Admiral Chester W Nimitz Elementary School

I really like this school a lot! It is a bit on the stricter side, but we've had such wonderful experiences with the teachers! My oldest has been there for 3 years and my middle has been there for 2 and they've been nothing but helpful and giving. I make sure that there is ongoing, open communication and they've always been great about it. Not a huge fan of the lunch room policies, (quiet time at the end of lunch, instead of going out and playing) but they really put a lot of effort into the students learning! And they take safety very seriously! Bulling is strictly dealt with!! As for the parent who's mad about the base gate being locked, that's the base securities fault, not the school's; they have no control over that! Btw, one of my kids has a learning issue and his teacher has been a saint about helping him succeed!!! To be fair, I have heard some negative things about a few teachers, but by far and away, most of the teachers there are awesome and willing to work with you!
—Submitted by a parent

I was very disappointed with the staff at this school. My student normally excels and thrives in school. This year he was very unhappy with his teacher, saying the teacher yelled at the students, etc. We had problems with the teacher not letting my student use the bathroom on two occasions. The first occasion he was crying to me when I picked him up because he was in pain. I went to the principal twice about this. I felt like I was brushed off. Then my student told me the teacher scolded him in front of the class, telling him to stop telling his mom that she wouldn't let him use the bathroom, because it wasn't true. Since when are teachers telling students to keep secrets from their parents? Since when is ridculing a student acceptable? After another visit with the principal, I had no option but to pull him out and homeschool. The staff seemed to protect each other and dismiss my issues, saying that kids exaggerate, etc. I asked to have him moved to another class and was denied. So I pulled him out that day. The only person who apologized very sympathetically was the front office ladies. Homeschooling has already restored my son's love for learning, and he is thriving again.
—Submitted by a parent

Rating this school with a star will undermine the rating system itself. The principle has received an award for several years in a row, which lets you know that the other schools are far worse when it comes to education. There aren't any gifted & talented programs offered by the school, although they make the claim to offer the language arts side of the program. Your child is guarenteed to spend time wandering the school grounds as "office aids" at some random time in the year, without a true explanation of why the children are subjected to missing instructional time while there is an office full of paid employees. If you are a parent that is accustomed to playing an active role in your child's education and are expecting teacher's to do their job and teach vice facilitate, you will quickly understand that this is not the school for you, unless you don't mind being frustrated and constantly being in the principle's face, to which nothing will really be rectified. So with that said, Nimitz just happens to be the best school on this side of the island. I'm sure that there are some good teachers there, we just haven't met them yet. I could but on, but I am out of space & 6 months in.
—Submitted by a parent

I had high hopes for this school because of the reviews, but between the problems getting a guard to actually open the gate on time (creating a situation where children are locked off base), getting the school to actually provide a nurse for my diabetic child, & all kinds of other communication problems (ex. letting the kids handle military guns on career day & not hiring my kid's teacher until the first day of kindergarten), after less than four months we put in a housing request to move & are looking into private school & homeschooling options.
—Submitted by a parent

The school also welcomed my children wih open hearts and arms. The biggest problem with this school is faculty guidance. I am disappointed in the way some of the teachers do not speak to the student when a problem arises. Tend to be very quick to go by hear-say and when a child does try to defend him/her self it is considered back talk. Be sure to never be late on the lunch payment or your child will get to sit at a table alone with bread and water. A form of degration and humiliation in my book. Another favorite form of discipline is to stand the child against the back wall of the cafeteria for speaking during lunch time. Though this is chosen on a "how do I feel today"mood by the attending teacher that has cafeteria watch. On the good side there are some exceptional teachers there! I wish I could name a few but when you get one you will know it pretty quickly as they all show their true colors pretty quickly. My only advice is don't let them push you around if you have to complain about a teacher or other faculty member as they seem to stick together whether that person was around or not. Aloha!
—Submitted by a parent

my son has learning disabilities that this school absolutely refused to recognize and wanted to force my son to be retested to prove he needed extra help. The teacher even went so far as to insult his kindergarten teacher who had helped get him tested the previous year! the first grade teacher refused to listen to me, and then when she had issues with my son spent two months making him cry on a a regular basis. She then would yell at the parents of her students as if we were children, based on my experience with the school at the beginning of the year when i tried to get my sons disabilities recognized and helped i decided to just pull him and home school him. He is doing much better now and we hope to get a pass to get him to Mokulele Elementary, which i have heard is much better. my son was not the only one with this issue. if you have a special needs child avoid this school like the plaque!
—Submitted by a parent

We are new military family and my kids (7 & 11) were accepted with open hearts. I love the staff, the principal, the A+ after care program, the nurse, the PTO, lunchroom staff...EVERYONE was always available, supportive & caring. My "haole" kids got more than they gave.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an outstanding school, the best overall school in the Hickam community. Mr. Lee (Principal) is very down to earth and always looks out for his students best interest. The teachers do a superb job and always kept us abreast on our childrens progress. This school is more in tune with the local traditions and island history. Our kids miss this school.
—Submitted by a parent

IEP process was slow and arduous. Teachers and staff alike were unprepared for my child's specific learning disability. Staff was unsupportive in the formation of an adequate IEP program and presented many obstacles to a free and equal education.
—Submitted by a parent

Out of the 3 schools in Hickam, Nimitz is more student oriented. The teacher/pupil ratio is very low and they kids are actually learning. My daughter is now in 2nd grade, she started K at Nimitz and so far I have loved every teacher she was in. They encouraged kids to think and actually not only book smart but also life smart. The principal, v-principal and the whole staff are very friendly, yet professional and strict to the kids. They also encourage parent involvement throughout the year. We are leaving this year and I'm hoping that my daughter will get the same level of education as what she gets from Nimitz. Thanks and keep up the good work.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, because of my schedule; I have not volunteered at the school. I realize by not volunteering, I leave many of the decisions in the hands of others. My child attended an IB school in CO prior to moving here. Her homework at Nimitz was right on track with higher learning. She is challenged and her teacher is very involved in her progress. The one thing that stands out is the lack of playground equipment. A school this size should have more for the children to do at recess. I am unaware of any after-school sporting opportunities.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. I live in Waianae and did not want my daughter to go to school there. I had a hard time getting a district exception for her to start kindergarten, because none of the schools would help me. The person I talked to on the phone at Nimitz tried her best to help me - she gave several phone numbers to call for info about the
—Submitted by Mary Naweli, a parent

This was our first experience with a school. Overall I was pretty happy with it. The reading program for kindergartners changed while we were there and I wasn't happy with the new program. My oldest son was in kindergarten with the old program and he learned to read better than my middle son who used the new program. Other than that though, I have no complaints.
—Submitted by a parent

Nimitz has been an excellent learning place for both of our children. Our son has attended 3 years and our daughter 2. Our son is in 2nd grade and reading at a 5th grade level. Our daughter is in 1st and reading at a 4th grade level. The staff is warm, positive, supportive, patient, caring, professional and communicative. I will admit our skepticism upon our arrival as all of the information and experiences we seemed to hear reflected only a negative light on Hawaii schools. The primary years are the most important and the Nimitz faculty and volunteers really put their best foot forward, their heart into what they have chosen to do and - ABOVE ALL - put the children and their needs first. There is a reason they are a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School! Thank you for preparing our children adequately for their future in education and life!
—Submitted by Mitchell & Vanya Malmstead, a parent

I don't know about the previous parent's review but I agree with the other two parents. The school is willing to work with me about my children's education. As with any school K-12 the parent has to also take initiative in their kids education. So far my children are excelling and I have identified their weaknesses and are helping them at home. As far as I am concerned, the teachers are doing a good job in teaching my kids. Now it's my job to enforce what they are being taught. To do this the teachers have meetings with me and go through their syllabus and their teaching method, I find this to be beneficial to me and my children.
—Submitted by Jerry Jaime, a parent

What a horrible School. I do not know what the other parents are thinking. I had to pull my son out because the principle and teachers were more concerned with their careers, egos and personal interests than the education of my child. This school feeds the stereotype of poor Hawaiian schools for military members. Do not send your child here!
—Submitted by a parent

We love Nimitz Elemantary! My son goes to kindergarten at Nimitz and we have has a very positive experience. I feel he has been very well prepared for 1st grade he is confident and become quite self sufficient. The teachers are warm and approachable as well as the principal and vice principal. Nimitz is very family oriented and there are a lot of opprotunities to get involved. We really like this school.
—Submitted by Heather Levesque, a parent

I think this is a wonderful school. Before the first half of the year was over my daughter in kindergarten was reading books with sentences.
—Submitted by a parent