Ponte Vedra Palm Valley- Rawlings Elementary School

Outstanding school. We have two children attending and we are extremely satisfied with the teachers, curriculum and leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter began kindergarten the same year as the principal, Kathleen Furness, began leading PV-PV/Rawlings. We have had children in the school ever since. We have been blessed by the wonderful teachers at the school, and so many of them have shown a genuine love for our children.Our two girls were very prepared for middle school when they graduated from Rawlings.The academic standards are high, with a heavy focus on reading. While they are forced to teach to the FCAT, contrary to a review below, we have not experienced the school being 'singularly focused' on FCAT testing. The students are prepared, but they have many, many experiences that are not FCAT related. The office staff is caring, kind and extremely helpful. Out of our children's 17 placements, we only had one experience (1999) that was not positive (and that teacher is no longer there).A great school and staff!! Patti O'Shea
—Submitted by a parent

We have been highly disappointed in this school. The school is singularly focused on FCAT testing and does not provide a well rounded education. Geography, Science, History are all areas where the school borders on neglect. Self discipline is not emphasized, instead reward systems are over used.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are very nurturing, but the principal is more interested in politics than the children. I find this sad and upsetting.
—Submitted by a parent

PV-PV is an outstanding school where the principal takes an interest in every child individually, first by ensuring that they are placed with the teacher best suited to their unique needs, then by closely tracking their progress. The second grade PACE (gifted) program is exceptional in providing those students with the addiditonal challenge they need. However, more attention should be taken to enhance the first grade PACE or gifted program, currently only one hour per week.
—Submitted by a parent

A very positive learning environment with excellent facilities and support. However the quality of staff varies greatly and at times can be an unpleasant situation for some students should they be unfortunate as to draw on of the less gifted teachers. The teachers are prone to want to have easy street and have all students fall within a performance and behaviour structure thereby not requiring any significant adaptation to situations and or students. Those teachers who go out of their way to help students are recognized only by parents who are thankful their children were so fortunate to have these teachers. Those teachers who are not willing to take the extra time to assist students face no repercussions whatsoever and diminish the school as a whole. Luckily there are only a handful in this school and hopefully your child will avoid them entirely.
—Submitted by Kevin Benedict, a parent

This is an excellent school, with quality programs for students.
—Submitted by a parent

This is by far the best school my child has ever attended. The teachers are very involved in their students, and keep parents very informed! This school raises the bar on safety for the students which makes me feel very at ease when my child is there. Bravo to the teachers and staff!
—Submitted by Wendy, a parent

This is a school that consistantly goes above and beyond the call of duty. It's hard to find a school that works with both child and parent equally. Quite the possitive change from Gwinnett County Schools in Metro Atlanta, GA which is where we moved from in September. It's not always easy to be the new student and M.K. Rawlings (a division of P.V.P.V) made the change very easy on my daughter. The students as well as faculty welcomed her with open arms. It was amazing to see how much further ahead academically Saint Johns County was compared to where we moved from.
—Submitted by a parent