Palmetto Elementary School

Comming from Northern Virgina /Washington DC education is a very big thing in our area. Since my daughter has been enrolled in Palmetto Elementry I don''t see the drive that she had in Northern Virgina , which concerns me . It tells me that the adminstration is not trying to help these students excel in there acadmics. I have walked through the school and have noticed that teachers are more focused on apearance and posture than teaching these children the education that they need. Now the organization of of picking children from the school is just a disaster you have children all over the place . Where you should have teachers watching students instead you have them talking to other parents or doing other things and not really focusing on the safety of the students. Its dissapointing to see a teacher more focused on yelling at speeding cars ,than watching kids....
--Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter first year at this school and I must be honest I am not pleased with the way the administration is teaching . My daughter was very driven in school and doing her best, but since comming that drive is gone and really upsets me . Teachers are to help and drive students to do there best , but i don't see that at this school. Safety is another thing that concerns me especially when being dismissed from school it is dangerous and unorganized!! Teachers are not where they should be to watch the students and helping out . More focused on talking and espcially yelling at people who are speeding ..why? Do your job and watching my kid! Let the police deal with speeders, Yelling at someone while driving is doing more harm than good . If I could I would take my daughter out .....
--Submitted by a parent

This school has declined since Prinicipal Rio left. The quality of teachers has also declined. If I could do it over again I would enroll my daughter in any school but this one. Please think long and hard before enrolling your child in this school.
--Submitted by a parent

After reading the reviews of this school, I am shocked! Our son has been attending school at Palmetto Elementary since the beginning of the fall semester. Everyone at the school has been wonderful to not only our son, but us as well. If we have concerns on his progression, his teachers are more than eager to sit with us and discuss how we can amend his program and get him on track. We had him enrolled in one of the 'highly rated' academies in Lakewood Ranch, and in my opinion, Palmetto Elementary has done a better job of meeting and surpassing our goals and expectations. I love this school and recommend it to everyone I know!
--Submitted by a parent

Just because the school grade is a 'C' does not mean that the administrators do not care. They are doing their job to maintain the school and making sure that the students are treated with respect and taught correctly, therefore if any student who is not making the grade, is because of their lack of effort and lack of parent involvement who do not take the time to read any newsletters sent home or even make it to conference night to pick up report cards. Instead of focusing on the negativity, help the school to become a better place not only your child but for everyone.

I am a parent that choiced my child into this school. It was a terrible mistake from start to finish. Many of the teachers are 'friends' with the principal. So, when things occur that our grossly wrong, he ingnores them. and the guidance counselor has his own needs above those of the students. I would encourage all parents to think twice before allowing their child to attend this school. I am happy that my child will be attending a new school next year.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a shadow of its former self. The leadership at the school is non-existent and parents - unless they are boot-lickers for the administration - are discouraged from being involved. It's a shame but given the state of the district under Dr. Roger Dearing, it is not surprising.
--Submitted by a parent

This use to be a great school with great leadership and direction. Unfortunately, changes have been made in the last few years which have affected the school and its performance. Parental involvement is no longer encouraged, actually it is discouraged. The school has been deemed a 'sick school' and the district leadership has decided it isn't worthy of correcting the problem - placing a band-aid on a large sore....a new school is necessary and at the same location, a perfect location for a school, however again, the district leadership chooses to ignore the constituent's wishes and try to force a new school at another location where property is cheap. It will no longer be a neighborhood school, but in a location that will not serve the needs of the community. I would not recommend this school to anyone at this time. I am a concerned parent of attending students.
--Submitted by a parent

What I don't understand is how this school goes from being giving a A in 2005-2006 year to going back to being giving a C. This says something.I understand there lot of teachers their trying but something needs to change. Starting with the communcation between teachers and parents, and aslo maybe a different way of teaching .Cause something is not working.I'm letting my son stay for second grade but if i don't see changes I will be taking him.
--Submitted by a parent

After seven years at Palmetto Elementary (one child who has since gone on to middle school), we are taking our children out of this school. We have watched the leadership at this school deteriorate beyond belief since the exit of the last principal. The principal and AP are never available to answer questions. One has to wonder if they are ever there at the school. Communication with parents is poor. We never knew who was going to be teaching our child's class next, or what was happening in the classroom. All we saw in his backpack were dittoed worksheet packets with letters for him to trace. The website provided no help in this matter. Our other child seemed to be lost in the shuffle and forgotten. The teachers there seem to be caring, but also have their hands tied as far as leadership. They teach to the tests, which is unfortunate.
--Submitted by a parent