Barron Park Elementary School

Barron Park has afforded my family the best experience in Palo Alto. We moved from one of the best private schools in Westchester County NY, to Barron Park, and the transition has been superb. Barron Park offers a truly unique and very special diversity experience (culturally, socially and socio-​economically), and it is what my family and I refer to as the mini UN. The School not only boasts of its diversity, but it celebrates it in many ways, to demonstrate to Barron Park families that the school embraces each and every one. Being different is actually great as it presents an opportunity for learning.
My children’s exposure has increased in so many ways: they are much more empathetic to children with disabilities, they are expressing themselves much better verbally and with written words, more confident in confronting challenging math problems, developing a heightened interest in science and technology and find coding and programing at their level «the best thing in the world». They have created friendships that I know will last forever. The experience is truly rewarding.
We are grateful to the school community that is warm and welcoming and makes new and old families feel right at home. With principal Magdalena at the helm, who is willing to go the extra mile to make sure that every child has a wonderful experience, to a staff that goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that each child is supported and has an opportunity to flourish; a school that is aligned with the Palo Alto School District; is small and intimate, Barron Park Elementary School in my mind is one of the best schools in Palo Alto.
Side note: The school is more geared towards families who want a wholesome experience for their children..

What a gem. This school has surpassed my expectations on sooo many levels. We came from a private school, so our expectations were high, but the education and the experiences that my children get daily at Barron Park are quite impressive. First and foremost the teachers bend over backwards to make sure they are challenging each child at their own level. I have seen such wonderful changes in my children in their desire to learn, and their confidence to be more independent and responsible. What a blessing! The extra-​curricular programs are outstanding: Tasting Week– with chefs from Google and Facebook, salad bar A to Z, Bike Rodeo (learning bike safety), a field trip to Half Moon Bay (regular field trips coordinate with studies), are just a few activies from the last 2 weeks. There are free lunch time activities such as Art, Choir, Zumba Taekwondo, Scratch Club etc, And after school these opportunities continue, with Wizbots, Young Inklings, PAPPA Art, etc.
Lastly I want to comment on the diversity of this school. (An explanation for our lower test scores.) There are children and families from all over the world! Last May, the 5^th grade graduating class had 55 countries represented! Amazing for such a small school. But the affect on my kids is a greater appreciation for world geography — they come home and want to show me where their friend just moved here from! And how to say «Where’s the bathroom? «in Russian. Pretty Cool.

This is a fantastic school! There have been meaningful improvements with principal Magdalena Fittoria at the helm. The school offers enrichment activities, such as Spanish and dance that are seldom seen at other public schools. For instance, my son starts his morning in class with Mindfulness practice and it has proved to be a very positive way to keep him focused and open to learning.

Barron Park is one of 12 great elementary schools in the Palo Alto Unified School District.
Wonderful staff & dedicated, talented teachers.
Great programs in music, art, technology & science.
Barron Park is one of the smaller elementary schools in Palo Alto. It is nestled away in the Barron Park area which is surrounded by big beautiful evergreen trees.

Love that school!.. Felt welcome from the start. I have 3 children, and each has a terrific teacher. One has special needs and got all the extra help he needed. The principal, Cathy Howard, was really on board to welcome every child of ours.
Nice touch: they try there best to have siblings with the teacher of your oldest, so that the teacher really knows the family.
I’m involve in PTA and through it made with new friends and know what’s going on at school.
Love the diversity at that school (race, social, economic). I think it’s great for our children to be surrounded by such rich environment.