Putnam Elementary School

My children are high-achievers and have been attending Putnam for three years now. I am really struggling with the decision to keep my children at this school or choice them out. Though it has a bad rep in my neighborhood, I have (up til now) chosen to keep my kids there to support my neighborhood school. It is also the most diverse school nearby, which I love about it. However, I don't always feel like my children are receiving the best possible education here. Some of the teachers are amazing while others are really lacking. I feel too much non-educational television is shown in the classroom and as special treats. There is next to NO parental involvement, and I feel it is not welcomed by many of the teachers and staff. The lunches are terrible and often the vegetarian option they list is not offered and the lunch staff is rude about replacing it with an equally veg-friendly option. Though more than half the population of the school is Spanish-speaking, there are no Spanish translators and none of the staff speak Spanish. There is no Spanish offered to the children. It is a divided school that I am worried is in danger of failing in the near future.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent, I don't feel welcomed by the leadership. I have made many appointments to meet with the principal and he never called to schedule. This went on for several years, until I moved my children to a new school. The school is run as a business for the principal and not as a happy place where kids want to learn. It makes me sad. Last year, morning recess was taken away from the kids. My children and others really need this time to be active and it was taken away. I don't know why. Research states that kids who are active learn better and remember more. When I talked to the teachers, they told me that they don't have any choice but to do what the principal says. I would never have my students return to this school. School has not started and I have met with the principal of the new school several times to make sure that things are in order.
—Submitted by a parent

I am not pleased with the leadership of the school. Parents do not feel welcomed by the leadership. The school is on a Turn Around Status, meaning that the school is not meeting state standards. The leadership does not welcome discussions with parents about this status and the overall feeling is very unwelcoming.
—Submitted by a parent

Putnam strives to provide a balanced learning experience for all students, and the hard work and dedication of the entire staff and Principal certainly achieves that! As parents, we feel that Putnam is an excellent school and would recommend it to all neighborhood families.
—Submitted by a parent

My child went here for Kindergarten. I felt like they only wanted to punish him. When we asked if they thought he might have special needs, they said no. He was diagnosed with ADHD and Pediatric Bipolar in the last 2 years. We took him out of school for 6 months, and then moved him to Kruse because we felt that school was becoming a very negative experience. He is improving steadily at the new school. I felt very discouraged and embarrassed with the way they dealt with my child. It was like we, as parents, were failures in their eyes. I am glad that we moved our child to another school while he had some self-esteem left.
—Submitted by a parent

The staff and teachers are excellent. They really care about the students at the school. The students are very needy and come with so much baggage. The teachers at Putnam make the students fill safe and they create a warm, caring environment for the students to learn and succeed.
—Submitted by a teacher

This School has gone above and beyond for my family. I would recomend this school to anyone. If you have a child that seems to enjoy Singing, dancing and acting this is the school. It has small classroom sizes and all the teachers work togeather to give the children a great learning enviroment.
—Submitted by a parent