21249 Figueroa St #16, Carson, CA 90745

I have very mixed feelings about Van Deene Elementary. Many of the teachers my child had were wonderful. They genuinely cared about their students, went above and beyond to help them succeed, and were responsive when concerns were brought to their attention. I will always be grateful for those educators and the education that my child received at Van Deene Elementary. Unfortunately, my experience with the school's administration was very different. During my child's time at Van Deene, my child experienced repeated bullying, physical aggression, and racist comments from other students. These incidents occurred over multiple school years and were reported to teachers, after-school staff, the principal, and district administration. While the teachers often responded with care, I did not feel the administration took sufficient action to stop the pattern or ensure my child's long-term safety. Watching my child change was heartbreaking. A child who once enjoyed learning gradually began to hate going to school. My child was hit, threatened, mocked, ridiculed, and called racial slurs by other students. Despite repeated reports, I often felt our concerns were minimized rather than meaningfully addressed. I also spoke with other parents whose children attended Van Deene, and several shared similar experiences. They told me their children had also been bullied and that they felt dismissed after reporting it. One parent told me they were asked not to return to the school office regarding their concerns. Another shared that they left the office in tears after feeling nothing meaningful would be done to protect their child. While I can only speak for my own family, hearing similar stories made me feel our experience was not isolated. As an African American parent, I believe it's important to share our experience so other families can make informed decisions. I encourage parents to ask detailed questions about how bullying, harassment, and racial incidents are investigated and addressed before enrolling their children. Finally, while my child had many excellent teachers at Van Deene, there was one kindergarten teacher whose interactions with our child and family left us feeling deeply uncomfortable, unheard, and unwelcome. Every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and protected at school. I sincerely hope Van Deene strengthens its response to bullying and student safety so no other family has to endure what ours did.