Smith Agnes L School

We have 2 kids who have completed 2^nd grade and kindergarten at Smith. We have been so happy with the leadership, administration, and most importantly the teachers which our children have been assigned. We are half-​way through and have really felt a strong sense of community with very little of the politics that goes on at so many schools these days. The curriculum has been excellent, and my kids are learning as much if not more than our friends at private schools. There is also a lot of parent support in each class, which makes a world of difference in public schools where there is so little funding for the number of kids.
I do agree that the layout of the school is less than desirable, but being that it is such an old school I’m not sure how they can fix it. Once you get used to accessing the school from either side, the school itself is run very well and has exceeded my expectations for a public elementary school.

The teachers are great and the curriculum is wonderful. My daughter is in 4^th grade this year. So many activities for the families and you can see the ocean from the school. The only negative is anyone can walk on campus. Ive seen schools where the only way in is through the office. Smith has about 3 entrances that are left unlocked. Hopefully the teachers lock there doors during the day.

This school had no concern for my child’s safety. She wandered off from her class after P.E. to look for her jacket at lost and found. The teacher told me she realized she was gone. She said she had 32 students and couldn’t go look for her. She got the kids ready to meet their parents at the end of the day at the stairs at the front of the school. My daughter had jumped into line at this point, but the teacher didn’t notice. The teacher told me that she got distracted and forgot to tell my mom, who picks her up every day, that my daughter was missing. My mom walked right past the teacher with my daughter and the teacher still said nothing. The teacher then changed her story and said she never knew my daughter was missing. I asked the principal to move my daughter to another class. She said she wouldn’t. What happened to parents being able to make decisions for their child? There was space in another classroom and the principal disregarded my concern for my child’s safety and wouldn’t place her in that class. I am extremely disappointed in the Huntington Beach school district. This is unacceptable!