Freedom Park Elementary School

I agree with some parents in the regards of lack of communication from the school staff and the fact that the teachers constantly use slang language when instructing our children. It's no wonder that the children are far below average when it comes to their education level compared to that of other schools nationally. And the posting from a teacher accusing the military families for their inadequacies is appalling. I can understand why parents have wanted the middle school to be taught on post especially since majority of the Richmond County Schools are failing academically and there is an elevated concern about gang and drug related issues in the county. In my opinion this school needs a lot of improvements starting with the board of education.
--Submitted by a parent

My family and I have been at Ft. Gordon for the last three years. We have been very happy with the education, discipline and compassion towards those who live/work on Ft. Gordon. FPS is a quality school with dedicated teachers and administrative staff. It has made AYP every year since opening eight years ago. The school campus will also open it's new middle school wing and new gym in Feb 2012. Some complain about organization skills but I will say they do a tremendous job considering the large number of students who move on and off post 12 months out of the year, not to mention the deployments most parents and families deal with. The one thing I see lacking is more parent involvement. FPS is a GREAT SCHOOL !!!
--Submitted by a parent

I absolutely agree with previous reviews. This school is disorganized and teachers are rude to students. There is a culture of apathy, a lack of supervision, and a chaotic environment due to constant lack of communication among school teachers, administration, and school workers. Everyone I pose a question to, has another new and incorrect answer and no one seems to care how their lack of information, organization, and their attitudes affect the poor students who must attend this school. I suggest homeschooling. I pulled my children out.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had children attending this school for about 3 years and have always had issues with it from day 1!! This school is completely unorganized and alot of the teachers are rude to the students and parents. Walking through the halls I am discusted that these teachers get away with talking to kids like that. It is horrible!! Ever since the new principal came in the interaction between parents and her have been next to nothing. She is very unsocial, I have walked by her numerous times in the halls and when I smile or say hi I get nothing from her no smile no "hello" absolutely NOTHING!! She is very monotone and just rude!! Not the atmosphere I want my kids in!! My daughter has been bullied this school year and absoliutely NOTHING has been done about that!! Nothing from her teacher or principal!! How is she supposed to focus on school when she is constantly bullied and doesn't feel safe in class? Not only that but who can she turn to if NOONE does anything about it? Oh well... its because the bully has family that works at the school. I will be homeschooling my kids this next year because this has got to be the worst school I have ever seen....
--Submitted by a parent

Freedom Park is a great school. One thing the parents complain about is the fact that the school is overcrowded. It is overcrowded because that is what you all wanted. The school was not designed or structured for middle school age students. You same military folk complained and begged for your children to be able to continue middle school at this same school. After your whinning and complaining, the board of education granted your wish. Now you complain about the school is too small. What did you think ~ the building was going to automatially expand?
--Submitted by a teacher

My son has been in the process of seeing if he can get an IEP so he can get the help he needs. It's been a year and a half now and still nothing. My son is failing and the school is doing it. My other son has a teacher that cusses at her students if they don't turn homework in. This is the worst school my kids have ever been to. You would think with military kids going to this school they would have a school that will want to help the children succeed. Also they have a letter saying if your kids are sick DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL so when my kids are to sick I keep them home like a good parent would. Now There complaining they have to many unexcused absents. I hate this school and my kids do to. They will not be going back next year. I think our military kids deserve better!
--Submitted by a parent

my kids have been going to this school for almost 2 years now and like most other parents i have to agree. this school is not to the standard of the type of schools that i attended. the teachers are not willing to help the student. as for school lunch i had to submit for reduced lunch 4 times before i could get approved. at the beginning of the year i was told that i would not have to re-apply for reduced lunch but come to find out that i did. these people lost my paperwork 3 times, hence 4 time to re-apply for lunch. the teachers requested a conference and set a time for it but when my wife and i went at the time that was scheduled we were waiting for an hour before we decided to leave. the unexcused absences are another thing. sick children should not have to go to school just to be sent home 30 minutes later.in all this school is not what i would like to have learned in if i were a kid attending school.
--Submitted by a parent

Never recieved a code of conduct book or dress code. Every day they are demanding more from the parents. There is violence in the school and the principal will not do anything about it. The children are out of control. I will not send my son back!
--Submitted by a parent

We have been very happy with this school. My 3 children have had no trouble with kids, that of course is every mothers worry. Teachers are a little hard but I would rather have them in control of the students, so I am fine with it. I would not send them any place else but here.
--Submitted by a parent

Where do I start? First of all my son is 8 and is in the third grade. When we registered him they didn't have him in a class room. They didn't pass out the code of conduct book until a month affter school started. He has had 6 different teachers in ONE YEAR. With having so many teachers he has been going over the same stuff in class. They are always handing out flyers late. When they were switching teachers non of them had a meet and greet. Actually, we hardly hear about any events that are going on with the school. When we applied for reduced lunches we didn't find out until a month after that we qualified. Then when we had to get his school supplies he had to turn them into the teacher. I haven't seen anything except a few things out of the 30 item list.
--Submitted by a parent