Villa Park Elementary School is a public Orange Unified School District elementary school serving students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade in Villa Park, California.
Villa Park Elementary School Information
Villa Park Elementary School
10551 Center Dr.
Villa Park, CA 92861
Phone: 714-997-6281
Fax: 714-532-5895
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Grades: TK–6
Enrollment: 605 students (2025–26 CDE)
Principal: Cynthia Alamilla Santos
Mascot: Bobcat
About Villa Park Elementary
Villa Park Elementary is part of the Orange Unified School District. The school serves Villa Park families and the surrounding area and offers programs and activities for students across the elementary grade levels. Families should use the school’s official website for the most current schedules, announcements and program information.
Programs & Student Activities
Current school information highlights instructional strategies and enrichment opportunities that include AVID strategies, GATE strategies for students in grades 4–6, and after-school opportunities such as Robotics, Esports and Run Club. Programs and activities can change by school year, so families should confirm current offerings directly with Villa Park Elementary.
Villa Park Elementary also has a long tradition of family and community involvement. School events and activities vary from year to year; the official school calendar and Bobcat Family Newsletter are the best sources for current dates and announcements.
Villa Park Elementary Resources
- Official Villa Park Elementary website
- Villa Park Elementary bell schedule
- Villa Park Elementary calendar
- California Department of Education school profile
History of Villa Park Elementary School
The history of public education in Villa Park reaches back to the early 1880s. Orange Unified School District records state that the Mountain View School District was established in 1881 and that the first classes in the Villa Park area were held in a shed on the James M. Smith ranch. A two-room school opened in 1883 at Lincoln Street and Center Drive. In 1910, the school district changed its name from Mountain View to Villa Park to match the community’s postal name.
Historical accounts describe earlier Villa Park school buildings dating to the 1890s. In February 1926, a nighttime fire destroyed early school buildings; contemporary reports considered possible chimney or electrical causes rather than establishing a definitive cause. Replacement construction from the 1920s became part of the historic campus remembered by later generations. The school was also a center of community life: a 1919 account describes a school picnic at Santiago Park attended by about 75 people who arrived by wagon and automobile, and in 1938 the Villa Park Home and School League held a Halloween carnival at the school. Later recollections remembered the school bell, children arriving by horse and a Mr. Collins planting pepper trees on the grounds. By 1999, preservation of the old buildings had become a community issue, with a restoration committee exploring earthquake-safety improvements while retaining historic features such as slate, hardwood floors and original woodwork. The Villa Park School property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The historic buildings had been out of regular use since the early 1970s because of safety concerns and were ultimately demolished by Orange Unified School District in June and July 2017. OUSD documented the buildings with photographs, oral histories and a school history and memory book before demolition.
The Villa Park School Bell
The historic Villa Park school bell was preserved when the old school buildings were demolished in 2017. The cast-iron bell was removed before demolition, restored and placed on a monument in the center of the Villa Park Elementary campus as a visible connection to the school’s long history.
Villa Park Elementary Timeline
- 1881: The Mountain View School District was established, and early classes were held on the James M. Smith ranch.
- 1883: A two-room school opened at Lincoln Street and Center Drive.
- 1910: The school district changed its name from Mountain View to Villa Park.
- 1919: Contemporary records document Villa Park School as an active community institution, including a school picnic at Santiago Park.
- 1926: A nighttime fire destroyed early school buildings; replacement construction from this era later became part of the historic campus.
- 1938: The Villa Park Home and School League held a Halloween carnival at the school.
- 1950s–1970s: The campus expanded as enrollment and the surrounding community grew.
- Early 1970s: The historic buildings were taken out of regular use because of safety concerns.
- 2003: Villa Park School was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2017: The historic buildings were demolished after years of discussion about their condition, safety and potential preservation.
Orange Unified School District maintains a Villa Park Elementary Historic Building archive with photographs, oral-history materials and a school history and memory book.
Villa Park Elementary FAQ
What grades does Villa Park Elementary serve?
Villa Park Elementary serves students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade (TK–6).
What school district is Villa Park Elementary in?
Villa Park Elementary is part of the Orange Unified School District.
Where is Villa Park Elementary School?
Villa Park Elementary is located at 10551 Center Drive in Villa Park, California 92861.
How many students attend Villa Park Elementary?
California Department of Education data reports enrollment of 605 students for the 2025–26 school year. Enrollment changes from year to year.
Where can parents find the Villa Park Elementary calendar and bell schedule?
The official Villa Park Elementary website provides the current school calendar, bell schedule, newsletters and announcements.
More Villa Park Schools
Learn more about Serrano Elementary School, Cerro Villa Middle School, Villa Park High School and other Villa Park schools and youth resources.