Coral Reef Elementary School

Coral Reef is about as good of a school as you will find in the Miami-Dade and Florida public school system. Like most public schools, prepare to be involved in your child's work for them to succeed. You will find teachers will help you help you children, but you will still need to help your kids out with homework and projects. The teachers do their best to challenge the advanced kids and help those that are struggling. Having said that, the do not have the resources of a private school. Things like music and art are minimal, but many teachers do a good job with the basics and several put in extra hours for special programs. The gifted teachers are wonderful, but still limited to a certain extant by the FCAT. Fortunately the FCAT is getting a merciful death next year and the focus on practice tests is really only in the weeks leading up to the test. One last point, don't expect your children to learn Spanish in ANY Miami public school, just because everyone in the county speaks Spanglish doesn't mean anyone has any idea of how to teach a foreign language
—Submitted by a parent

This school has excellent teachers. My children have been at the school for several years and are doing great. The school has higher test schools than all the neighbor schools and lots of parents that really care. I think CRE is a great place to be.
—Submitted by a parent

The main problem with CRE is the students that are transferred in using the No Child Left Behind Act, there are 6 buses full every day, these students are not contected to the school in any way, the parents do not show for PTA meeting or school functions. The school has 48% of it's enrollment from out of district, may parent that live in district chose to send their children to other schools, i.e. Howard Drive elementary. CRE was once a neighbor school it no longer is and I do not see it ever returning to what it once was, which was a wonderful neighborhood school.
—Submitted by a parent

Very disappointing. Faculty and Staff are honestly horrible. I am a very involved parent and from conversations with Principal, Staff, and teachers, I came to realize that this is not a school that puts students first and is not concerned about them. I have a Bachelors degree and working on my Masters and Dade County should definitely hire employees that are better qualified to work with children! I would rate this school a negative!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at CRE for 2 years now. They transferred in using the No Child Left Behind Act. The academics at this school are on par with the other A schools however, the principal and some of the teachers are far below average. The principal is extremely inaccessible. If you call you will receive a call back from his secretary asking for an e-mail with your concerns. This is just so he can forward it to the Assistant Principal who will then just dismiss the problems as parental concerns without merit. Some of the teachers are wonderful, and some leave a lot to be desired. My daughter s teacher is known for yelling at students and refusing to answer questions from the students because she is e-mailing on her cell phone during lessons. Attempts were made for contact and she has refused all correspondence. On a plus side, CRE is an A school and is in a wonderful neighborhood.
—Submitted by a parent

CRE is a great neighborhood school which has provided my children an excellent education. It has a small town feel in a big city. I am very happy with the school and highly recommend it.
—Submitted by a parent

Like all public schools, this school has some problems but overall I have been very happy here for the past 6 years! Most of the teachers are phenomenal. This is reflected in their very high test scores. The school also has a very strong PTA which helps make it feel like a community. I agree the security needs to improve but other than that it is wonderful school. My children have been very happy there.
—Submitted by a parent

Ensuring kids safety is a priority. Like every school, there are good teachers who teach because it comes from their HEART & BAD teachers, who only CARE about receiving a PAY CHECK. Yelling at the kids SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, it causes fear in them NOT respect contrary to what some think. Cafeteria NEEDS A lot of Help, kids throw food, run, hit & do as they please. the blinds in the cafeteria shouldn't have any string to pull up or down, kids play with them!! I have seen it early morning during breakfast! SAFETY should be a Priority! NOT GOOD AT ALL!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE SCHOOL!
—Submitted by a parent

Security is a big issue here, anyone can walk right in, they need a security guard. My son's teacher speaks loud when explaining tasks, BUT she yells at them, specially when they make a mistake. What ever happened to RESPECT ?? teacher had an intern who needed extra spelling lessons herself! teacher doesn't like you telling her anything about your child being bullied by another kids, she always has an excuse, Principal delegates these issues to the assistant Principal who dismisses them AS MERE ALLEGATIONS, there is NO RESPECT or consideration shown here. PRINCIPAL is never available to discuss important issues, overall, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL.
—Submitted by a parent

It's a great school that helps the children learn, grow and thrive.
—Submitted by a parent

I had to register my dauther in CRE this year because we moved to the area, she was in an excellent charter school all her life and this has been quite the adjustment. The security is a joke, there's no afterschool programs not even homework assistance! The way math is taught it's ridiculous and uniforms? kids wear whatever and it just looks horrible..
—Submitted by a parent

my child loves the school its the change ive ever done its so great my child even wakes me up early get get to school
—Submitted by a parent

Great school, great students, and now a new principal! I've had kids here for 8 years now, and it is a wonderful school with dedicated and caring teachers, wonderful kids, and involved parents. The only problem has been the principal, whom many parents mentioned in their reviews. She was unfriendly and unresponsive to parents, seeming to resent the parent involvement and consider us something she has to 'deal with,' sometimes with threats. The AP has been little better. This has been the reason for many of the mixed or negative reviews posted here. Well, now, Coral Reef has a new principal and AP, and I expect it will be even better!
—Submitted by a parent

We moved our children from private school to Coral Reef last year and have not regretted the decision once. While there were some new security measures that created an uproar earlier in the year, I have yet to feel personally unwelcome... quite the contrary. The teachers are dedicated and easy to communicate with, and they welcome parent involvement whole-heartedly. While I still am unhappy about my children eating 'brunch' at 10 am, I am hopeful that the school's infrastructure will soon be able to comfortably accommodate the now 900 strong student body. There are so many opportunities for students at every level to succeed, excel and grow; we are profoundly impressed by the enthusiasm of the teachers in the gifted program and the environment that they create for learning. Every encounter with office staff has been pleasant and productive, as they always go the extra mile to help out.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is now in her 3rd year at Coral Reef Elementary School and I have to say I am more then happy with the school, staff and activities the school has. My daughter is in the gifted program and has accelerated so much in the program. Thank you!
—Submitted by Brad Sonnett, a parent

I am very disappointed in the 'militant' policy concerning security at Coral Reef. A parent should be able to see their child at any time during the school day with prudent security measures in place. However, the Coral Reef principal makes this impossible. My child has had three teachers since the beginning of school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a Coral Reef parent since 1997. This years security issues and rules have gone a little over board in my opinion. Parent involvement is the key to success,to shut them out is just wrong. I will nolonger contribute my time to a place who makes parents feel isolated from their children's golden years. The new changes are ridiculous and shows that the principal has no regard for the parents and their feelings. There should not be a lack of communication between parents and teachers.The school is not an A school because of our principal it is due to our very hard working teachers, students and parents. I believe that the children should benefit from the proceeds more, that come with this rating and less to the teachers and none to the school staff. After all it's about the children and their needs to success in school.
—Submitted by a parent

New so-called security procedures at this school effectively banish parents, and has created strong sense of ill-will between parents and admnistration. Ability to meet and interact with teachers is almost non-existent. Leadership skills of administration are limited and communication is just as poor. Staff morale seems to be deteriorating. Instruction is by the books with little creativity especially where special programs and classes are concerned. Parental interest in enhancing academic quality is disregarded. Much alienation and frustration at what used to be one of the finer schools in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child attended Coral Reef Elementary from PK through 5th grade and we have nothing but the highest praise for the dedication of the wonderful staff. All of teachers were excellent when communicating progress, or the lack thereof. We felt that the administration was fair in the way they handled decisions for the benefit of all children as a whole. The school has recently acquired a new 20 classroom building and the school seems to be a place where parents, teachers, and administrators work toward excellence in education.
—Submitted by a parent

Although this school is not a 'magnet' school, the gifted kids are grouped together in the same classes. Therefore if your child is an average student she will be seperated from the 'smarter' kids. I have a problem with this. The principal is indifferent to the students and parents. The parent involvement is great. The library and AR program are fantastic. Afterschool program is a below average. The Spanish cirriculum isnt that great. We have had some great teachers at this school. Hopeful for a new principal.
—Submitted by a parent