Thunderbolt Elementary School

School is Awesome. Great Parent Participation. Parents are encouraged to get involved. Teachers are overall great. Challenging kids to excel. Focus on Reading Reading Reading to improve comprehension skills for grades K through 4 so far from what I can tell. I have a 2nd grader and 4th grader and have been there since K. Principal (Ms. Phillips) is great. Highly visible, speaks to kids and parents and is not solely in the office like some principals.
--Submitted by a parent

Three of my grandaughters go to this school and it is so efficiently run. I watch them grow mentally as well as physically. This school deserves the money because it is such a highly respected and rated school.

Great school to take children to that is located in a family-oriented and safe area! The teaching staff are supportive, kind, and helpful! It's a nice place to take your child to and know that they will receive the best academic challenges in a safe and orgainzed school! Highly recommend!
--Submitted by a parent

A great 2009-2010 year so far! I am throughly impressed with how well organized the school staff and with all the school's activity/family activities are conducted. The teachers are kind, attentive, and supportive. This school is located in a very supportive, safe, family-oriented area. Thunderbolt has a positive, motivating atmosphere that would bare well for any child. It's a school that could encourage a child to reach his or her full potential. Highly recommended!
--Submitted by a parent

This school does push academics. The pick up and drop off stations were atrocious last year (07-08), but much better this year since they had the grounds redone. I think 40% of the teachers and staff are there to be a part of the children's education and really care for the children's future and well-being. I also believe 60% of the rest of the teachers and staff have a cold, staunch demeanor and . This 60% are napproachable and appear to be unfeeling and non-caring. Also, the ethnic diversity of the school population is minimal and my child has been subjected to bullying by the children and selective reprehensible treatment from the teachers. They look upon us unfavorably because we are not the ethnic race they wish dominated their school only. We truly feel like outcasts at this school and we are seriously considering relocating.
--Submitted by a parent

I am pleased with the school as is our daughter. She has adjusted well into Kindergarten and grown alot during this past year. Her teacher was very involved, patient and structured. The one area of concern is that our daughter attended a private Pre-K which had an advanced curriculum. The curriculum for Kindergarten was at the same level so many of the topics that she was going through this year were already accomplished in Pre-K. I'd like to see a more detailed assessment of the children going into Kindergarten to determerine their skill set and set them into classrooms appropriately. I feel that because she was spending the year re-learning many things that she was held back/slowed down in other challenges that she could have been focusing on. Was she having to wait for other children to 'catch up'? Otherwise, a great school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very happy with this school. Yes there are over 1200 students there but the classrooms are not overcrowed. They average around 17 students to one teacher. FCAT is emphasized because the state puts the pressure on. The teacher that my child has (2nd Grade) is very caring. I would highly recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent and a teacher, I chose to send my daughter to TBE specifically because of the teachers there. They are highly qualified and yes, gave her much work. She completed 2nd-6th grade and was very successful due ingreat part to the dedicated and highly trained teachers there. Yes, it is very overcrowded, but that speaks even more to the overwhelming numbers of people who want to attend this school. Under those challenging circumstances, the faculty is doing an amazing job!
--Submitted by a parent

We have had one child at this school from K through 4th grade and one due to start this fall. We are extremely hesitant to send our youngest there. Bullying is rampant, the school is much too over-crowded and the administration sacrifices overall child development and positive learning experiences for FCAT scores. Resource teachers are also disappointing, except for one or two- the rest need to be in a junior high or high school environment as they constantly yell at the students and have no patience for children. We have had some excellent homeroom teachers, but even they are constantly stressed and discontented. Some of the best have already left. I would choose any of the other schools in the area before this one.
--Submitted by a parent

Highly overcrowded school doesn't focus on day-to-day learning. rather its primary emphasis is on FCATs. Every state has standardized testing, but not every sate ignores some of the basics in order to make their school look better on a statewide exam. They compromise our children's learning. Wouldn't recommend this school at all!
--Submitted by a parent