Mountain Park Elementary School

Overall we have had a good experience. Great teachers and responsive admin. We wish the bright kids could be challenged more in class or be grouped together. Also, wish more parents took responsibility for educating their children.
—Submitted by a parent

I just finished my 8th year at MPE with two more years left. I love MPE and have volunteered for many years in the classroom and with the PTA. My three children have received a strong, well-prepared, and well-rounded education. The Principal, Ms. Stacy Perlman and Assistant Principal, Ms. Mary Ellen Robson, are dedicated, involved & engaged with the students and with school activities. There is never a day when your child will not be greeted with a smile and by name from each. The PTA volunteers are passionate and hard-working. They may seem cliquish, but that s because they are focused on helping the school-please volunteer! On a final note, Ms. Perlman asked the 5th graders to write thoughts about leaving MPE this year. My daughter wrote the following: What is the best thing about MPE? The friends we all share and laugh together with. What is your advice for your teachers and principals? Our 5th grade year has constructed and changed our behavior toward education and we will remember that thanks to you. What is your advice for younger students? Focus on your goals so you may achieve confidence in time and live to your potential. Yes, MPE is a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

Mountain Park Elementary provides not only stellar education, but also a community of caring people as well. Recently our daughter experienced a difficult injury and the entire staff rallied to support her and provide the best support possible. She was provided with home teaching that actually enabled her to get ahead! They've never given me a hard time about taking her out of school for the subsequent doctors appts and therapy. MPES understands that her health is our first priority, her spirits my second. They provides excellent education, care and supoprt to our community.
—Submitted by a parent

Most of the families in Mt. Park community live in 1980's. These people are so behind the world. They are concentrated on scores without teaching their kids real values. Don't come to this school as there is nothing to give to your child here other than training him to pass the tests. Some teachers are not professional at all.
—Submitted by a parent

Mountain Park Elementary has always had a stellar reputation in Fulton County. That reputation has only improved under the current leadership. Of course test scores are important and those scores are why most parents in this community choose/chose that school. If anyone denies that, then he/she is not being honest. I am honored to be associated with Mountain Park Elementary. In my opinion, everything "seems" to be working just as we would hope.

This school has both good and bad teachers. The reality is that the administration and teachers seam to focus only on test scores. They put lots of priorities on money, money, money, how to keep it and how to get more. We have been lied to, we have not been given answers to questions and had teachers telling us to put our child on drugs. Watch this school carefully and talk to lots of other parents about it.
—Submitted by a parent

Mountain Park Elementary has been a wonderful experience for my two children from K through 5th grade. The teachers were excellent and had very high expectations. The current leadership in place is outstanding and is setting even more challenging goals for Mountain Park. Anytime we had an issue of concern, the teachers and administration took care of the situation immediately. Mountain Park is truly a great all around school.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to be in this school district after a dismal experience at a Cobb County private school two years ago. Overall, we are very pleased with Mountain Park Elementary, as an academic institution and as an active part of the communities and neighborhoods that feed it. I am a person of color and have felt no ostracization whatsoever. I volunteer from time to time, and though I do not socialize in these "cliques" (which I see as groupings based on familiarity through volunteering), I do not feel like an outsider. Most importantly, my children are getting what they need from their school.
—Submitted by a parent

Mountain Park is a wonderful learning environment. The school has in place many extra programs to enhance the learning experience beyond the basics. The teachers and staff care about the kids and want every child to do well. The PTA is active and all that is done is for betterment of the school and the kids. It is a very family friendly environment where kids can excel. Parent participation is encouraged at all grade levels. My family and I love this school, the teachers and staff.
—Submitted by a parent

The goal of the management is to get maximum donations and volunteers. All the rest, including children s education, is on private afterschool math and reading programs and parents. It's not a good place for kids who think outside the box, who have seen different cultures. Conformity and mediocrity rule. There is a lot of parent involvement, but the moms are pretty cliquish. Helps to be white and not working. Again, not a horrible place, but not as great as they think they are, either.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to Atlanta and were deciding between the Fulton school district and Tritt Elementary. We landed in the MPE school district and I must say that I agree with previous posts. The school is rated a 10, but is an average school. The parents are VERY cliquish and the teaching is great, as long as your child fits the public student mold. They are very limited in adapting learning styles for different kids and for managing behavior proactively. I would definitely suggest considering other schools though if you land here, your child should be ok.
—Submitted by a parent

Two of my children have attended Mountain Park and we are very happy with the school. There is a small family environment-perfect for elementary age. The school also feeds Crabapple Middle and Roswell High School, at which my children have had FANTASTIC experiences. Mountain Park has strong academics and is geared toward gifted children, but has a strong program in place for on-level children too. My only complaint is that the PTA members (not leaders) can be very cliquish and it can be hard to feel welcome if you don't live in one of the country club neighborhoods.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with previous poster. This school relies on past performance. Nothing to brag about in the past 6 years.
—Submitted by a parent

Great curriculum based school. Some teachers will go above and beyond for some students, others give and get just the bare necessities. Very cliquish parents therefore the children are taught the same. Parent involvement is excellent, however if you have a discrepacy with staff and/or personnel and you are a working parent whose presence is not on a regular basis your concerns are going to be on the back burner until someone feels the need to address them. Not a well rounded school. Great if you're in the 'in crowd'. Over-rated school in more ways than one.
—Submitted by a parent

A great school, but was temporarily spoiled by poor Principal leadership over the past few years. MP was a top ranked school and has slipped in the rankings. My kids now go to a school that will feed into a better middle and high school. Did not want Crabapple Middle School (MP feeder school). MP was a wonderful place to be in their early years and feel they have the academic and social skills to carry on in the future. The staff is wonderful and wish them luck under new leadership starting 2006/07. I find their new school has more to offer in arts and extracurricular. Maybe this has something to do with the Fulton County school system and budgeting. Academics was the strong point and am very happy with what my kids accomplished.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had children at this school for over 8 years. The school is wonderful in every way. Teachers are so caring and there is a high focus on academic success. High parent and student involvement. As a parent, I believe this school is hard to beat...it feels more like a private neighborhood school than a public school.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to Atlanta, and spent a lot of time researching schools to pick which district to move to. We heard so many good things about Mountain Park Elementary, that we chose our neighborhood specifically for the school. All of our expectations have proven to be true. Although the schools is not 'shiny-new', it is an immaculately kept facility, with such a good, happy atmosphere. Both of my children's teachers seem to genuinely care about their progress, and they communicate regularly with the parents. Parental involvement is very high in this school, which helps to make it what it is. The principal, Mr. Brannon seems to know all of the children's names, and greets them regularly, and the children seem to really like and respect him. My children attended a private school, and I would say that Mountain Park is a better school. I am thrilled to have them there.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to the Mountain Park school district seven years ago from another Fulton County school because we'd heard so many wonderful things about this school. The things I had heard were all true; I recommend this school without reservation. With three children, we've had fourteen classroom teachers, as well as five gifted teachers. I've been pleased with each one of them. The new principal this year, Mr. Brannon, is excellent and he has high expectations for staff and for students. There is a high level of parental involvement and the children benefit from it. The Schoolwide Enrichment Model is an innovative program that brings an innovative 'extra' to the curriculum. There is only one 'portable,' which houses two fifth grade classes, and that portable is located less than twenty feet from the building. The only 'downside?' The middle school (Crabapple), but after that there's fantastic Roswell High!
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to the MPE school district because of its reputation. We have been extremely happy with the quality of teachers and parental involvement. Our 1st graders have been challenged and feel loved by their teachers. It is without a doubt a top ten school in the state!
—Submitted by a parent