North Beach Elementary School

Just amazing no matter what! My family loved this school and I had my 3 children here and they are now in middle school at NMS and I love it! THANKS NBE!
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in Kindergarten and has a very kind and sweet teacher. Unfortunately, the focus in the school is very heavy on academics. Even in kindergarten they receive a ton of homework and have tests every week. I don't think they do much art. The principal wants the kids to be given homework on the weekend. They are in kindergarten, for pete's sake. Kids at this age learn best by being hands on, not doing worksheet after worksheet. But the administration here is very top down and teachers don't have much room to do their own curriculum. My guess is that since this is an A school there is a lot of pressure to maintain that. My son is already complaining that he doesn't want to go to school. I wish I could homeschool.
--Submitted by a parent

I have requested 5 times to meet with the prinipal and still have yet to receive a response or at the very least even an acknowledgement....
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers are the best, lunch food quality acceptable, everything in this schools is brilliant except for the parking and drop off location, and very rude drivers who drive and park their huge SUV's , even inside the faculty parking lot blocking staff parking spaces almost hit students when driving, i remember last year there was a security and this never happened, we need the security back for the safety of our children s in the morning and in the afternoon.
--Submitted by a parent

If it weren't for Dr. Quarles and her front office staff, this school would be 5 star. The students, parents, teachers and the Vice Principal (Mrs. Villar) are what makes this school great. However, Dr. Quarles is the most insincere, self interested and politically minded educator I have ever come across. She doesn't seem to like either the students or their parents (even though the parental involvement through Friends of North Beach supplies her with incredible support). She needs to have her wings clipped, as her arrogance and selfishness create an obstacle for all that is great at NBE. This school would be better without Dr. Quarles and with Mrs. Villar in charge.
--Submitted by a parent

Hard to understand why the principal is receiving four stars for leadership... This school had a fantastic communicator and inspiring principal. Upon his retirement DR Quarrels, who insists to be called that, DR, has been a disaster in every area that I can think of. She can not even look at students, or parents, in the eyes... Out of touch with reality, the student body and teachers needs. Only interested in test results to promote her and the school ratings. Parent involvement, and some teachers are the upside of this mediocre school. School lunch is full of unhealthy choices. Office staff is unhelpful and sometimes even rude. Mrs Villar, the vice principal, is trying her best to keep the "peace" and this school together. Before rating a principal please look at all the parents comments.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a son who started NBE this past year and was in Ms. Shaw's class. After two years of crying every morning before pre-k, I was scared a new school, new classmates, and a new teacher would be intimidating. However, it was quite the opposite. From the first day of school, my son was anxious to head to kindergarten. He loved "center time" and was reading by Christmas. But most importantly, he loved his teacher. Her classroom is warm and inviting. She greets each child every day with a smile and a hug. She plays their favorite music as they unpack and prepare for the day, and she ends each day with Circle of Kindness an opportunity for all of the children to hear something kind and positive about themselves. Ms. Shaw knows how to set the stage for a lifelong love of learning. Thank you NBE for such a beautiful teacher from the inside out, for a strong and committed PTA, for Friends of NBE, and for the dedicated administration who has made transferring to this school such a pleasure. My only request is that the cafeteria has better monitoring next year, especially for the little ones at lunch.
--Submitted by a parent

It is hard to rate a school because everyones experience is different. I personally have had a horrible experience with the teachers and the principal. There is no warmth and the kids are not allowed any self expression what so ever. Kids are treated with no respect and in return children do not respect the staff....common sense, right? Not for Mrs Quarrels (principal). Teachers my kids have had are yellers. My kids are straight A students and my son who had a terrible 5th grade year lost all interest in school. This year he attended MAC and excelled in every area. It is time to open our minds and educate ourselves about how to treat children, specially at North Beach. Hate to give bad news, but I do it when it is needed.
--Submitted by a parent

This is one of the best, if not the best, public elementary school in Miami Beach. The teachers are great, the principal is a strong leader and the parental involvement helps make this school well-above the ordinary.
--Submitted by a parent

NBE used to be a grate school. Currently, I have a third grader attending the school and my oldest child graduated three years ago. Important changes were made in the past two years with the gifted program and students no longer switch teachers in the middle of the day. The quality of education now is very questionable when I compare to what it used to be before the changes. I understand administration has the best intentions when implementing new operations but unfortunatelly they don't have the talent to realize that results for students and teachers are not positive. It is a shame. Great P.E., Music, Arts and PTA after school program. Have to congratulate second grade gifted teachers for the best spanish program. Wish they could run the school.
--Submitted by a parent