Hawks Rise Elementary School

we love this school. Our child had a hard time adjusting to 1st grade. Her teacher was patient and very caring. recongnizing her weak as well as strong areas. Encouraging her in a way that really motivated her and made her want to try even harder. We had doubts about moving on to 2nd grade, but with her teachers support and caring, gentle pushes in the right direction she is now ready and we look forward to next year.
—Submitted by a parent

You should be aware that my 5th grade student's CLASSROOM SIZE is 23 KIDS, not 15. My 3rd grade student's CLASSROOM SIZE is the same. This is not unusual for this school. We have been at this school for 3 years now and between 2 kids have had 6 classrooms between them and ALL have been over 20 kids in each class!!!
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. It has the private school qualities at no charge. The student per teacher is not 15. It is 22 plus per teacher, but they seem to handle it. They have wonderful programs for students who need extra help in both reading and math.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Hawks Rise - a gifted child (very organized and motivated), and a child with a significant learning disability (also motivated & very close to the gifted range). Neither have behavioral problems & both are very social. The difference in treatment of these children at the administrative level is disturbing. Many of the teachers are dedicated & amazing making up for this. The school has a great deal of discipline, but, at times goes overboard. Parents are great as well as the strings program.
—Submitted by a parent

Education is excellent due to the teachers, the area in which the kids are from, and from parent involvement with the kids at the school. Normal special area classes are offered, but where's the Spanish class that was created during the run for the National Blue Ribbon Award? It was cancelled right after they won it! Poor taste! Also, this class was not made available to all students, just those hand picked by the principal. Again, poor taste. Principal has issues dealing with and communicating with adults and is very opinionated. In summary, this school is great for education but be prepared to deal with a poor administraion.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school that typically has high standarized test scores. Parents are actively involved and the PTO provides wonderful oppurtunities to volunteer through the year.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children's education and safety is the most important element in our effort to provide the highest 'quality of life' for our family. As a result, we elected to move from an 'A'-rated school in Orlando to Tallahassee... specifically to Hawk's Rise. Both of our children (first and third graders) excel in the entire curriculum, and are constantly challenged through advanced teaching methods. Both teachers quickly identified each child's ability, and subsequently set goals above the grade level norm in areas like math and reading. Our children exceed the challenge as a result, and are enthusiastic about their learning experience... this was not previously the case. Parents at Hawk's Rise are very involved in their children's education, and this is expected. Education is taken very seriously at Hawk's Rise, with the principal, the teachers, the parents and the students. We believe it is the best school available, anywhere.
—Submitted by a parent

Hawks Rise is an excellent school, rated as the best in the state and among the 100 best in the nation. But its achievements are mainly based on the base of students and their parents, not just on some exceptional teachers and administration. When staff is presented with students with exceptional intellect, from high achieving parents who value education, how could they not succeed? Demographics rule here. Atmosphere is very goal-oriented, with reflecting test scores. It is the equivalent to sending your child to a private school. Parental involvement is high and so are extras based on parental funding. Kids are happy, but occasionally stressed. Definitely pushed to fit a mold. Your child will succeed at the level their capacity provides, without any dangers or fears from bad influences.
—Submitted by a parent

This wonderful school provides quality academic programs closely following the Sunshine State Standards and the benchmarks determined for each grade. There is a level of professional development in the faculty and an eagerness for every child to learn. There is a special designated time for each grade level to have access for the 'special areas' such as music, art, media, guidance, etc. There are also plenty of extracurricular activities for students to join. The parent involvement in the school is extraordinary - the community supports the school!
—Submitted by a staff

Hawks Rise is in all likelyhood the best elementary school in Tallahassee. The teachers are not only extremely nice, but also superbly prepared, and the principal does a wonderful job running the school. My two daughters have loved every minute they have spent in this school, as they have very good academic programs and the teachers are quite inventive during the leisure time.
—Submitted by Ruben Diaz-Avalos, a parent

This is a fabulous school. The August 2003 commment seems a bit over the top. While every school undoubtedly has some problems, blaming the principal in such a way seems uncalled for. Mrs. Brinson (the principal) is a wonderful administrator who listens to parents, respects her teachers and loves our kids. Who could ask for more? I wouldn't move out of this school zone for anything. Both my kids will stay at Haws Rise throughout elementary school.
—Submitted by a parent

We are very proud to send our children to Hawks Rise for several reasons. This academically sound school continually makes efforts to inspire well-rounded children. Emphasis is placed on academic excellence as well as Character Education. The Principal and administration personally review the standing of each student to ensure that individual needs, academic and otherwise are continually being met. Thanks to this hard working team, our school will be awarded with the distinction of having been an A school for the last five years. A recent article in our local newspaper reported that Deerlake Middle School, also a National award winning school, attributes its success to the quality of its feeder schools, including Hawks Rise. We feel privileged that our children have the opportunity to be a part of this school of caring leaders and we are confident that they will be well prepared for future successes.
—Submitted by Sonja Frye, a parent

Year after year, testing results indicate that Hawks Rise is simply the best elementary school in the county and the state. The teachers through all grades are tremendous and truly dedicated to their art. The administration is very supportive and encourages parental involvement in all aspects of the educational process. Also, the PTO is very active and well-funded. Hawks Rise excels due to exceptional parental involvement, a deep spirit of volunteerism, and the generous support of community partners. We have three children at Hawks Rise and could not be happier with the education they receive.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current parent of two children at Hawks Rise. It is a phenomenal school with wonderful teachers and administrators who produce children who test among the highest in the state. My children excel in the classroom, love their teachers and cry if they are sick and cannot attend school. I'm offended by the previous comment before mine and wonder what type of person would make such ugly, false allegations on a site like this. Isn't that slander? I certainly hope this one person's opinion would not dissuade anyone from considering Hawks Rise for their children. It is an outstanding school and I'm sure 99.9% of all parents would tell you the same.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is great and the parental involvement is probably the best in town. The teachers so far are loving and very capable of making sure the students are prepared. Downside: The administration is poor. The principal has trouble communicating with parents on their level.