Loughman Oaks Elementary School

The school has a high turnover rate. Gossip and accusations run high. This, in turn, reflects on the quality of education.

The school is horrible. They spent maybe $500,000 on this school. The classrooms most are in portables, and the teachers don't even like it. It's in a rich community and by no means should this school exist to what it is. They have Davenport School of the Arts which is impossible to get into because most children from this school try to transfer there. Knives have been found on the playground by my children. Definitely not recommended and this needs to be fully evalulated by the School District.
—Submitted by a parent

Very unhappy with this school. The teacher has zero communication from me. Will not answer notes in the agenda book, never sends home any work, etc. I would not recommend this school at all and am working hard to get my child out. I will say the principal has been working to make improvements. Unfortunately it's not enough.
—Submitted by a parent

i wouldnt enroll a hampster at this school....took 2 years to get a IEP while my child just sat in a room with 17 other children doing nothing as he needed special attention...theres is NO communication with staff at this school your always wrong
—Submitted by a parent

Our children (5th, 4th and 2nd grades) were moved out of a private school to Loughman's elementary and all I can say about this school is positive. My eldest child (5th grade) comes home talking about the fun he has had learning for the first time in years and the agendas and homework seem far more organized. If we have had any concerns, (ie., our children were taught in cursive and we wanted to ensure they kept this up), the faculty have been very responsive to us. The children don't receive as much homework as they received in their previous school but to us that has taken a lot of pressure off of them - they get to relax rather than having an extra two hours of study. We all look for a work/life balance and I think it's important that is instilled with children too. My children were far too stressed at their previous school with the unreasonable expections demanded of them and they seem incredibly happy at Loughmans. I am looking forward to volunteering as soon as my paperwork is processed as I know my skills can benefit the school and as a parent I would like to be a part of helping this school to be successful.
—Submitted by a parent

My Children have attended Loughman Oaks for years ( I have one in 4th and one in 3rd) they have loved going there since the beginning. I have to admit that in the beginning the school was not all it was cracked up to be, but once the principal was changed the school has become a great place for learning. Every year my children have had stellar teachers. and this year I keep in touch with them via email and phone calls. I make the biggest difference in my children's education by being active and interested in what is going on in their educational experience while there. when my spouse volunteered there while out of work, she had an inside view of what goes on with the children. You would not believe how many children's agendas come back unsigned by their parents. Parent teacher meeting requests go unanswered and so much more. YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE PEOPLE. Get involved in your childs education, visit when you can.. An involved parent(s) keeps staff and teachers on their toes; lets them know that what they do will not go un-noticed.
—Submitted by a parent

Maybe if we start helping our teachers more the children could learn more. Its not fair to expect teacher to do all they do and get paid less. Please think about this.... your children's teachers have gone to college for many years to get a bachelor or masters degree to teach your children and you think they should be paid 32,000 a year. Many people that go to college with the same degree but going into any other field we would think nothing about paying more. Why do we feel that the people that are here molding our children are worth so much less then others in our. community? You expect the teachers to raise, groom, mold and teach your children everything but don't want them to be paid for it.

Not happy at all with this school, my children have been in it for awhile and they are not happy in it. I am trying to get them into a charter school or anything that's better than this, and if I could rate it lower I would. All in all, I see little to no homework, books can't be brought home, nothing really written in the agenda's on what's going on, I feel totally in the dark and even more so after speaking with the teachers, thats if they bother to call you back....
—Submitted by a parent

If I could only rate them a 1/4 of a star I would because they aren't even worth one full star. It took a month before I was able to get my kids in school because they wouldn't take them in until they got proof of where we were staying at after moving her from California. So I moved elsewhere to get them in a school and it is rated way better then this one. And I didn't have to go through all the stuff this one was having me do.
—Submitted by a parent

Front office leadership with helpful attitude would be appreciated. Turning parents away without trying to help them out or problem-solve is very distrubing.
—Submitted by a parent

The front office because of the rudeness, I think hopes to keep parents away. The school seems they want to keep the parents away so they won't see what the students have to go through.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter spent two years at LOE. It was a great experience and we are very pleased. Dr. Lamb and her staff have done a great job bringing up the standards. I expect that they will keep on doing well.
—Submitted by a parent

The school has come a long way with the new principal-I think the teachers are working harder because of the respect they have for her-office staff is really nice and the school loves their volunteers-
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers do their best. The staff cares for the children. More parents need to be involved in their children's education instead of expecting the school to do it all.
—Submitted by a parent

The hard work of the total staff is amazing, the attention to detail for the students is excellent , with all the improvements that have been made will result in the children succeding in the future.

My dauughter's Pre-K teachers are excellent!! She sloves school and does not want to miss even whes shes sick. The whole school staff is caring and compassionate. I can walk in at any time and the children are safe, clean and happy.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in 3rd grade, she has had her ups and downs, but over all I can see the change in the teachers and how they are trying very hard to upstand all situations. All I can Suggest is dont give up on the school, or the teachers keep the communication going at all times, and thing will works them self out.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent and I am VERY unhappy with this school. The principal is not friendly and does not respond to notices sent to her. The school bus system really is awlful. The bus is never here when it is supposed to be. Usually shows up to school late. And he doesn't understand that if 2 children can't get along on the bus to separate them. The teacher my son had this year was good and he really liked her, but didn't have great communication skills. I would not reccommend this school if you are moving to the area. The school is too far away and has too many children. I am trying to get my son out into the charter schools instead. I would rate this school a D at best.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the 2nd year I have been a teacher at LOE. I must say, I am in agreement with certain parts of what I've read from past reviews of the last few years from parents at LOE. When I first started working there in Aug. 2006 I was shocked by quite a few things going on (& lack thereof as well)! The administration and office staff was very cold, rude and impersonal. As I've had a chance to get to know them and with the change in administration I can see a new side to this part of our staff. Administration makes all the difference, but we still have a long way to go. Also, with the overpopulation of students who have ESE needs and ESOL needs it's become severly and sadly obvious the lack of sufficient staff and rooms to attend to these students as needed.
—Submitted by a teacher

My children attend this school and I too am very unhappy with the Staff. Teacher communication is a minimun. The school bus has a scedual however its never on time whether early or late. The Office Staff speaks very little English and to get a returned email or phone call requires atleast 2 requests from my [child's] Teacher. Not happy and looking to for an alternate school and investigating home schooling. 2 stars for this school is a compliment!
—Submitted by a parent