Horace Mann Elementary School

Allendale may be the most underrated gem in all of OUSD. Our kids absolutely love going to school here and have excelled academically and socially. In our 3 years here, we have continued to be impressed. The teachers are experienced and genuinely care about the students, and it really shows. The leadership is competent and parent involvement is growing stronger. Also, the FREE after school programs have been amazing. The demographics have shifted due to the inevitable gentrification of the area, but the school has been able to retain its community feel. We are beyond happy with our experience at Allendale and have made several great friends over the years.

ZERO STARS.... This is not a safe school for children. My grandaughter is getting bullied on the playground by the same boy - three times so far, and nothing is being done to prevent her from harm. She was hit in the face by him and now has a bruise on her face and the next day he attacked her again. The principal is not very reactive about this situation but if it were her child I'm sure she would not tolerate this action. Children should learn to keep their hands to themselves. What is a parent to do when you are not getting the necessary response and to feel assured that your child is going to school to learn and should not fear that there will be any unnecessary roughness from another student and should not have to constantly look over her shoulder.

This school is plagued with multiple substitutes and a revolving door of principals. I pulled my child out!

The school has a lot of community input and the staff works very hard to fall into compliance with the policies and directions of the district, county, state, and nation. The school uses a dual immersion model for instruction where part of the day is in English and part of the day in Spanish. Some classes are fully bilingual, while others work with credentialed Spanish teachers and credentialed English teachers to deliver the curriculum to the students. Students still take state tests for the most part. With all of parties involved from the community, to the staff, to the district, all playing such an active role in the education of these students you have to wonder why they haven’t been successful in achieving higher test scores in spite of their efforts. Are there larger problems in the community or in the district or in the state or county that are preventing students from this school from having scores that correlate with successful outcomes as students pass developmental milestones.

No taxpayer and government-funded public district school should have to mandate school uniforms.

Hidden gem private school. Outstanding, graduate level teachers and super supportive community. Part of Northeastern University. Our daughter, now grade 1, has been incredibly happy there.