Midvale Elementary School

Midvale is a great school, great community with an active PTA. If the previous reviewer had issues it may be a "needle in the haystack". I suggest that parent talk to her daughters teachers, the principal and other parents. The students no longer change classes because studies show it is better they don't and it was the TEACHERS that asked for this. For my son, this is a god send, he performs and learns far more by not changing classes. It is certainly not a matter of being lazy. We have been at Midvale for 6 years and have enjoyed it. Never heard of food issues. Midvale is a benefit to our neighborhood!! My son loves it!
—Submitted by a parent

Currently, my child attends this school. I find that everyday, after she comes home from school, that she learned nothing. Not only that, she complains to me money on how she finds burgers, hair, bugs, and other things on her food. Not only that, recently I find that she is saying curse words very often. Not only are her grades declining rapidly, but her behavior is changing too. Not one of her teachers are contacting me, and just recently, I found out that she isn't even switching classes throughout the day! When I asked her about it, she tells me that the teachers were just to lazy! This school is a terrible environment for my child. Doesn't the PTA do anything about this?
—Submitted by a parent

Basing the rating solely on test scores does a disservice to this excellent school and its staff. Income levels and neighborhoods have much to do with the difference in ratings between Midvale and Livsey. I had kids at both schools, and our experience at Midvale was much more positive than with Livsey. Livsey's advantage is a very small student population and zero apartments in the school attendance zone. Midvale has great teachers, rigorous curriculum and expectations, and also a more diverse population. Kids who do wll at Midvale benefit from exposure to other income brackets, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and acceptance of differences. Midvale faculty and staff are more flexible and adept at understanding and accomodating differences than Livsey in my experience.
—Submitted by a parent

Midvale is such a wonderful, comforting, homely environment. They show obvious care in the education of my son good parent contact, open-door policy for talking with teachers and the principal, energetic, creative.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Midvale because it has a warm and caring environment. The teachers are wonderful. The IB program has been a great learning tool for my children.
—Submitted by a parent

because one of my favorite little guys goes to school there!

Midvale is a great I.B. Public School - great faculty/staff that care about the education of my child!
—Submitted by a parent

I disagree with a previous review that states that Midvale strives for simply meeting government benchmarks. My experience has been that they strive to give every child a life-long love of learning through the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. Midvale's teachers always strive to bring out the best performance from each child, and they are truly able to individualize classes for each child's needs to maximize their potential. They use ability grouping in all grade levels to ensure that kids who are 'high achievers' can get their needs met while those who struggle with a subject can get more help. My kids have had positive experiences each year at Midvale. Highly recommended!
—Submitted by a parent

Midvale is the epitome of a classic neighborhood elementary school. It's in the middle of a great set of neighborhoods, and many families walk and bike to school. It has fully incorporated the IB learning style, which permeates every aspect of the student experience - they are learning to be positive world citizens in addition to learning the standard stuff. Children at Midvale are also learning at a very high level academically, while welcoming everyone. The experience our children have with special ed, foreign language speakers, and everyone else is invaluable. The principal has an open-door policy, so come see for yourself!!
—Submitted by a parent

No one tries harder than Midvale, but what they're trying for at this school is strictly meeting government benchmarks. The entire school staff is on board with the 'soldiers marching toward excellence' theme of NCLB. The federal government would be proud. My two girls have had vastly different experiences at Midvale, and what you'd think would be uniformity has not been our experience. My older girl, here since K and now a 5th grader, is an above average student who lacks ambition. The teachers mean well but they do not actually help her with this. The teachers instill no incentives, are often frustrated, and are also absent frequently. My younger child is thriving here. So far.
—Submitted by a parent

Midvale is a nice neighoborhood school, with the feel of 'yesteryear'. The Administration and front office are extremely friendly and proud of their school. The teachers are okay, but focus primarily on 'teaching to the test'. The diversity of the school is great, but elimination of recess and creative time are a major drawback.
—Submitted by a parent

Tons of Parental Involvement. Teachers are willing to go the extra mile for their students. Many Special Education programs which add to the loving environment.
—Submitted by a parent