Gemini Elementary School

My child went to Gemini for half a year (we moved away), and our experience there was AMAZING. There are MANY (twenty?) after-school programs, including karate, cheerleading, chess, and lego club for the kids to participate in. Older kids are taught responsibility through things like safety patrol and leading the younger kids in the tech lab. Many field trips, invites for parents to see presentations (both in class and by grade), and just great opportunities all around. The teachers are wonderful and engaging. We are returning to Mel Beach soon, and it's primarily for the education.
—Submitted by a parent

I have three wonderful granddaughters. One has already graduated from Gemini and is now attending college, one is just going into the first grade there and one is almost one year old and will be going there in the future. I am so proud of all three of them and the education they either have gotten or will get at Gemini. The teachers are all wonderful and not only excel at teaching but also as being good role models for our children. I can't say too many good things about Gemini.

I have 3 children who attended Gemini. The 6th grader (gifted) didn't think the gifted program was anything special and didn't think the school was that good. The 5th grader (not in gifted)thought it was disorganized and not a great learning atmosphere. The 2nd grader (gifted) had a great teacher and learned a lot. We left the area before the next year so I only can go by the 1 year. I didn't think it was a great school but it was okay.

Last year was our first year in this school. This is our last year. At first I thought that the parents here were just crazy. I met a number of parents who were hiring tutors to teach their children in kindergarten. I volunteer in the school, keep my mouth shut and just watch. I notice that there is no teaching going on here. Students move from table to table doing paper work on their own. The teacher is testing some thing every Friday and my 1st grade daughter is doing about 2 hours of home work every night. All her learning is occuring at home. I went to the school to discuss this with the teacher and was told: 'The teacher's role in this environment is to facilitate learning rather than to dispense knowledge.' Now I know the reason that these very sane parents are hiring tutors.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is mostly interested in gifted children and all the normal kids are left out. The discover program (gifted program) is the principals project. The kids in this program receive all the awards and get special field trips, at the tax payers expense. The parents are expected to teach the children a great deal of academics at home. The Science curriculum is way above what should be expected at the elementary grades (it is high school level). Volunteering does not get you anywhere, everyone volunteers a lot. For the most part the teachers are nice to the parents, but the kids will tell a different story. The school is great at raising money, lots of wealthy parents. Things may change next year, the principal and assistant are both leaving in 2009.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school across the board and one of the reasons we were willing to relocate to Melbourne Beach.
—Submitted by a parent

Gemini is a great school academically, because of parent involvement. I have never in my life seen a school where so many parents volunteer. In addition, so many moms are traditional stay at home moms. Most of the teachers are very caring and genuine. The only negatives I can think of are the Fcat push (which is a statewide problem), the horrible lunches (brown bag it if you can) and the lack of certain funding because the school does not have enough low income students to qualify (this can be seen in two different views).
—Submitted by a parent

In my opinion: A great deal of focus on the Academic disciplines. Fcats are taken very seriously and a significant portion of the term is exam prep. If there are any Music/Art & sports at Gemini it's heavely muted. I've not seen much, if any,examples of those types of programs. It appears special needs children are not well supported. Parental involvement seems to be restricted to clerical aide for teachers( making copies). Parental considerations from the Principle is viewed by many as a very low priorety. The school appears to be safe from preditiors. Gemini is a decent school. Your child will be safe but not well rounded. Be prepared to go outside for activities that would develop your child outside of the state funding subjects.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been delighted with the quality and caliber of the teachers that my son has had so far. The school is an A list school and that rating is greatly deserved. The teachers I have met are concerned, hard working and knowledgeable. I am not sure how the availability of extracurricular activities at Gemini compares to other schools. It has seemed very adequate to me. No complaints. The parents are highly involved in their children's education. I could not imagine a more parent-involved school!
—Submitted by a parent

High parent involvement. Lots of teacher feedback.
—Submitted by a parent

The acedemics are of great importance at Gemini elementary. It is an 'A' rated school and I believe it was the number 1 public elementary school in Brevard county last year that allows admission to all the students in its district. The only thing I can say negative about Gemini is the lunch that it provides to the students leaves a lot to be desired. So brown bag it if you want your kids to have a healthy lunch.
—Submitted by a parent

Gemini is very much like a private school only you don't have to pay tuition. We just LOVE it!
—Submitted by a parent

Gemini is an excellent school, like most of the beachside schools in the area. Kindergarten students have Spanish, and learn beginning piano. My son's teacher was loving and intelligent, she kept me informed of my son's progress even though I rarely made it to the classroom because I work full time. All staff, from Principal to Cafeteria workers were kind and personal with the students.
—Submitted by a parent

Gemini is an excellent school. We have been there for 3 years and we love it. The teachers are all excellent. Parent support is high. Teacher moral is high also, which is extemely important. As a former teacher, I would highly recommend this school. I drove my kids 20 minutes a day one way to attend Gemini. My kids were out of area, but the drive was well worth it.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderfull school, active parent volunteers make for a pleasent and sucessful class as well as the low student /teacher ratio.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent administration. Excellent Teachers. 'A' grade school.
—Submitted by a parent

I can't imagine a better educational experience. The teachers and staff are all very committed and caring. Parents and PTA are VERY involved. Our two children love this school. The workload is much more than previous schools, but it shows in the academic results.
—Submitted by a parent