Crystal Lake Elementary School

My son attended CLES for kindergarten and currently goes there for first grade. He had DeAnn Weber for kindergarten. She is a great teacher who never yells at her students and pushes them academically. My son was reading at an advanced 1st grade level at the end of kindergarten. This year in first grade he has Julie Drinkwater and she is the most amazing teacher! She runs the Caring Crocs program and has a heart of gold. She is compasionate, kind, caring, funny, etc....I can't say enough about her. She genuinely cares about her students! She has a great prositive reinforcement program in place in her classroom. It makes the kids strive to be the best they can be. Everyday my son is excited to go to schoo!
—Submitted by a parent

My son has gone to CLES for 2nd and 3rd grade. I am disappointed at the llack of communication from the teacher in both grades. My son was fine academically up until this year and I JUST found out, half way through the year that he is the lowest in the class in his reading tests. I could handle that. But the front office staff is absolutely HORRID! The lady at the front dest with blonde hair and barbie pink lipstick is the RUDEST person I have ever met. I have witnessed her on more than one occasion belittling students. She talks down to parents that's come into the office. Patty Pluto is pretty rude to parents as well. I am so glad they are rezoning next year so I won't have to deal with this school any longer. I have 4 children and have never come across front office staff that is so incredibly rude to students and parents. I have heard bad things about the principle as well, though I have never met her.
—Submitted by a parent

I went to CLES to sign my son out of school early today. I just signed the sign out sheet and told the front office lady my name. She NEVER asked for ID, nor did she even look at the sign out sheet to see my name. This is coming just days after the tragic incident in CT. This scares me a lot, especially since you can just walk right through the front doors and completely bypass the office! Let's get it together Crystal Lake so our kids will be safe!
—Submitted by a parent

I'm not happy with my son's teacher, but the school is better than the last one he attended. He was teased and bullied often, but at this school the first time it happened, it was taken care of and has not happened since. I am very pleased with this. The only complaint I have is with my son's teacher. My expectations of any Kindergarten or 1st grade teacher is that they be warm, kind, and aware they are talking to small children when they are trying to reprimand any bad behavior. My son's teacher does not seem to view her misbehaving students in a positive way. My son's first couple weeks were spent standing with a teacher through every recess for not finishing his work or talking out in class. His behavior only grew worse as he was only being yelled at and never praised. He came home once and wanted to make a flower cut out from different colors of construction paper and glued together for her. He worked very hard on it. The next day when he gave it to her, she said "thank you" and put it away. How empty. The only thing that is combating that is the behavior specialist who encourages him and gives him positive feedback for his efforts.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers yell at the students, even in the cafeteria the students get yelled at and are routinely forced to take "silent lunches". They can't sit with their friends at lunch. The principal looks good from the outside, is well put together and then you find out thats about all she is concerned about...looks and appearances. When asked to solve any ptoblem with teachers or within the school she just brushes it all under the carpet. She refuses to involve the student in academic challenges that cost the school nothing. She cares little about her students and only in keeping her teachers happy. Half of the student body is on free and reduced lunch, so there is a lot of poverty in this school. The building is new and nice and it has a nice Lake Mary address, but other than that the rest of it inside is not very nice. If your concerned with appearances and not academic substance, that this is the place for you.
—Submitted by a parent

Our little one started in K and will be entering 4th Grade this coming year. All the teachers have been superb with the exception of one which was average. The administrative staff is good except for the Principles secretary. She should not be let out of her cage! The cafeteria cooking staff (especially the Director) is fantastic but the ones in the lunchroom? Can you say S-T-A-L-A-G??? As for the comments regarding fundraisers, it is true they are often but we too are on a very tight budget and have never ever felt poorly when we could not participate. As for the building and safety, we have always found it clean and well maintained and the end of day pick-up issue seems to be resolved (for the time being at least). Finally, as for the types of kids that attend, although we have run into bullying and belittling, it's only been twice and was immediately stopped as soon as it was brought to the staff's and parents attention. Not bad for a school of 800+ in a four year period!
—Submitted by a parent

The thing about CLES, is it really depends on what teacher your child gets. My sons been there for 2nd ,3rd, & 4th. On the positive side they push the kids extra hard academically. I am also quite impressed with the Caring Crocs they do now to help low income families of CLES. On the negative, consistantly they always do fundraisers & if you dont have money to put into those things like alot of the other kids that go there then your child can feel pretty left out. Also some teachers have horrible communication with the parents. This year I had to go to the principal about a issue, the teacher resolved it quickly(I know it wont happen with my child again, but I know this teacher will continue to make her future students feel bad) but all I got from the principal was a one sentenced email, really? Im sending my other 2 children elsewhere. This school is WAY overrated!
—Submitted by a parent

Best organized elementary school in central fl, had my daughter there in third and fourth grade, both teacher were amazing professionals!
—Submitted by a parent

Crystal Lake is an excellent school. My son has been going there for two years now and even he says we can't move anywhere because HE doesn't want to change schools. To me that is an important thing since what the kids think matter much more than what we do. In response to the moving from NJ to Lake Mary, Greenwood Lakes Middle is a great school. My oldest went there last year and will be attending again this year and it really is a great school and it's a hop, skip and a jump away from Crystal Lake elementary :)
—Submitted by a parent

We love Crystal Lake! My daughter attended kindergarten and half of first grade before we moved out of state. She had the best kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ernst, who has set her up for a life long love of learning. The principal is very competent, but nurturing to the students at the same time. It's a wonderful school which is just getting better.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a great school all around. My daughter has been attending for two years and she loves the challenges she gets everyday. The teachers are wonderful. The communication is great between teacher and parent and I feel they do a great job in getting your child to strive for the very best performance. I am excited for my son to go next year! Very happy parent!
—Submitted by a parent

Crystal Lake is an amazing school. My children have attended this school since it opened in 2006 and all of them have loved going to school here. As a parent, I am exceedingly happy with the teachers and administration because they put great effort into caring for children as a whole and not just an academic score. The support staff can not be matched as they are as dedicated to the children as anyone else in the school. We would not entrust our children to any other school.
—Submitted by a parent

We love Crystal Lake. We find the staff and teachers very willing to work with you as a team to further your child. I think parent and teachers working together is the key to success for all of our children
—Submitted by a parent

My son's been at this school for a year & he's very unhappy with the school. I don't like his teacher, there is no comunication between her & the parents. The school also is always doing fundraiser's & im a parent on a small budget.We're not happy with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is sooo happy everyday about school:)
—Submitted by a parent

Overall I feel Crystal lake is an awesome school. Most of the staff are friendly and helpful and they are there for the kids. The office staff is great they are more than willing to help when needed. I give it an A+
—Submitted by a parent

Great school by far! We have a 4th grader and kindergartener at Crystal Lake and absolutely love the school. PTA gets parents involed, lots of family events, teachers have been wonderful with communicating, front office is very welcoming. couldnt ask for a better school to send our daughters!
—Submitted by a parent

The people at the school are very nice and friendly.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the second year my son will be going to Crystal Lake Elementary. We love everything about this school: the teachers, staff, the way things are handled. So glad we picked this school!!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has gone through Kindergarten, and is now currently in first grade, at Crystal Lake. Both my wife and I work full time and do not have the opportunity to be as involved as either of us would like. But the times I do get a chance to see the school have always impressed me. Whether it's during class time, or during lunch, this schools seems well-run. Her teachers have been wonderful. Very happy to have our daughter here.
—Submitted by a parent