El Rancho School Preschool & Elementary School

El Rancho School is a private, coeducational preschool and elementary school founded in 1961.  We operate as a nonsectarian school, serving students who are two-years-old, through the sixth grade. In August of 2016 El Rancho will grow to include 7th and 8th grade. The park-like campus is located in a residential area of Carmichael at the eastern end of El Camino Avenue.  Towering trees shade the play areas, the blacktop, lawns, and colorful flowerbeds.  Many of the classrooms are adobe brick buildings in the style of the California missions. The following is a summary of the information that is presented on our website www.elranchoschool.com

At El Rancho School safety and security are paramount.  The campus is fenced and gated, with closed circuit video surveillance surrounding the school.  A sign-out system of releasing children is supplemented with picture identification required for persons who the staff does not recognize.

We have wonderful teachers who gently guide and teach your child. We understand the personal qualities that a teacher brings to the profession are what determine if your child has a happy day at school. Only truly outstanding, tenderhearted, affectionate, patient, and gentle teachers are on the El Rancho staff. Teachers with special skills are used to supplement the program. They teach Spanish, P.E., music, gymnastics and dance.

Preschool children are placed in classes according to their maturity and readiness skills, not their chronological age.  Preschool children enjoy all the traditional activities including “dress-up”, playing in the playhouse, music, and art.  The program is a blend of self-selection play activities and a carefully planned child development program that enhances the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of the child.  Children are taught colors, shapes, number and letter recognition, letter sounds, and math concepts, like time, money and addition.  The children have many activities that aid in developing their fine and gross motor skills.  It is unusual for children to learn to read in preschool.  The students at El Rancho are introduced to phonics early, and by the time they have completed the pre-kindergarten, they are sounding out words, and have read their first books.

Our enrollment process includes a 2-hour visit for the child and parent. We cannot enroll children whose behavior on their visit includes swearing, running away, kicking, hitting, or disrespectful or hurtful behavior to others. El Rancho School is a place where parents are comforted to know that their child is playing with children who are not mean or hurtful to others.

The school also serves Kindergarten – 6th grade students. We offer a full day kindergarten program. The morning is spent focused on academic instruction, which includes reading, phonic, writing, math, as well as character development, art and social studies. The afternoons include read aloud story time, science enrichment, physical education, and free choice activities. With gentle, dynamic teachers, an instructional program that works, and a parental reading partner at every child’s home, the kindergarten SAT10 reading test scores over the last 11 years have averaged the 97th percentile.  In addition, the children have half-hour lessons by specialized teachers in art, music, P.E., Spanish, and a Suzuki-method piano lesson.

The elementary school operates on a traditional school year.  We offer before and after-school care as well as a summer camp session.  The academic curriculum has a heavy language arts emphasis.  We understand that students like school and learn best when their class work is neither too easy nor too difficult.  There are usually three levels of reading instruction being taught in each classroom.  Students develop at their own pace, which prevents frustration or boredom.  With class sizes averaging 15 students, the teachers and aides have plenty of time to individualize instruction and assist all students.  Average SAT10 reading scores are the 91st percentile in Reading, and the 87th in math.

By the time students are picked up after school, most of them have completed their homework.  Our families report that the teacher-supervised study hall after school has enhanced their family time in the evenings.   Many of our students participate in after-school activities on campus like private music lessons, playground play, choir class, dance lessons, or scouts.

The elementary school summer camp session is a blend of relaxed academics and fun thematic activities, taught by credentialed teachers.  The one and two-week camps follow ‘fun’ themes, sports and recreational activities, and swim lessons.  The first two weeks and the last week of the summer session do not include an academic component.  A complete description of the wonderful Summer Session Camps is available on the website or through the school office.

Every grade is important in your child’s education because each year’s skills build on the skills and concepts taught the previous years.  For over 50 years, El Rancho Elementary School has earned a reputation for developing high-achieving students who have a love of learning and books.

El Rancho School families are a diverse group of socio-economic, ethic, cultural, religious and racial groups, and all are welcome.  What they have in common is their profound belief that the sacrifices they make now, to provide for their child’s education, will maximize their child’s opportunity to achieve a brighter future.

The teachers and administrators of El Rancho School invite you to explore our website, to call the school for more information, or to drop by for a tour.

Carmichael Preschool & Elementary School Campus

The park-like campus is located in Carmichael at the eastern end of El Camino Avenue.  Towering trees shade lawns, colorful flower beds, courtyards, blacktop and play areas.

Many of the classrooms are in adobe buildings in the style of the California missions.  Classrooms are attractive, spacious, well-designed and equipped, and have state-of-the-art technology.

We understand that students like school and learn best when their classwork is neither too easy nor too difficult.  (It also ‘lessens the odds’ that they will create a little mischief to keep things interesting!)  Reading is the most important subject taught at school.  Phonics forms the basis for instruction.  Our elementary school classrooms average three levels of reading instruction.  Students develop at their own pace, which prevents frustration or boredom.  With class size averaging 17 students, the teachers and aides have plenty of time to assist all students.

Discriminating families know they only have one chance for a quality education for their child.  They know every school year is important and builds on the skills and concepts of the previous year.  For over fifty years El Rancho Elementary School has earned a reputation for developing high-achieving students, who have a love of learning and books.  They develop into such strong “recreational” readers that their parents ‘complain’ about their children reading in bed under the covers with a flashlight!  The parents ‘complain’ to all of their friends and co-workers that they are “going broke” buying books for their children!

At El Rancho School we believe that each of our students is entitled to a reasonably equitable amount of their teacher’s time and help; therefore, we do not accept students who choose to frequently or seriously disrupt and interfere with the educational and recreational activities of other students.  El Rancho School is a place where parents are comforted to know that their children are not continually disturbed by others and are safe from the violent influences that disrupt education and frighten students and teachers.  An integral part of an El Rancho School education is helping students make moral and compassionate choices. At El Rancho School we believe that each of our students is entitled to a reasonably equitable amount of their teacher’s time and help; therefore, we do not accept students who choose to frequently or seriously disrupt and interfere with the educational and recreational activities of other students.  El Rancho School is a place where parents are comforted to know that their children are not continually disturbed by others and are safe from the violent influences that disrupt education and frighten students and teachers.  An integral part of an El Rancho School education is helping students make moral and compassionate choices.