Patriot Elementary School

My son attended Patriot Kindergarten and 1st grade. He struggled in Kindergarten with an older teacher with minimal patience. He tested at a 2nd grade reading level then, but the school does not offer gifted/talented. He was bored in class and easily distracted. Instead of challenging him, the teacher simply sent him to the office. First grade has been a much different experience. I sat down with the principal, Mr. Duncan, to chose his teacher, Ms. Bolig. He understood my son needed someone to challenge him. She is great and maintains open lines of communication. She has great classroom management skills and holds the children responsible for their behavior. Ms. Marsh, the counselor is great. She sees children one on one as well as in group settings. Again, my main complaint is lack of gifted/talented program for younger grades.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a great place for my child. I love the teachers, especially Mrs. Christopherson and Mrs. Williams. They really know how to support and challenge the children. The admin is exceptional! My only complaint is the parking lot. The cones in back make it difficult to get through the line, and it is often inconsistent.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the best military school my kids attended thus far!! Highly recommend this school. As a matter of fact, we are currently fighting to get back to Fort Carson, Colorado for the school system!
—Submitted by a parent

Patriot is by far the Best School for my children! Being a military family and relocating a lot, Patriot is the best school for transitioning! Actually, my family are trying to PCS back to Fort Carson because of the excellent school district!
—Submitted by a parent

My son has attended Patriot Elementary for the past 2 and a half years... The teachers are amazing! Especially Mrs. Ellzey! Even though the school is obviously way overcrowded, my son has gotten a wonderful education and he loves school! However, the drop off and pick up situation is totally out of control! When I have to drive to the school to pick my son up, I can't even use the school parking lot! I have to park across the street at the middle school! I will say that it is organized chaos, I honestly don't know how they could make the situation any better.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school! The teachers there are awesome. Mrs Edelstien has made such an impact on my child, who went from a little class clown to being an A student and in the gifted program. She has gone above and beyond what i believe is expected in a teacher, And given him a love for learning. Mrs Tensick took the time to really get to know my child when most teachers would have just labeled her a girl with major additude and made learning fun with her quirky personality. My child now in middle school still comes back 2 years later to share her accomplishments. Every teacher at this school has made an effort to be welcoming and friendly, . Parking is a bit of a hassle but it is worth it for the teachers there. I live off post and get acceptance for my children to attend and I am so thankful I can.
—Submitted by a parent

I think Patriot is an awesome school! I enjoy the teachers that are working hard to educate our children (and a lot are doing so with children whose parents do not help educate at home). I also think the front office staff is great and has been very helpful with anything that I ask from them. The Administration staff is very wonderful and I think are truly at Patriot working to support our children and military families. The only compliant I can make would be the parking lot situation. There are too many parents who drive way too fast in the lot and just stop wherever they feel like it to drop off their child(ren). (There is a drop-off zone for a reason)! Other than that, Patriot rocks! :)
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children that attend Patriot Elementary. My daughters teachers have been wonderful-Mr. Healy, Mrs. Perry & Mrs. Ossorio. My son's teachers, minus his previous teacher, Mrs. Martinez, have been great also. Mrs. Rudd, Mrs. Ausec and Mrs. Countryman. The front office doesn't deliver messages very well, and at times were unfriendly. The parking situation after school is a nightmare. Parents line their cars up an hour before school lets out, and there are unused parking spaces because of this. If you need to pick your child up for an appt. during this time, you can't even park. This is a problem that has yet to be addressed. Another complaint is the amount of supplies that need to be purchased at the beginning of the year. A lot of parents have more than one child in school and I'm sure they can't afford this.
—Submitted by a parent

My 5th grader has attended this school for the last 3 years and my k child for the last 2 and with in this school year I have to say I am very impressed. Not only do my kids get the education and extra help if needed. Usually if you have good acedemics the teachers one on one skills with the parents lack..in this school that is not the case , the teachers are great, But what has impressed me the most is the new principal they have,He one seems to really and truly have the childrens best intrest at heart. He is the only principal in the three years my kids have attended that walks the kids to the car and will get out and direct traffic so the parents are not stuck in a parking lot waiting to get home. And he does it rain snow or shine!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Patriot Elementary for 4th and 5th grade. He did very well and had a great experience. The teachers were great and they really cared about the students. The only concern I had was the front office staff. During the two years, I have had at least 3 situations where they were not very friendly or helpful. I have worked in schools and for schools for many years and this is the poorest customer service I have received from a front office staff. Very authoritative and very rude. Other than that, I do believe my son received a great education with Patriot. We have now moved and he is now in middle school.
—Submitted by a parent

I love the sense of family this year. The way that even though there are a huge number of students, the staff go out of their way to make the students feel good about themselves. The principal has made himself available to the kids and staff. This school has gone through plenty of growing pains and still the staff has prevailed.

This school has been a very good school for my children. I especially appreciate the kind, caring teachers, the challenging content, and the dedicated administration team. When we first moved here, we came from Texas, and my child's last school lacked many things. At Patriot, I have always felt that my opinion matters, the teachers and administrators care, and they try hard to make sure all kids succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

I really enjoy this school. I am the parent of 3 children who all attend Patriot. I have been here for almost 3 years, and I am very pleased with almost everything. First, I really love the GT programming that the new administration has put into place. I am so glad to hear that my 2 GT students are having their needs met. Prior to being at Patriot, both of my kids were at a school who did not have GT programming, and this has been very beneficial. Also, my other child has a physical disability, and I have been very impressed by the way her needs are met. I love my students' teachers. Ms. Onkle, Mrs. Barron, and Mrs. Rudd are all terrific. In my dealing with administration, I have been very happy with how they have handled any concerns that I have had. It is a 5 star school!
—Submitted by a parent

I absolutely love this school! My students are doing really well here. In the 5 years that we have been here, I have seen some really positive changes in the school. The new principal has made a number of positive changes including a lunch schedule that makes it easier for my children, lowering class sizes for reading and math, and purchasing new reading curriculum. I have also been very pleased with the RtI process. My son is now able to get the help he needs, and he is able to participate in tutoring and small group instruction because of what the RtI Team has implemented. I have only had positive experiences with the secretaries, the administrators, the teachers, and I know my kids love it here!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been attending Patriot for 2 years. Obviously the growth has taken over the safety of the parking lot and the overcrowded classrooms. The teachers my students have had have been amazing: Ms. Snider and Mr. Healy I can t praise them enough. They take the time to get to know the students on a personal level. I have been extremely unimpressed with the principal and other administrators in the building. The first year the principal seemed to have a positive presence but now she does not return phone calls or e-mails. It is very frustrating to contact her. I am discouraged that my children only get a 15 minute recess 1 time a day. I feel with the rise of obesity children need more time to play and exercise. They also only have PE 1 time a week. Overall I am happy with the teacher s my students have had I think the administration needs a big change.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. My daughter was there from Kindergarten to half of her 2nd grade. She learned so much in such a short period.
—Submitted by a parent

Definitely overcrowded. Using every available empty space for classrooms. Teachers great for most part. Principals different story. New vice principal has no experience. Principal very little experience. Good luck finding either of them... (hiding)behind their closed office doors. Lunch and recess total 35 minutes. Lunch 20 minutes assuming teacher gets kids to cafeteria on time. 15 min recess! That includes walking out and lining up. No other recess allowed without permission from principal. Parents can't access school before 8:30 unless you knock on the front windows and someone lets you in. Used to be a great school under previous principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, this school is now overcroweded... and it's obvious. Just take a look at the parking lot when school lets out. It's such a mess. Parents are parked anywhere & everywhere. The classrooms are filling up & even overflowing with children. They have even resorted to making makeshift classrooms. But even with those problems, my children's teachers have all been great. We have been here 2 years & I have never complained about the teachers. It's just everything else... from the parking situation, the overflow of children coming in, and even the problems I have had with the cafeteria. The cafeteria problem has been going on since the first day my kids arrived. My kids decide what they are going to have for lunch. But when they go to get their lunch, sometimes there isn't anything left of what they planned to eat that day :o(
—Submitted by a parent

We have been here a year now and I would say it's a good school. It needs improvement especially the parking and pick-up situation. It is very chaotic and unsafe. Several parent's approached the district and the principal but nothing has been done. I also think that there is to much pressure on the children as far as homework and learning is concerned. She has no play time. There is to much emphasis on scores instead of learning and retaining. The principal is new to the school and is definitely not a people person appears very cold and detached. My daughters teacher is very good this year. Last year she was left outside by herself twice. I just hope that the next school will be better again.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the best military school that my family has attended. The Principal takes time to understand what our military kids go through and need. The Principal actually made sure the staff understood the needs of my child and my child is exceling at higher levels than I ever imagined. The staff embraces our military community and has high standards for all students in the school. I have never felt more welcomed/ Thanks Dr. Birhanzel to you and your staff. I don't want to have a PCS and have to go to another school.
—Submitted by a parent