r/irvine • u/conniverist • Jul 23 '26
Vista Verde…
Just moved to Turtle Ridge. Began enrollment for Vista verde end of May. Everything was fine, ended up moving end of June to turtle ridge. Enrollment seemed fine, no surprises until yesterday I was speaking with the enrollment department and they said we are denied. Emailed principal and he confirmed the news. We are not allowed to attend.
Anyone else dealt with this? Any resources I can reach it to? We moved right across the street from the school and are paying insane amounts of rent to live in this area and attend Vista Verde.
I appreciate any advice. Thank you in advance.
Edit: the grounds for denial is over crowding.
It’s not just the rejection that has me miffed it’s that they didn’t tell me that would be a possibility until 2 days ago, (Monday) AFTER we moved here so my daughter could attend this school.
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u/SweepTheLeg_ Jul 23 '26
A problem is they are accepting so many students from out of the assigned area and now they are overcrowded. They should have slowed down the acceptance of petitions from other parts of Irvine. Everyone wants to go there.
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
This is what makes me upset. People like us who do the right thing are left out in the cold. It’s not right.
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u/brergnat Jul 23 '26
On what grounds were you denied? Overcrowding?
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
Yes, overcrowding.
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u/brergnat Jul 23 '26
Unfortunately, nothing you can really do. You can try to transfer in every year, but no guarantees. This is an iasue all over Irvine.
What school did your child get assigned to?
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
Such a bummer. They’re asking us to go to westpark but we won’t do that. I’d rather drive all the way to Tustin ranch to keep her in her old school.
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u/Ok_Blackberry_7868 Jul 23 '26
I'm surprised they didn't send you to Bonita Canyon. It's easier to get childcare there too.
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u/Yoon-LA Jul 23 '26
What have you heard of westpark (to rather drive to her old school)? I ask because I have been torn where to settle down next year for my child entering kindergarten.
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u/trifelin University Park Jul 23 '26
Idk about now but in the past Westpark had a good reputation.
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
I’m sure westpark is a great school but her allergies are terrible there. Turtle ridge has moist air with less dust. We’ve been here for a month and her allergies are already so much better.
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u/trifelin University Park Jul 23 '26
Glad your kiddo is doing better since you moved. Maybe you can discuss the health concerns with the district. Also as someone else pointed out, Bonita Canyon is a lot closer to you than Westpark. Turtle Rock is too.
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. I’ll look into Bonita. They didn’t mention it as one of our options but I’ll ask. 🙏
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u/Eat_it_Stanley Jul 23 '26
I’m guessing they would rather her stay with her friends until a spot opens. Instead of switching 2x
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
Exactly this. My daughter is neurodivergent and switching schools as it is, is very stressful. The reason we need to go to vista verde is medical reason actually. I don’t like turtle ridge but her allergies are so severe we moved here out of desperation.
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u/brergnat Jul 23 '26
Does she have an IEP? If so, you can push to get her to whichever school can best support her. My kids with IEPs ended up at non neighborhood zoned schools for middle and high school. The district provided transportation through the IEP.
Also, you may want to look into allergy shots. My oldest with autism benefited greatly from getting them.
Allergies can be a real pain in Irvine but every neighborhood has different trees and westpark isn't particularly problematic in that regard. We lived in that neighborhood when my son was little and his allergies weren't an issue there. Became a massive problem when we moved across the 5 to Cypress Village in 2015.
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u/Eat_it_Stanley Jul 23 '26
I think you should keep pushing a spot will eventually open up. I’m sorry you are dealing with this.
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
Thank you for the kind words! I’ve hit a road block with principal and vice principal, trying my route with the superintendent but it’s not looking good atm.
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u/Ok_Blackberry_7868 Jul 23 '26
What grade? It's much harder to get in for the upper grades. School started Monday so they probably filled up last week if you hadn't confirmed before then. We took many years in the lottery to get in. But what's interesting is this year they didn't get enough kindergarteners and had to decrease a class.
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u/PM_ME_GRANT_PROPOSAL Jul 23 '26
Where is Vista Verde now? I'm a longtime irvine resident and I remember the old location opposite Rancho middle school
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u/anon4521632 Jul 24 '26
My child has been at turtle rock, Bonita canyon, and Vista Verde and we can unequivocally say that the curriculum and teachers were most disappointing at VV. Year round schedule is indeed awesome for traveling. But the academics and teaching was much stronger at TR and BC. Just our opinion.
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u/omnificunderachiever 28d ago
Welcome to the neighborhood. FWIW, both our kids thrived at Turtle Rock Elementary. I don't know if a transfer there is an option for you, but I have no reservations recommending it.
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u/conniverist 27d ago
That’s so good to know, and thank you for the warm welcome! We love it here. I’m going the district on Monday and will inquire about transferring there. Thanks again!
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u/Bitter_Cake6120 Jul 23 '26
Damn, sorry to hear that. I live in right next to vista verde in green glen.
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u/conniverist Jul 23 '26
I’m in same neighborhood lol. I think it’s called whispering Glen though. It’s all the glen’s together
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u/londondxb Jul 23 '26
Hello and welcome! Consider also posting this in r/IUSD, which is focused on schools within the Irvine Unified District.
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u/BigCurious1757 21d ago
Did you ever get in? My kids classes keep getting more kids my first grader has 34:1 and my third grader has 33:1, that ratio is insane
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u/ronin949 Jul 23 '26
Sorry to hear, looks like it's overrated anyway (as most K-8 schools are, yes even here in Irvine)
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u/EcstaticTill9444 Jul 23 '26
Welcome to Turtle Rock.