Albert Schweitzer Elementary School

The school is ok for the most part but there is a few bad teachers. If you have a first grader RUN from Ms Menconi. She is a paycheck teacher with no passion or care for the children. She looks for loopholes and petty problems with your child she cant wait to report to the principal in an effort to make her job easier.
--Submitted by a parent

Schweitzer is a wonderful school. The kindergarten program is fantastic. Ms. Anderson makes every situation a learning situation in her kinder/1st grade class and combines science and math with reading, writing, and critical thinking, as well as art and music. Her ability to teach writing and encourage creativity is great. She also develops their social skills - public speaking, thoughtfulness, etc. Every grade is part of a writers workshop, making learning fun and interesting. This is a workshop school, which really gets kids learning. The new principal is wonderful - out on the playground with the kids, available, approachable, and truly works to see the school thrive. The school offers many programs - band, upper and lower grade play, guitar lessons, chess club, and a variety of community sports and scouts are promoted. Every week the students participate in a school-wide sing that teaches music and builds school community. There are special events at the school - a fall festival, winter breakfast, open houses, and many others. The kids are nice and have great manners at school and in public. Test scores reflect absorption of kids from recently closed nearby schools.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school. My child attended and I loved it. Very strong Kindergarten program. Parents are very clicky and negative.
--Submitted by a teacher

The school overall is great. However, the principal is very hard to read not warm and fuzzy. She is actually very distant and unapproachable. The Kindergarten Program is weak however, Mrs. Taylor a welcomed add on to the program has added a great deal to help strengthen it. 1st grade isv ery strong all three teachers bring something different as far as the children learnign experiences will be. Very Great Ms. Anderson is so creative and will get your children writing. 2nd grade variations in styles but all very strong again it is to find the best fit for your child. 3rd grade two shared contracts great teams. 4th grade higher expectation would suggest one teacher over the other but again it depends on your child. 5th grade strong and 6th Mrs. Stein is Fabulous. Great passion. If your child has special needs however or is advanced must advocate!!!
--Submitted by a parent

Great school, very happy with the teachers and staff. along with the special ed speech department
--Submitted by a parent

The parents here are very clicky, but once you connect with a group it is fine. The principal is very hard to read-- very off standish. If there is a problem you will certainly need to advocate for your child. And if your child is advanced or behind there is little opportunity for them to be challenged and you have to work hard to get resources for them. They are weak in the K program,1st/ 2 grade has some exceptional teachers. There are two shared contracts for the 3rd grade they are a great combination. 4th grade transitions into a higher expectation just have to make sure to get the teacher that is the right fit for your child, 5th grade there are exeptional teachers and 6th grade pretty strong. The discipline system is not good as it focuses on control. Some teachers don't use it!!
--Submitted by a parent

I'm certain that this is a fine school. But every parent that I know that had a child transfer here has had problems with staff. Nothing major. But you leave thinking that your bothering them. Next year my wife and I will be doubling our effort to avoid whatever it is that happened this year. We have not given up.
--Submitted by Bob, a parent

we have been thrilled with his first and second grade experience. he is reading at the sixth grade level. his kindergarten teacher was mediocre, but he loved her and had a lot of fun. his first grade teacher was wonderful and we think second grade will be as good.
--Submitted by a parent

Lots of parent involvement. Top notch drama program.
--Submitted by a parent

Principal changed this school year ('04-05') so I am not familiar with principal leadership. The parent involvement has decreased in the five years I have been a participant. New band teacher has been a plus.
--Submitted by a parent