Bennett - 300 - BLUE

The mission of Cullen Elementary School is to provide each student with opportunities to reach his/her full potential as a lifelong learner through implementation of high academic standards, providing differentiated instruction to all students, in a safe and nurturing learning environment while maintaining strong home-school-community connections and promoting individual responsibility.

The elementary schools are amazing, the middle schools are OK. However, the high school is horrible considering what you would expect in a great community like Glendora. Most teachers have been amazing, with the exception of a few. But, that is probably true at any school. However, the communication to parents is lacking in so many ways. There is so much to learn and know to help your kids take the right classes and prepare them for college, but hardly any information is given to parents. Also, a lot of the events that take place at school are not clearly communicated. There aren't many opportunities for parent/family involvement, and if there are they are not communicated clearly. Hence, the poor lack of communication that I see as a serious problem. Also, there is a scholarship program available for students called CSF, but never any clear communication about it. And, they make students wait in a long line during their lunch to turn in their application - with NO exceptions. Most other schools let students turn it in online or some other way that is more convenient and fair to students. Many students are losing out on this opportunity due to lack of clear communication and INADEQUATE practices in turning in the application. Also, there is so much nepotism in the athletics department and courses due to the high amount of staff that have family members (kids) at the school. I know of at least 3 students who left the school for other opportunities in sports because of the obvious nepotism. If you are deciding between nearby public high schools, I would say that they are all better than Glendora High (Bonita, San Dimas, Claremont) if you want your kid to have a better chance of being accepted into some good colleges.

Review for Sandburg Middle SchoolOur family has lived in Glendora since 1996, and we truly love this community. My husband served as a local pastor for many years, and I spent three decades as an educator, including teaching in nearby Azusa. Our five daughters grew up here, so our family has deep roots and friendships throughout Glendora.Today I am a grandmother, and two of my grandchildren attend Sandburg Middle School. We appreciate the many teachers and staff who work hard every day to support students.Our family does face some health challenges. My grandchildren live with autoimmune conditions that sometimes cause physical pain and emotional strain, and their mother — a dedicated social worker — manages lupus and fibromyalgia while continuing to work full time and care for her children. Because of this, occasional issues with absences or timing can arise.One small example happened this morning when my daughter arrived just one minute late turning in a required form. The immediate response from the front office was “no exceptions.” Several minutes were spent explaining the rule, when perhaps those same few minutes could have been used to help find a solution — such as assisting with submitting the form to the staff in the gymnasium.Policies are important, but so is the tone in which they are delivered. A moment of empathy and problem-solving can make a tremendous difference for families navigating health challenges or difficult circumstances.As a retired educator who worked closely with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, I have seen how impactful empathy training and family-centered leadership can be. My hope is that Glendora Unified School District continues to strengthen training for staff and administrators in areas such as empathy, cultural awareness, and understanding the mental and physical health realities many families face today.Glendora is a wonderful community, and with continued growth in these areas, our schools can reflect the same care, flexibility, and support that make this city such a special place for families.