Briar Vista Elementary School

My son is just finishing his first year in the Montessori program here in Kindergarten. He is able to read beyond a first grade level, he can do math I wouldn't expect to see until 2nd grade and his maturity level exceeds my hopes. His teacher was committed, responsive, involved, and completely dedicated to her class (how many teachers have you met that would come to one of her student's birthday parties on a Saturday afternoon). Everyday my son comes home telling me what he learned and excited to go back the next morning. I don't think you can ask for much more.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at BVE and we are really excited to be in a public Montessori program! It is fantastic and our teacher this year is wonderful! We have been following what has been going on with the PTO and are excited about our future with BVE!
—Submitted by a parent

I was not pleased with my experience at BVES. The focus is not on children in younger grades, only on CRCT testing grades. I was forced to move my child to a private school because I felt that the education being provided was inadequate. The school has a very high hispanic population and I don't feel that their voices are being heard. Administration leaves a lot to be desired. There is a disconnect between the needs of parents and the support provided.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at Briar Vista. My daughter is in Kindergarten Montessori. We love Briar Vista! Briar Vista has very dedicated caring teachers and admisistration. The Montessori curricuulum is fantastic!! My daughter looks forward to going to school each day!!
—Submitted by a parent

I am very happy with my childs progress this year and the 1rst grade teacher. He is very happy about going to school and seems to be learning well. I do do not know how to communicate with the facality and wonder if they even want me to be involved. I do not feel we are a team. It is hard to meet the other children and their parents. My son wants to have play dates but there is no school directory and many parents do not speak English. The apperance of the school is poor. In the end...my son is happy and doing well.
—Submitted by a parent

Briar Vista is a very unique school in that there is such heart among the teachers for the students. You can see it at school events when you see a child light up at seeing their teacher and the teacher shines right back. Many parents volunteer at the school doing in class rooms and support roles for the staff. Culturally the student body is very diverse due to the location near the CDC and Emory University. When the school has their annual International dinner it is very much a international affair. The school has been doing this for over 2 decades and really shows how wonderful life could be if we all could sit down and break bread with one another
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter is in her second year at Briar Vista. She has excelled there and is in the gifted program. She loves going to school and hates to miss it when she is too sick to go. The two teachers she has had, have been very good and committed to there work. I highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a proud parent of a Briar Vista student. My daughter has been attending Briar Vista for the last two years and loves her classmates, teachers, and the school curriculum. My daughter has had two great teachers two years in a row, did outstanding on all the state tests, is enrolled in the gifted and talented class (she enjoyed learning about bridges, creating a blueprint and designing her own bridge out of toothpicks this past semester), and all the extra curricular activities at Briar Vista, such as Girl Scouts, Chess Club, Hip Hop class... As a parent, I have really enjoyed getting to know the parents at the school, being part of the PTA, and being a part of this great community. I look forward to my four year old son attending Briar Vista also next year.
—Submitted by a parent

Briar Vista is a diamond in the rough. I little gem of a school. We offer 2 tracks of education - Montessori and Traditional. We have music, PE and Art.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a fabulous school! My son is in Pre-K in the Montessori track (they also offer traditional classes). His teachers are fantastic. They have a great afterschool program. I've been amazed at how much he has learned in his first year there. The facilities are a little old (I think the school was built in the '50s), but it has a great playground, a nice gym, and a cafeteria with a stage where they host music programs and shows for the parents. The school is small enough that the principal and teachers know all the students and parents. It's a wonderful, neighborhood school - in the heart of the city!
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been attending Briar Vista for two years and I love this school. The teachers are great and take a real interest in the students. I would recommend this school to any parent that is looking for there child to succeed. The diversity in the school is a plus as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Briar Vista is an excellent, high-peforming school. My child has been there for two years and excelled in the unique montessouri program it offers to students. The teachers are fantastic. We could not be more pleased with our experience thus far and look forward to many years of quality education that Briar Vista provides.
—Submitted by a parent

When we choose Briarvista we had seen the negative comments but spoke to parents, who said the contrary. My daughter is excelling and she loves the school, this is the most important thing in the world. I also have other family members that have children at the school and they love it, too. The preschool program is amazing and I hope to get my youngest in, next year. To provide a balanced review, Briarvista is not perfect but they are dang good. The administration seems to have a top down approach to leadership. I have noticed that teachers do not seem happy to be there many times. I understand that having discipline is very important but I want my daughter s teacher to be happy, period. I also wish there were more afterschool activities for the lower level children. I have not noticed that teacher discontentment has jeopardized my daughter's education in any way. I get weekly reports and curriculum updates from her teacher letting me know how she is doing. I have noticed that the school is always trying to improve, so I am sure some of the negative aspects of the school will correct themselves in due time. We are very happy with Briarvista and I am sure you would be, too.
—Submitted by a parent

Briar Vista continues to prevent the nonsense going on the DeKalb County School System level from penetrating to the classroom. We have 2 children there in the Montessori program and they are receiving an excellent education. Adding the traditional track has been a boon as Montessori teachers are no longer forced to try to teach the Montessori method to upper elementary children with no prior experience; imagine being a 4th grader who has already learned long division using a paper and pencil and having to learn how to use the beads and other manipulatives--annoying to say the least. At the same time, students who do have the self-control to direct their own learning are not frustrated by having to wait passively for the teacher to tell them what they are doing next. Montessori is great! This is our fifth year at the school and we haven't had a bad teacher yet. The only negative thing about the school is that there is a small core of parents who are involved, and a large number of parents who are content to sit back and let others do the work.
—Submitted by a parent

Don't get hung up on standardized test scores. Until this year Briar Vista was a 100% Montessori school, a teaching method that emphasizes the individual not the test. This is the best kept gen in Dekalb county. As of this year both Montessori and Traditional classes are avaialbe but the empasis on the individual remains.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm interested in an update, what about the atmosphere for 2010? I have friends relocating to Atlanta with small children and although they are not school age yet, the real estate in area and location is desirable.

I agree, the principal is AWFUL !! New to the state & hearing so many great things about Briar Vista..I must say how terribly disappointed I am. From a school that absolutely supported the students & parents in every possible way, to Bria Vista where the Principal has no warmth what so ever & shows very little care or concern about the children or the school itself was painful!!. Yes.. maybe she would do better working with the military...Certainly not with Elementary School children. I find that the teachers share her lack of enthusiasm & warmth. Again, coming from a school where personal pride & striving for excellence was taught daily & demonstrated everywhere.. from staff , to the school grounds ..what a contrast to Briar Vista a school that demonstrates MEDIOCRACY.& SLOPPINESS! I would not recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

Yes, the leadership could be much much better. But the creative curriculum is a good thing. However, as of Aug 2010, it will only be available for students who have been there a long period, and any new students will have traditional learning. The turned their curriculum into traditional this year, so now, I don't know what the plus about BriarVista, or if there is one.
—Submitted by a parent

The administration is not supportive! Well, unless your mom is on PTA. She is awful.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal is definitely more fit to work in the military. She has a tolitarian type of manner when dealing with the kids. She is not warm, or welcoming
—Submitted by a parent