Duffy Elementary School

This school has been closed by TUSD. It should be taken out of Great School's database.

Principal Dave Overstreet is outstanding! Positive, energetic, & enthusiastic-always!
--Submitted by a parent

many of the best things about Duffy are behind the scenes. Including a very strong leader through the principal. A school wide morning community time, that parents and friends are aloud to attend. there is also wonderful music programs in place at this school. Each grade level has it's own music experince, from dance to instruments. The teachers are very dedicated and are looking out for the best interest of my child. The only thing I would like to see is more community memeber be involved. As of now we do not have a PTA, because many parents will not attend meetings or donate their time. I would like this aspect to be stronger because, then there could be more PTA sponsored fun!
--Submitted by a parent

This schools core values are almost that of a military camp is a primary focus here. Teachers seem burnt out and stressed almost all the time. Being a single parent with a very busy schedual makes it very difficult to get in a talk to anyone in the school on a one on one basis, they are only available 7:30 to 3:30. If my son was not doing as well as he is I would stongly think of switching schools. There is no fun at this school only strict discipline with no positive re-enforcement for positive behavior.
--Submitted by a parent

Several problems surround this school beware and stay alert.
--Submitted by a parent

IT was a wonderfull school. It was more then i could ever asked for. The teachers were great, and it had many fun school activitys. In the mornings it had school comunity time, for 15 minutes where you'd sing songs and talk, and give praises.
--Submitted by a student

Fine for K-3, but 4th/5th grades lack stimulation. LD kids/Spanish-speaking all mixed into classrooms that are too large. Teachers seemed burned out/lots of discipline/no fun activities/no field trips. Just lots of testing. A few teachers that don't even seem to like children just keep the punishments and negative newsletters rolling along. Group punishments, like lunch detention for everyone, regardless of who is guilty, is just wrong. Phone calls to parents are never positive...just reports on how bad your kid was that day. Failure to control the class is a big problem in these upper grades. The music program is good and the principal is great, but where's the school garden? What about some fun? How about a cheery newsletter from these teachers instead of doom and gloom? Both my parents were teachers, so I know the difference between good and bad.
--Submitted by a parent

Given my busy schedule I am not able to visit and observe my child's school as often as I would like to so I make it a point to discuss all of their activities on a daily basis. In doing so, I have learned that the Principal is stern enough with the children to induce fear throughout multiple grades. I have also recieved good reports on only one Teacher in this school. In all honesty, if my child were not doing as well acedemically as she is, I wouldn't think twice about relocating her. After all, children shouldn't be afraid to go to school to learn, should they?
--Submitted by a teacher