Ladd Elementary School

My children love Ladd. We were quite concerned when the principal, Mrs. Cook, retired. We were even more concerned when we met the new principal, Mr. Stitt because he was so different from Mrs. Cook. I am so glad that we were wrong about him. Our children love to go to school and we are glad that several of the issues we were most concerned about have been addressed by the new principal, especially the parking. Definitely one of the best schools in the area.
--Submitted by a parent

We are a military family and this is our second time at Fort Wainwright. Three of our 5 children have attended 4 different schools in Fairbanks. One has attended 2 schools and the youngest has only gone to Ladd. The school has changed a lot over the years.In fact it almost doubled in size since we were last stationed here. We have not always had success with the schools near the bases. Two of our children receive special education services and have not had good school experiences at all. Ladd has been such a wonderful change. Our children feel accepted. The teachers show genuine care. The principal actually took the time to sit and talk with us about our children. He made us feel welcome which was funny since we had been their before he was. Ladd absolutely has the best special education staff we have ever worked with. We really don't want to leave. A truly great school with a great staff.
--Submitted by a parent

Great opportunity for gifted children at this school! School staff work at developing goals for your childs needs.
--Submitted by a parent

Three of our children went to Ladd Elementary. I've been generally pleased with the teachers & staff though I ve been perplexed when my children reached the 5th & 6th grade levels. Their performance, interest and attitude toward school went downhill. There wasn't near the level of homework or challenging assignments that I saw up until the 4th grade level (It didn't seem to progress. Math at 6th grade seemed to be stuck at the 4th grade level, as one example). Seemed like more substitutes and/or teacher aid involvement than the homeroom teacher for various reasons. Really enjoyed Mr. Merrill (4th grade), especially the interaction with parents and what was happening in the classroom as well as follow-ups with homework. However, I don t think he is still teaching there. The expanding and collapsing student population is a problem with the continual military deployments; a 40-percent change in student population at the school appears to rack havoc with teaching and staffing resources. Kudos to those dedicated folks who continue to adjust.
--Submitted by a parent

I have worked at different schools throughout my teaching career and Ladd is definitely the best. The staff is outstanding and definitely cares about each and every student. We have a diverse population and a large military population. The kids, parents, staff, and principal are the BEST!
--Submitted by a teacher

I went to Ladd for 5th to 6th grade.. My dad was in he military so we moved there in the 5th grade. When I moved there I really was welcomed and I after less then a week I felt like I have been going to the school my whole life.. my 5th grade class was the BEST!! I didn't relize it then, but know that I am in High School, I relize how important my 5th grade year was! Ladd is the by far the best elementary school!!!
--Submitted by a student

This was a gret school. My kids were there for 2 yrs and learned so much. Wish we hadn't been transfered. Have yet to find a school like this one. Ms. Olzefski and Mr. Plazke, my kids miss them greatly.
--Submitted by a parent

This school's approach to instruction has disappointed me tremendously. My children have been attending Ladd for four years, and I have to see a textbook, there is often no homework at all, no way for me to see at home what my children are having trouble with while they're working on it... I just get the graded papers a couple weeks later. It's a battle to get the teachers to communicate what's being taught in the classroom to me. Classroom discipline is terrible. If you're involved in your child's education and are trying to teach good study habits and promote a love for learning then this school will give you grief! There are a few good teachers but you have to be lucky enough to get one. My children won't be attending this school next year, even if it means taking out a loan for private school.
--Submitted by a parent

I used to go to this school I loved it so much it is the best school I ever went to and being a child of a mother and father that is in the Army I have been to alot of schools. I went there 2nd to 6th... Every teacher takes that extra step to help the childern and the childern do learn. Myself now being in High school being there at Ladd helped and that is the Best school ever...
--Submitted by a former student

My daughter attended Ladd for the first time this year in the fourth grade. I was not particularly happy. She had more homework in the third grade in South Carolina than she had here. Textbooks were nonexistent and I feel that if I needed to assist my child with work that she did not understand, I couldn't because there was no textbook to refer to. If she had a test coming up, there was no study guide worksheet for her to do. I never saw much of History work, just a bunch of reports on certain people. My daughter was afraid to express her concerns when she didn't understand something for fear the teacher would yell, some of her classmates have also said that the teacher would yell if students didn't understand something and they would ask for more assistance.
--Submitted by a parent