23901 Lakeside Rd, Valencia, CA 91355

As a parent who has put three children through Bridgeport Elementary over the course of more than a decade, I have had a very long window into this school and, unfortunately, have watched it change dramatically for the worse.What was once a school that seemed to have enthusiasm, creativity, interesting projects, and some genuine zest for learning has become an incredibly uninspiring environment. The joy seems to have been systematically stripped out of the elementary school experience. An entire school year can pass and you are left wondering what your child actually did beyond worksheets, assessments, and preparation to demonstrate that they are performing at grade level.There seems to be an almost singular focus on testing and benchmarks, with very little emphasis on inspiring children to become curious, engaged learners. Where are the memorable projects? The creativity? The excitement? The experiences children come home talking about? Elementary school should be about far more than proving that a child can meet a testing standard.Even more disappointing has been the overall atmosphere. Too many interactions with teachers, yard-duty staff, and attendance personnel have felt humorless, unnecessarily rigid, and at times almost openly irritated by children simply behaving like children. Obviously this does not describe every individual who works there, but after more than a decade and three children, the cultural shift has been impossible for our family not to notice.I am extremely glad that our time at Bridgeport has finally come to an end. I wish I could recommend the school based on the experience my older children once had there, but based on what I have watched it become, I simply cannot.