1620 S Wright Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

Having worked at a variety of schools, including high-performing and high-income campuses, I can say Elsie Allen is often misunderstood from the outside. In my experience, it is a strong, supportive school community where students and staff work together and take pride in their growth.Under the (new) leadership of Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Brookshire, expectations for both staff and students are clear, consistent, and fair. They work closely with staff to support student success while maintaining a structured, positive learning environment, with a shared focus on helping students grow through challenges while upholding high standards.Elsie Allen offers strong college and career opportunities for students. The school provides dual enrollment opportunities in partnership with Sonoma State University, allowing students to take college-level coursework while still in high school. Students also have access to optional classes through Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), further expanding their exposure to college academics and supporting post-secondary readiness.The school also has a vibrant mariachi program that is an important part of campus culture, offering students meaningful opportunities for performance, confidence-building, and cultural expression.Elsie Allen has a strong multicultural focus, and students are resilient, engaged, and full of potential. In my experience, it is a place where relationships matter, effort is recognized, and the community supports its students. Student voice is also included in school decisions; for example, in planning for the upcoming 7th/8th grade structure, students participated in feedback sessions and helped inform aspects of the campus layout and design.

Overall it’s a decent school for learning and the teachers are nice it’s just very bare minimum. School plays and events are done during school hours while parents and families are at work etc so it’s nearly impossible for people to make it without having to leave work. That also cuts into the kids learning time and educational priorities. There were only a few field trips and one of them was a trip to the park so I’m not sure if it’s due to budgeting or low funds. There’s little to no parking. Trying to come in and out of the school is really hard and there’s no nearby public parking due to the road ways. I don’t see any developments done to the school or any plans to fix the parking lot issue. My biggest issue with this school is the family activities, they are always done during school hours when parents are at work so I don’t see how that encourages family activities when most families can’t make it. Some fields trips we were notified that only a selected group of parents could attend. Talents shows, plays, conferences, open houses, etc in my opinion should be conducted after regular school hours. Everything is crammed and rushed and organized very poorly.