Tri-C Elementary K-4 Grade School

I love Tri-C and even more my daughter loves this school and I think there is a good balance of curriculum and fun learning but I must say as far as reading I wish the kindergarten teachers would focus more on phonics and reading. I do not feel that my daughter has gone to first grade very prepared in the reading area. I work with her very hard and read to her constantly yet I feel that the kindergarten teachers fail to prepare her for first grade. I must say that the kindergartners at the Giant City School district almost if not more than most of the first graders at Tri-C and that disturbs me alot. I think the older teachers need to be updated on current phonic and reading so that the kids are up to their level when they come out of kindergarten!
--Submitted by a parent

I had two children that attended Tri C. We had two really great teachers, and two not so great teachers. We had quite a few serious issues with this school, ranging from how a serious accident at school was handled, to the special education program. We chose to remove our children from this school after 1st grade. The overall attitude of staff is very poor. I will say that our son, who is a model student, faired well here, and is ahead (academically)of many of the children at their new school. My daughter is thriving and learning at the new school as she never did at Tri C. I personally did not experience at all a welcoming toward parents who wanted to be involved. I was as involved as I could be, but never once felt it was at all appreciated or even wanted.
--Submitted by a parent

my son & daughter went to unity point and there grades were arverage since going to tri-c they grown leaps and bounds with there grades.
--Submitted by a parent

I have four children that have attended or are attending Tri-C. It is a very good school. And while the attendance keeps growing there is still a small town feel in the classroom. My family has been very grateful to attend Tri-C and yes we were transplants. The one downside to Tri-C is it's special education program. Iif you have a special ed child you should consider another school. While the special education program in this area is a county based program, those working at Tri-C fail in providing good services to those special ed kids.
--Submitted by a parent

My son goes to Tri-C, Mrs. Blythe's class (Kindergarten) and he absolutely loves the school, his teachers, etc. We have had such a great experience with the school in general.
--Submitted by a parent

I think that, depending on your status in the community, the office workers could come across as professional and courteous. To those parents who aren't well known 'doctors, lawyers, and professionals', an experience in the office is quite different.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very disheartened to know that some people would feel that the office staff is in a subservient role. I have found the ladies to be very professional, courteous, and helpful in the worst of times. I think this attitude comes from parents not getting the teacher of their choosing or not wanting to follow the rules and guidelines of the school and building. Furthermore, while I agree that small town politics play a role in the hiring of teachers, I find it disturbing that the whole town would be compared to the seemingly simple-mindedness of the Clampetts. Our community is made up of a plethera of diversity such as lawyers, doctors, professors, professionals and laborers to name a few. Maybe a person who compares individuals such as the afore mentioned to the seemingly simple-mindedness of the Clampetts should seek to educate their children in a more appealing community.
--Submitted by a parent

We lived in Harrisburg and came to Tri-C last year. My daughter Was in 1st grade and they wern't working on reading much in K in Harrisburg. Mrs. Davidson and the Reading recovery program took her from a leval 0 to a 21. I have to give them all the props in the world for that! I haven't had a bad experience here at all. And the office staff has always seemed nice to me. I feel they do push the kids a little bit. The Kids love the school and I wouldn't take them out of it. Anywhere you go you will have teachers ' picking favorites ' it's expected that some just get closer to some kids. I don't believe that any child is left out so to speak , because of that.
--Submitted by a parent

I have read the reviews posted on this site with sadness and trepidation. I believe many parents of Tri-C students feel much differently about the school and the community than the opinions of some who believe this is a 'small town mentality'. Compared to Carbondale and Unity Point, Tri-C does not have the sports, arts and music programs that they do. We chose Carterville because it did not have the masses in the classroom or in the school. The Tri-C area is expanding and progressing each year. More parental involvement in the PTO and the classrooms are encouraged, the next step is ours as parents. I also believe we need more positive reviews on this site-not all residential transplants dislike the school or the staff.

I have to agree on some of the small town mentality that goes on here. The front office people are definitely either ill-equipped to handle their job or incompetent. There are some very good and professional teachers at the school, which is a plus. There are times though where the people who are in really subservient type roles (such as the afore mentioned front office workers) really think that they are more important than they are and it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of visitors. I think the hiring process for teachers at the school is also poor at times; it is typical small town politics as far as the hiring process goes. What can you expect from people one step above Clampett's though? It is average, through and through.
--Submitted by a parent