Vanderlyn Elementary School

Vanderlyn is an excellent school with a strong principal. Mr. Maloof has moved away from sending home CRCT practice packets that were so common with the previous principal. Instead, we have a new leveled reading library to boost literacy for children of ALL abilities; math automaticity is his next focus. The building is so much cleaner than it was before AND the new A/C, Heating, and Lighting make the bldg much more pleasant. Hopefully the redistricting will allow us to get rid of the trailers and modulars. The PTA raises almost $100K each year, and is transparent about where the money goes (organic garden, leveled reading library, active boards, etc).
--Submitted by a parent

I recommend Vanderlyn to certain demographics only with certain income levels. My third year with Vanderlyn and I am still waiting to see the goodness everyone speaks of about the school. My Child has learned very little from the school. He was expected to already know everything when he began kindergarten so that the teacher could focus on school plays gatherings etc. My son is still behind for his grade level. Thank Goodness I found Kumon who has taught my son more in 2 months than Vanderlyn has in 3 years. Also the Teachers I have had the experience of meeting are very snobby with grumpy faces. "You can pay people to teach but you cannot pay them to care" This is at the entrance of the school....So true, but why they have it in that school is beyond me at this point.
--Submitted by a parent

I was not impressed with Vanderlyn. My child came home with CRCT study guides that were met with blank stares. It should have been a refresher. I also found that my child was not nearly as prepared as my other child was at their old school (in a 100 different ways). The number of trailers really bothers me. This is a growing community and yet we are saying it's ok that the children don't fit in the school. Moving the 4th and 5th is not enough. A parent tried to tell me that we should feel fortunate to have a mobile campus. Are you kidding me! Let's be real here. I also thought the principal participated in some really corny activities. Every child deserves a solid education. We unfortunately, didn't get that at Vanderlyn. Vanderlyn seriously needs some evaluating. It was not what I considered "premier" at all.
--Submitted by a parent

Vanderlyn continues to excel.. The new principal, Mr. Maloof, is bright, able, energetic and conscientious. My 2 daughters have attended Vanderlyn, they youngest being a rising third grader. Yes, there is emphasis on standardized testing and I am okay with that. Such tests will not go away and the ability to do well on them will pay off in the future along with the solid academic foundation. It already has for our 6th grader who is exceling in a gifted/magnet program. Vanderlyn has always had superior art, music, dance, etc. teachers. No school is perfect. Although Austin recently fared better in test performance, the long-term track record favors Vanderlyn. Let's see the results this year now that the overcrowding has been relieved by the opening of Dunwoody E. S. for 4th and 5th graders. Increase creativity @ home & thr. programs.
--Submitted by a parent

Vanderlyn school has been a bad experience for our family. The emphasis seems to be on taking a state standardized test and not on thinking and learning. I would not recommend this school to anyone.
--Submitted by a parent

Great School! My 1st grader is loving life, if not the homework! He is my second child to attend Vanderlyn, and we didn't know how good we had it until my eldest child started middle school...what a difference it is compared to the tight Vanderlyn community! Yes, the building is old and small, but we have a brand new school that relieved Vanderlyn of much overcrowding... highly recommended!
--Submitted by a parent

The school is great no doubt about it. The atmosphere is nice. Its true students in the trailer, not the most convenient option. But those can be adjusted with. Only Issue I see is with the Gifted Program. I am not too well versed with state regulations on gifted program and school's responsibilities. Except in Grade1 - that's also in Ms. Patricks class - where I felt my child was learning something. Apart from that, there has no separate emphasis on the subjects for gifted student. The school need to rethink, elevate the standards and curriculum for gifted student and ensure they get something out of it.
--Submitted by a parent

a decent school, but way too crowded. the building is old and too small for the population. air conditioning often does not work. gifted education meets the bare minimum set by the county, but is inadequate.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very happy sending my kid to this school
--Submitted by a parent

Well it has finally been confirmed. Mrs. Burger is leaving at the end of the school year. I just don't like the way that it was handled. The parents and the staff knew before she did. Mrs. Burger is leaving a great staff that can handle it if the parents would just let them do their job!!!!!
--Submitted by a parent