53 Thrasher
Irvine, CA 92618

Our family was disappointed with how my child’s 3rd grade class has been managed this year. From the first day of the school year, the class was assigned a long-term substitute due to the teacher’s maternity leave. We requested placement in a classroom with a permanent teacher to ensure stability, but this was denied by both the principal and the district. Unfortunately, within just the first month of school, the substitute teacher was replaced with another substitute. This means the children have had to experience multiple teacher changes, causing emotional disruption and inconsistency in their learning environment. When the principal came to the class to announce the change in substitute teachers, she explained it to the children as “the importance of change and being flexible.” While these are valuable life skills, expecting 8-9-year-old children to process frequent teacher changes as a positive lesson is not realistic. At this age, students need stability, routine, and a consistent teacher they can build trust with not constant disruption in the classroom environment. We are sharing this experience, so other families are aware of how Portola Springs Elementary and the district handle classroom placement and teacher coverage. While the school has a good reputation, our family’s experience has shown that the well-being and stability of the students are not always prioritized. We hope the district will take accountability and improve how they handle situations like this in the future.

Personally I think I've had the best experience in this school out of all the other schools I've attended here in California, as well as back in my home country. It might not be fair to compare schools in Glendale and the post-soviet elementary schools from my childhood to a neat and well funded school in Irvine, but I truly didn't have that many negative experiences here (by my own standards). Frankly though, if you were to ask some of my friends and peers, they might give you a very different answer, but that's their story to tell and not mine.

Both of my children have been attending this school for four years, and one of them is an ESL student. I am thrilled to share that my child passed the ESL exam in just two years, thanks to the school’s excellent support both during school hours and through extensive after-school programs. The school also provides a wide range of free ESL materials, which have been incredibly helpful. Of course, parental support is important, but the school’s focus on daily communication with students and families is exceptional—teachers and staff are always responsive and address situations promptly.I understand that every family has different expectations for their children. Some may focus primarily on grades or test scores, but at the elementary level, what truly matters is your child’s growth, social skills, mental health, and overall happiness. The school prioritizes continuous improvement and development—helping children gain confidence, manage challenges, and develop the emotional and social tools they need to thrive—rather than just focusing on “Met” or numerical grades on a report card.Regarding bullying, my children have faced challenges in the past. However, because I stay actively engaged with them, the school has been extremely attentive and responsive, often following up with an email or phone call the very next day. The sense of care and safety here is unmatched.The school and PTSA support an incredible variety of events every year, from the “Back to School Aloha” event to the marketplace and carnivals for both elementary and middle school students. These opportunities for social engagement are rare in other schools and provide a strong foundation for children to grow into well-rounded, confident adults.No school is perfect, but the combination of open communication, strong family involvement, and active PTSA support makes this school exceptional. My children love it here, and so do we. I highly encourage any parent looking for a school that values both academic and social growth, safety, mental health, and a sense of community to consider this school—it truly makes a difference in your child’s development and happiness.