Harbins Elementary School

Both my kids attended this school. Both did well there. Leadership and teaching are tops, though its always sad to see so many resources going to ESOL and not enrichment for the other kids. I found the homeroom teachers responsive and the occasional problems were resolved, but with persistence sometimes on my behalf I have to laugh when I read the reviews about the office staff - so true. Don't know why they are crabby, nor why its tolerated. However, I would pick this school over any of the other local elementaries.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has the best principal, teachers with great programs for special ed and excel students.
--Submitted by a parent

If your kid starts out ahead in Kindergarten, he/she will just sit there until focus becomes available 6 months into their 1st grade yr. My child is in the 1st grade and is working on basic addition. She learned this in preK. Last year she not start learning new material until Feb., when enrichment classes began. This year looks like a repeat and enrichment is no longer offered. There are 20+ kids in her class and no parapro, not 14 as mentioned in the report. My child is a blessing to the teacher, because she can have her sit there and vegetate, while teaching the other kids in class. Extra-curricular activies are scarce. Everyone is expected to be the same. If your kid has ADD or is reading on the first day of kindergarten, too bad.
--Submitted by a parent

My son moved to Harbins half way through the 2007/2008 year & like other reviews, the office staff is not the most helpful nor friendly. However, once we got through that hurdle, we have loved his teachers. My son transitioned well and has been very happy there since.
--Submitted by a parent

If you have a special needs child this school is not helpful at all. I did not know you had to fight for education. My son is in the fifth grade on a third grade academic level and he has not recieved any help. People know your rights because your child would not recieve the proper help that's is needed.Thank God for special education scholorship funding in ga.
--Submitted by a parent

My son transferred from Alcova ES to Harbins this year. I too felt like the office staff was not eager to help me and that my visits and calls were more of a 'bother' to them than what they are there for which is to assist and direct and inform. At least that is what they did at Alcova. My son transitioned well. I didn't like the fact that if he wasn't feeling well he was told he could only go to the clinic if he had a fever or was throwing up. I also don't understand why only 5th graders get to have a field day and not the rest of the school grades?
--Submitted by a parent

We came from Colorado and spent half the school year here at Harbins because our first concern with moving out of state was our children's school. The school seemed fine, although the learning pace is behind what it is in Colorado. Our problem was with the administration office. Mrs. Sass was compleletly unhelpful and rude when trying to enroll. She withheld important information and treated us like idiots. I've observed her behavior with other adults and know I'm not alone in this. So if you can get past her - ok. There's also a window of time when you are not allowed to go to the school and pick your kid up. This place seems to be more concerned with insignificant rules than education.
--Submitted by a parent

This is our 4th year at Harbins. I have been very pleased with this school and the teachers. We moved here from Cobb County and my son has flourished. He has had excellent teachers that have challenged and encouraged him. Parent participation has been very high.
--Submitted by a parent

my child has been going to harbins for 3 years now, she has alot of medical problems that require alot of understanding and compasion which she recives here. Her teachers have always made sure I recive her work she has missed due to this.
--Submitted by a parent

This is not the school for you if your child needs extra attention for ADD or ADHD. We are moving to get our son out of this school.
--Submitted by a parent