the enrichment programs and
... Read more music classes for all grades, but overall Laurel does an excellent job of providing a well rounded and high quality educational foundation. Art in Action and PMT are essential and extremely well managed and appreciated at Laurel. Read less
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
San Mateo schools — Laurel Elementary School is located at 316 36th Ave, San Mateo CA 94403. 316 36th Ave is in the Beresford Park neighborhood and 94403 ZIP code in San Mateo, CA The school district for Laurel Elementary School is the San Mateo - Foster City School District. Laurel Elementary School is a Public school that serves grade levels K - 5.
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Parent Reviews
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Test Score Ratings
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this school scored better than 70% of the students in the state on the same tests. We have indicated below which tests
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experience, academic programs, extracurricular activities, resources for special needs students, etc. These ratings are
not provided by the state Department of Education, which may have their own rating systems.
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
