Avery Elementary School

This school is awful. Was previously at Hickory Flat and got rezoned to Avery when it opened. How bad could a new school be? Boy was I wrong! The administration runs it like a prison for elementary kids with no logic and treat parents as the enemy. They reinforce teachers poor performance and inability to teach and serve their students with more of the same. There is no creativity allowed. Currently searching for a private school or considering moving into the Hickory Flat zone. Avery is staffed with amateurs. What a shame.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has not lived up to its reputation. It has been a horrible school year. The classes are too large, the teachers are overwhelmed and the principal is totally out of touch with her school. The parents are not welcome there and the vice-principal is out right rude to parents. So unfortunate!
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my kids (K and 2nd) have only went to this school. I love this school. Parent involvement is awesome, the staff has always been attentive and friendly, and carpool is organized. We are about to move into another school district and comparing the two schools has made me want to petition to stay here.
--Submitted by a parent

Love Avery Elementary! Parents very involved, school very spirited. Can come and have lunch with my child any day. PTA puts on some great events. Only complaint my kids have is about a 'mean' art teacher (this is from 4 of my kids). My only complaint is the turnover from top administrators, who were all excellent. New principal is not as visible. My kids are getting an above average education in a public school and are benefiting from a unique technique in responsibility in actions through 'love and logic'.
--Submitted by a parent

We have 2 children at Avery and they love the school. We had one bad experience in the 4 years we have had a child there, and it was rectified by the administration promptly. I read some of the other reviews, and I am baffled at those experiences. Most of the teachers at Avery left other schools when it opened, and most came from the better schools in the County, and were reagrded as the "better" teachers from those schools.
--Submitted by a parent

I have found the Teachers my older has had to be grouchy, rude, and downright discouraging -- not just to me -- more importantly, the students! I have had not one positive experience interacting with them. My poor girl must be very unlucky. My younger daughter has had a great teacher in the 1st grade, but this daughter is not the one who needs the extra attention. I have also requested to speak to a member of administration about possible dyslexia testing for my older daughter. None of my requests for contact have been returned. I hate it. I want to take them elsewhere...
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Avery for three years and currently attends Creekland Middle. All three years we had teachers that were very devoted to their students. My daughter's reading skills improved greatly. The principal was very visible and accessible. I was very involved as a volunteer as were many other parents. My only negative experience involved the front office staff.
--Submitted by a parent

We are EXTREMELY disappointed. Very unwelcoming and unfriendly staff. Principal is not visible. Overcrowded school.
--Submitted by a parent

We have had a wonderful experience at Avery. The teachers have been World Class and the administrators are VERY Professional. It actually feels like a private school. The facility is top notch. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. Please don't listen to the other reviews. I don't think they would be happy at any school.
--Submitted by a parent

TERRIBLE! I went in to this school year full of optimism with my son being in Kindergarten. He was a model student at the Academy where he attended Pre-K and was loved by all of his teachers. He was put into a class with 22+ 5yr olds and 1 teacher with a part time para pro. The teacher was obviously overwhelmed and even said MANY times that she was not able to give the kids personalized attention because she had SO many of them! Due to my son's boredom and the teachers poor ability to manage a large classroom, we met with the teacher and V.Principal and were told that they didn't have any other options to offer. We WITHDREW him from Avery and now he is flourishing in a local Montessori School! PS. The Principal never even contacted me to discuss things after numerous requests on my part!
--Submitted by a parent