Agnes L. Smith Elementary School

So far, so good. My 1st grader is learning well and has only had great teachers. We are in a 1/2 combo class right now with a great teacher. The homework level is manageable. The cafeteria food is horrible, but that's not something the school has control over. The PTA struggles and there is constant fund raising underway, but again, you can't really blame the school for that - everyone is underfunded these days. The PTA does manage to raise the people and money to provide art, assemblies and some other nice extras for the library.
--Submitted by a parent

This was our first year at Smith and we are very happy with the teachers and the whole staff. The only thing they need to improved is the cafeteria menu, it's not healthy at all. My suggestion is make your kids lunches as i do and don't let them eat all that sugar.
--Submitted by a parent

We have are very happy at Smith. There is a great sense of community and a high degree of parent involvement. The teachers have done a great job keeping our GATE student challenged and letting her work at a level appropriate for her.
--Submitted by a parent

The students come diverse cultural backgrounds. Students are excepting of this diversity as well as the teachers.
--Submitted by a teacher

I appreciate Smith School. The teachers have been very good at communicating with us about expectations, progress, and successes happening in the classroom. The staff are both helpful and kind. But the most extraordinary blessing for our family has been the principal, 'Mr.A'. His presence and involvement on the school grounds brings a sense of security and calm to the children (and frankly for myself) just knowing he's in charge and he cares.
--Submitted by a parent

Contrary to the March 2008 post, I have to say Smith does cater to children with differences. It took a few weeks, but my daughters physical limitations have been addressed and satisfied with in a very positive way by both faculty and adminstration at Smith. It takes time and work to make adjustments for children with differences, time and work by both parents and staff. I work hard to make my childs school expereince as normal as possible. The teachers and adminstration at Smith do too. Renee Tarnow
--Submitted by a parent

This school caters to the normal children, meaning, kids of average intelligence and abilities. My daughter has ADD, with a very high IQ and this school is ill equipped to deal with her. Rather than challenging her mind, they punish her for being disorganized.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved from out of town and the kids (3rd and 5th grade) started here after spring break. The school could use a little better process for acclimating new students. The academic part is great, and the teachers seem to be competent, but the social integration of students seems to be a little under-stressed. For the first time since beginning school, both of my kids dislike going to class... No friends, no help from the teachers, etc. My top-of-her-class 5th grader is now under the impression that her teacher thinks she is stupid (her words), and my third grader thinks that the teacher is always mad at him... Both are vibrant, eager learners and have never had problems in school - either academically or socially. I know budgets are tight and it is always tough to assimilate new students mid-year, but perhaps there is room for improvement here...
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Smith Elementary school for 6 years - K through 5 and we experienced an excellent education. We were very impressed with the quality of the teachers we had and the administration, including an outstanding principal. More parents should become involved - with all of the funding cutbacks, all of us are needed to help out in different ways. Get involved - our kids will be grown up before you know it! Elementary school is really the last chance to be really involved in their school. The chances to be on campus and helping out really are reduced in middle school. There is a great core group of parents that keep things going, and they were terrific to work with! Maria Santopoalo
--Submitted by Maria Santopoalo, a parent

Seems to be a decent school even after the closing of Kettler brought more students in. Still fighting to keep the student/teacher ratio down. It seems to close to Dwyer middle school which exposes elementary kids to the older kids a bit too much. Mixed income levels from the changing downtown area.
--Submitted by a parent