Potranco Elementary

Terrible. If you have smart children, they will be bored. They teach to the lowest common denominator. If your children are learning disabled or cognitively impaired, they will excel here.

We will be opting for private school next year. MVISD is the least polished, least professional school district we have come across as a military family.

The school works this way, "take care of Mr. B and he will take care of you." You find out who the best teachers are and if you have stayed in the good graces of the principal and worshiped him, you will get the teacher you requested. The principal is the Jefe. The Jefe is known for punishing anyone who challenges him, teacher, parent and child. Teachers who don't blindly worship can expect to be moved up or down 4 grades and not given the proper notice needed to prepare to teach that grade. It is done as a form of punishment and to set the teacher up for failure so that the Jefe can come observe and brutally critique. Setting teachers up for failure does not help the children in the classroom. There have been at least 4 vice principals work under this principal in the last 6 years. The teacher turnover is significant as well. The most recent display of disrespect towards parents came with the PTO elections. The election was done with a standing vote. The Jefe yellled out to the crowd of parents and teachers who wanted to have as PTO president and how he was voting. Most considered that a directive to them to do the same if they wanted to keep the Jefe in their good graces. The parents and teachers were then made to stand to record their vote. Teachers were placed in a position to go along or be punished.
The way the Jefe treated the poor parent that he did not want as PTO president was humiliating. The Jefe does not want to hear from parents. It is his school and he will do what he wants. No one will challenge him.

Military families beware. We chose this school last year based on its Exemplary rating (which has since been reduced two levels to "Academically Acceptable"). Potranco Elementary is now the lowest ranked elementary in MVISD. A couple weeks into school we were shocked to see the 1st Grade work sheets coming home were below par or on par with the work our twins completed in pre-school and Kinder. We asked to see curriculum, and we were not allowed. I asked to observe in the classroom, and the Principal, Mr. B, told me parents were only allowed one observation per year. We had several issues that were dismissed, berated and belittled by Mr. B. We felt our only option was to withdraw our children. It is a shame because we bought our house based on the school's exemplary rating. I have become active in my immediate community and am hearing from other parents who have had problems with Balderas going back 8 - 9 years. I keep hearing the same sentiment when speaking to others who have been in this community for 15 - 20 years, "why has he not been fired?" I don't know the answer to that question. I have spoken up about the issues we encountered and am waiting for a response from the MVISD school board and superintendent. The poor performance of the school will not help our children, community or property values. When researching, look to the TEA's web site. At present, the MVISD web site incorrectly states each Elementary school has a rating higher than the actual TEA rating. A SMSgt who works with my husband and whose daughter attended Kinder at Potranco was surprised when they recently PCS'd and their daughter was placed in remedial classes going into the first grade. When things like this happen, it can be a huge strain on military families. Do your research and be sure your children are being challenged and where they need to be to remain competitive in other states and school districts.
annisejones(at)hotmaildotcom if you have questions