Centennial Place Elementary School

Both my daughter and I had a great experience at Centennial. She is now a rising 10th grader and has mentioned more than once that her CPE experience and education prepared her to be tremendously successful in her academic endeavors. No school is perfect but I can say that the principal, teachers and parents worked very hard to ensure that students at every level had the opportunity to receive an excellent education. One school is not the answer for every child/family that is clear from some of the comments. However, I encourage you to consider Centennial Place Elementary and see for yourself. Lastly, no matter where you are: stay connected, get involved and do whatever you can to make the experience great for you and your family.
—Submitted by a parent

I have children at CPE and am a very involved parent. We have had wonderful experiences with all of our teachers and enjoy being a part of the CPE community. Our students have cutting edge educational opportunities like GA Tech engineering clubs, honors orchestra, enrichment clubs and fun camps during our Fall and Spring breaks, International Nights, Justice Project, art club, gifted programming, urban gardening (we have a cool new orchard!), frequent GA Aquarium field trips, class field trips to the US Space Center in Huntsville, Chattanooga, Washington DC, and the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham. Principal Shelton, Assistant Principal Reilly and the entire CPE team are truly dedicated to educating our children. Our year round calendar had really worked well with my working parent schedule. CPE is downtown Atlanta's public K-5 S.T.E.A.M. school of excellence and I would strongly recommend it as an excellent public school choice.
—Submitted by a parent

Just from reviewing some of the reviews from 2009,Is crazy to experienced the same bad feelings that i have read about 4 years ago. I'm just thinking maybe its me and just not a good year for the both of us. The front office treats certain parents and kids different thinking everybody in the community have lack of intelligence because they live in based on-income apartments. Ms. Scott likes to intimidate people and stereotype parents. My daughter went from AB honor roll student of the month every month being seleted to be tested for the gifted program to NO AWARDS!!! The ONLY kids who participate in the awards program are those who received an invitation. But when you go online to the school home page there is no infomation were you can find this at. The teacher didnt send anything in my childs folder to explain the program. My daughter was only in the first grade, every child should be apart of the program and receive some type of awards to encourage and movativate them. The school go on too many field trips....atleast two or more every month. Ms. Scott and ms. Moore can be very rude and disrespectful . Looking into a new school NEVER AGAIN!!!
—Submitted by a parent

CPE is an excellent school! In fact, I moved into the community just to be able to get my kids into Centennial. Yes, there are some low-income families in the community, but there are hard-working, educated parents like my self who reside here as well. The teachers at Centennial are very passionate about their jobs and the students. I have two kids who graduated from CPE, and one who in 3rd grade. They are both Honor Roll students, and exceeded in several areas of the CRCT. Also, my kids have attended school there over the last six years, and I've yet to see more than 23 students per classroom. I think the person who thought she saw 30 kids in a room was maybe angry due to her child's rare situation. I can't say enough great things about CPE and their wonderful faculty and staff! I'm a very satisfied parent.
—Submitted by a parent

Not a very good school at all! 30+ kids per class room. My children where bullied in both class rooms and different grade levels due to the color of their skin (white). YMCA program is even worse. My oldest son was hospitalized due to injuries. The school is near low income housing so you will see children that are not cared for properly at home and run a muck at school. Principal and staff pretend that they care but don't do anything. The incidents occurred over and over until i took my kids out of that school. Academic wise the teachers stick to their books. In comparison to other states and cities we have lived in this is the worst. I would say do not move to Atlantic Station if you have children. The area is amazing but the school available is HORRIBLE!!
—Submitted by a parent

Centennial Place Elementary School is a great school. My oldest will be entering 1st grade this year. I love that it is a year-round school and that when he is away from school he misses his teachers. I also love that there are positive male role models for boys. My son's first year was great! I am an active parent which has allowed me to see a PTA that cares about our students first. A principal who puts the best for our future first. And teachers who care about CPE kids not just their classroom of kids. The staff and administration are always kind and you can even hear the smile on the phone when you call CPE. The janitors always speak when I see them in the hallway. Like it or not EVERYONE influences your child when you send them to school. I am excited about CPE expanding to 8th grade and hope we are successful in this venture for our children sake! Keep up the Good Work CPE Family! Pleased Parent!
—Submitted by a parent

I went here as a child and only have bad memories of this place. The teachers that are kept here for the longest are the stern, intimidating teachers that threaten children and make them feel low to control them. The nice teachers are made fun of by the other teachers in the lounge! They usually feel out of place and leave within 1-2 years. There are no doors, there's more of a loft kind of feel to the entire building.(which is an upside) Lastly, the kids barely get any outdoor time on the small playground unless they are involved in an after school program.

Great School!!! My Nieces take FREE Ballet classes with a lot of these students at The Art of Confidence Performing Arts Alliance in Atlantic Station and they are all GREAT KIDS!
—Submitted by a parent

Centennial Place Elementary is a good school. The teachers, staff, principal and families work together to make it a good learning environment for the children. The "Dads" even manage the carpool drop offs in the morning... now that's parental evolvement on the grassroots level! Unfortunately due to budget constraints, the class sizes are larger than I would prefer; however that is an over arching issue in public schools today. CPE is one of the few public elementary schools that have daily foreign language instruction (Spanish) which helps to prepare students early for life in the 21st century. Additionally, while many schools are losing the critical "Specials" (i.e. Music, Art, Technology, etc.), CPE continues to offer a well rounded education including the "specials and foreign language. Thus far, our family has been pleased.
—Submitted by a parent

I have the exact opposite view of Centennial than the previous parent. I don't come on this site often but it upsets me when I hear this from a parent. The teachers give 110% and the entire staff is great. I wonder if this parent comes to the school often to see the great experiences like the Black History Program, the fundraisers and program to help a student who is fighting Leukemia. I think this parent is venting since he or she did not get the response he or she was looking for. While I am not a teacher, I am a committed parent who believes in the quality of Centennial Place. I see excellent teaching, great leadership and high level instruction. My child is also in second grade and there are NOT 30 kids in the class...this parent needs to speak to the state about class size ratios not the individual school. Also, Centennial Place has a unique design and the walls can be moved...they are not cheap...they use an open classroom design. Centennial Place is Great!
—Submitted by a parent

How are the students suppose to know to keep their hands to themselves when the Spanish teacher is kicking the children and the trashman(Mr. Freeman) grabbing kids by the back of their necks. This good teacher quality? Don't think so! Who is disciplining the teachers and the janitors.

Not a good school if you are a working single parent.
—Submitted by a parent

I waited in long lines, in cold weather to get out of district permission for my daughter to attend CPE. I would do it again. She has received top notch teaching and acquired a love for learning. The success of schools in general and students in particular is no mere accident. It is my experience that the success of a school is in direct correlation to the involvement of parents with the same. Simply, we get out of it what we put into it. While I have done some volunteering I have surely not done as much as others, yet the school gives my daughter the benefit as if I had. A great great school. If I am blessed with more children I hope they will attend CPE.
—Submitted by a parent

I wish I had anotherchoice.Staff are rude and talk down to parents as if they are children. I feel judged each time I walk through the doors. I am a single working parent. I am unfortunately not available to visit the school and establish the close or somewhat personal relationships that some parents have. I would love to be more involved as a parent at the school , but my life does not afford me with this opportunity. I am extremely attentive to my children's needs and schoolwork . However I get the feeling that teachers and administrators may think otherwise. Further I have concerns with my child retaining lessons or not repsonding well to the curriculum. My child was an A/B student prior to arriving and now seems to constantly struggle. I'm looking for more options before it's too late.
—Submitted by a parent

I absoutely love this school. This is a great school .My child is now in the 1st grade. She did very well in kindergarten the staff is wounderful.
—Submitted by a parent

I am an active parent at CPE and I must say that the school is great. I have been extremely pleased with the level of instruction my children have received from Centennial. The school is full of wonderful resources that provide wonderful opportunities for the kids. The principal is always engaged in the learning and is an active part of the school. I have received high quality teachers every year for the last four years. The teachers are alays there to help assist during tutoing afterschool or before school. I love the fact my child attends a year round school and has an opportunity to have breaks throughout the year. CPE is not my zone school. I waited in long lines to get my child there and I am committed to making the school a success. I encourage all parents to send their child to CPE, it is top notch!
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter in the kindergarten at CPE and I am so glad that I opted for the administrative transfer to get her at CPE. Being a former teacher and schooled in the parochial/private school system, I can say that this is one of the best school. Parents and children can get out of it what you as a parent decide to put into it. My daughter succeeds with the help of the awsome teachers/administration and I working with each other for the betterment of my daughter. Keep up the great work CPE!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is the worse school that you could bring your child to. The children are terrible and the administration is the worse. They have no idea on how to handle discipline. The school is only concerned with text scores, not the students.
—Submitted by a parent

My two kids attended from K through 3rd. I was very impressed with all the classes and special programs this school had to offer. We moved after my husband received his PHD to the subburbs. We miss having spanish, technology, and orchestra. We found the teachers to be wonderful; some of the kids were difficult to control but all in all, we were very pleased with the staff and all the funding this school receives.
—Submitted by a parent

I personally went to this school from 2nd grade and graduated from the 5th grade in 2002. It was the greatest experience of my life, the teachers were excellent; they worked with me and my mom to make sure I did great in areas I struggled in. They also offered me a free tutor from the CocaCola building across the street to help me with math and liturature; two subjects that I excel in to this day. I aslo made childhood friends that I'm still in touch with now. I absolutly loved Centennial Place Elm. and you should definatly consider bringing your child there :]