Fultondale Elementary School

This is my children's second year at this school. I love the staff they have been amazing. My daughter had a seizure at school and everyone new what do do when i was at the hospital for two weeks everyone was incredible. They came to check on her called everyday. With a school that has 901 kids. It was so nice to know how many people came to see my kid i love how Mrs Hayes looks at these children are her own. Again Ty to the staff at fulltondale elementary you guys are amazing.
—Submitted by a parent

I went to school at FES, and my children went to school there, and now my grandson is there in kindergarten. His teacher has been so helpful and I am very satisfied with her keeping us informed and setting up meetings with us. He is learning things that are so advanced of when I went to school there, and when my children went to school there. I am very satisfied with the homework. I think the majority of learning should be done at school and when they get home not be so loaded down with homework that they have no time to be children. Keep up the good work. And, no, my grandchild is not the perfect child and needs constant help with behavior, but the teacher and staff have been so good and worked out plans to help him settle into school and keep his attention focused. Thank you to all that have helped.

This is my child's second year at Fultondale Elementary, and while it is a beautiful facility, I am not at all impressed with the staff at all. The teachers send home notes for petty infractions, such as talking in the hallway, but when something notable happens, I am never informed. I learn about it days later from my child. I feel her teacher is not attentive enough to the students, and provides a poor example to her class. At this year's Valentine party, the teacher passed out Valentines to every student EXCEPT my child. She told my child she "ran out, but here's a pencil instead.". I know that sounds petty, but the teachers lead by example. She did this in front of the entire class, and my child was devastated. I would expect something like that from another eight year old, but from a teacher? I was very disappointed. Also, the "homework" assignments are a joke, and I hope that she is learning something more during class hours. The homework assignments I am seeing are something she was taught at three years old. I am very disappointed in this school system.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent, I believe in discipling children when they need it. My children are pretty well behaved but when I have to deal with them on a discipline level, I handle it. The teachers at Fultondale complain too much about petty issues. Some of them don't seem like they want to teach. When I was in school several years ago, teachers taught and they handled their classroom; they didn't send home all the petty notes such as little Johnny was talking in the hallway.
—Submitted by a parent

The only reason I give this school two stars is for the wonderful teachers and the building. My children came from Vestavia Hills City Schools where they had art and spainish but sadly Fultondale doesn't have either one. The counselors are wonderful and have worked with my niece and nephew whenever they needed it and the same goes for the special education or learning disabled teachers. They really go the extra mile. Like someone else has mentioned the school work is just to easy and I don't know if its because of the last schools the kids attended were harder or what but this school seems to be way behind and slow.
—Submitted by a parent

I went to school here and I think as far as elementary school goes it great everyone knows my daughter and they watch out for and i stay involved thats the key
—Submitted by a parent

Love this school. I feel like my child is safe and cared for. It is a very organized and well ran school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son came from a Cullman City school into this school last year and I am not impressed at all! I feel like this school does not notify you of events going on or how your child is doing in school. My son has always loved school and made straight A's until Fultondale Elementary. There were several occasions where my son had fieldtrips or activities going on that I did not know about because I never recieved notification. I understand that your children should be somewhat responsible for telling you what is happening at school but they are still kids and they are not going to be as responsible as the adult. Maybe I was spoiled at my sons old school with a weekly newsletter telling what my child is learning that week and what events were going on for the week. This school is just terrible!
—Submitted by a parent

This school had some pros and cons. I was concerned about what my child was learning as homework was stuff she had learned in preschool so I felt like she was being held back but maybe she was just ahead since going to preschool and I just had a misguided idea of what the 'norm' was. The only thing that bothered me terribly was that she did not learn any more math than she did and that they didn't focus on money, time, etc. like I was taught in Kindergarten and surely things have moved forward and not backwards since 30 years ago?! As far as notes and updates, I did receive the PTA newsletter ever so often, although it was geared more towards the older kids, it did keep me somewhat informed and the teacher was great about writing notes home. We'll try 1st grade and see what happens...
—Submitted by a parent

I have had two sons attend FES and am extremely happy with the staff and administration. They work well with the parents and children. My sons have greatly enjoyed attending school at the elementary and high school and wouldn't want to go anywhere else!
—Submitted by a parent

They have such good discipline but just enough fun for the students and the teachers
—Submitted by a parent

FES has a great staff of teachers. We are very pleased. Relatives who have children at other schools report that their children are way behind compared to what my child is doing. Thanks, a happy parent
—Submitted by a parent

This was my son's first year at Fultondale and I could not be more pleased. I was afraid that my son would have trouble keeping up but that was not a problem. When the I saw the first sign that he might not be keeping up, his teacher and I got together and she sent home some aides to use and work on at home. We had no more problems and the teacher was constantly keeping me posted as to his progress and helpful ideas to help him at home. Every time that I have been to school, I could not have asked for a more caring and loving staff. I believe that a lot of issues with the children could be resolved if the parents would become more involved with the children at school. Keep up the good work Fultondale Elementary School!
—Submitted by a parent

My son has attended Fultondale Elementary for the last 2 years and we are working on moving out of Fultondale at the moment specifically because of the school. I am very disappointed with many things at this school. My sons grades have dropped dramatically since going to this school, bullying is not dealt with properly and just a general lack of concern for either of these problems. I have had to schedule many conferences seeking ways for these 2 things to be resolved and nothing has changed in 2 years.
—Submitted by Extremely Concerned Parent, a parent

My daughter went to fultondale elem. For her 4th and 5th grade years. She received a great education at the school and continues to be a straight a student. She still goes back from time to time to visit and still has many friends that go to that school. Thank you for making her two years at fultondale so great!
—Submitted by a parent

My 2 grandsons ages 7 and 11 started Fultondale just before Christmas 2005. I have never heard of nor seen such an un-caring un-cooperative school staff in my life. Because they didn't start at the beginning of the year they didn't receive supplies because the school is 'out of them'. Nor is any effort being made to get them copies. These boys have suffered through a really painful year 2005 as has the whole family. We are all stressed to the limit. The school has been made aware of this but has an 'I can't be bothered with their problems' attitude.How much effort does it take to be kind? You are really failing especially compared to the dedicated teachers at Odenville Elementary and Hoover. If I sound angry it is because I am.
—Submitted by Gerry Harris, a parent

My two boys went to fultondale elem. And now I have one grandson that went the last two years and will be in the second grade this year and I will have another one to start this year also. This will be the second grader's brother. I like the school system and i have also liked most of the principals through out the years, but you know you are going to get some you like and some you don't. Over all it is a good school in my opinion. Mrs. Duke is just the greatest. My boys have went to the high school and one still goes there. It is also a good school. My sons would not go to any other school. If they couldn't go to fultondale, they just did not want to go. They grew up in these two schools and have done pretty good. It is a good school. Thank you
—Submitted by a parent

Are you kidding? The principal is the worst administrator I have ever seen. Without good and fair leadership in a school, how can you expect anything better from the school at all?
—Submitted by a teacher

I was a student at this school and now I have 1 child in this school and one who went to the high school this year. There have been many great changes that have taken place over the years. The staff and faculty are wonderful people and have the best interest of the students in mind at all times. This is one of the best schools around and the students are lucky to have people care so much about their education.
—Submitted by a parent

I just moved this summer (2003) and I was ecstatic to remove my child from this school and not have to enroll my kindergartner at all. I had horrible experiences during the time my eldest daughter attended this school. She went from K-3rd grade. Her K teacher did NOT teach her a thing, continually fed her school meals (when I had sent her prepared lunches due to dietary restrictions) and I could NOT get a conference with her all year and believe me, I tried. This teacher lied on her end of the year report noting that my daughter knew her letters and their sounds and she DID NOT! Her first grade teacher was not much better. I learned, after the fact, that my child had spent many days in the hall--banished from the classroom for simply 'getting on the teachers nerves.' Had I known that my sweet hearted child were being treated this way I would have put a stop to it immediately. (If you know my child you would know I'm not exaggerating--she is soft spoken, lives to please and will take an insect out of the house rather than hurt it.) The fact that my child started first grade not reading a SINGLE word (thanks to the K teacher who passed her against my better judgment) and ended the year with A honor roll--her achievement was not recognized by her teacher or the school at all. As I picked up her report card I was told snidely by this teacher 'I have reservations about passing her but if she works hard next year....' Oh please, she worked her buns off and ended the year with an A-B average. I just walked away while the woman was talking. UGH Her second grade teacher was better but quite unimpressive. I moved my family to a better area with A+ schools (last I checked F'dale was a C+ school), a lower teacher student ratio, and according to this site, their new school scores 20% higher on the achievement tests. If your child has to attend this elementary school I HIGHLY suggest being very proactive on their behalf. This was my first experience sending a child to a public school and I'll admit, I was not as proactive as I should have been out of fear that my disagreeing would bring hardship to my child. I think, although I would change my involvement if I had it to do over again, that more involvement *would* have caused grief for my child. Another thing, this school is run like a virtual prison. When checking my daughter out for a doctors appointment my (then) toddler was in awe of the artwork put on display down the halls. She wandered a mere 6 feet or so from the check out desk and I was yelled at to bring her back to the waiting area IMMEDIATELY. I was shocked. Why put the distracting art work there if not for those waiting to enjoy? I should have sent her to a private school and if faced with sending any of my children to a school like this again, I will, either homeschool or seek a private education. Thanks for this forum where I can share what I went through with this school. I'm choosing the option to sign my name as everything I have relayed is true and I'll not hide behind anonymity.
—Submitted by a parent