Lester B Sommer Elementary School

This is my sons fourth year at Sommer, and my husband and I are very pleased with and thankful for the teaches there. When we have had problems, they have all been addressed and solved with both parties having to give a little. As for racial slurs, I have heard of it happening, and maybe the children should be taught better at home(teachers can't hear everything), and as for my children they can and will speak up in anyones defense if someone is being treated unfairly..I love this school and every teacher that we have had the pleasure of coming in contact with. Jessica L Fidler
--Submitted by a parent

I too have been effected by Sommer's racial slurs with my child. It is not the staff saying words it is the children that attend. These children run around saying things to one another and the staff does nothing about it! The academics are not challenging what so ever. I feel sorry for the parents that are ok with this school because their children are going to have such trouble academically when they get into College. So for the parent that has a child that can not believe this happens, I am sorry but you might want to believe it or be thankful it doesn't happen to your child! I would never recommend this school to anyone that moves into this area. I would of never moved into this area if I would of known how this school was. The principal needs to be removed and staff changed!
--Submitted by a parent

I have 1 grandchild that attends Sommer now and one that has moved on to middle school, both have ADHD the one still there has Autism I am very pleased with the staff, He has a fantastic support group. If one of his teachers wasn't versed in ASD they went to training,read books and became very versed in Autism, Sommer is a great school.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been in this school since Kindergarten and he is in 2nd grade now. We moved out of the Sommer district, where he should attend Sugar Creek Elem, but we loved Sommer so much that it is worth it to me to drive him out to a friends house to get on the bus there so he can still go to Sommer, and I work on the north side of Indy. My son is also half Mexican and as for the racial allegations that the parent before me said that had been made to her child, with no action taken...well I find this very hard to believe. As far as the academics go, if your child is not being challenged then maybe you should ask the teacher to challenge them more by asking for more advanced work, I did this with my son and it has worked out great!
--Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend this school to anyone. We moved to this area a year and a half ago and was the worst mistake that we possibly could of made. Do not read about this school on the internet because everything is untrue! There has been a lot of racial remarks that have been made and the teachers and staff do nothing about it. The teachers, staff and superintendent have been nothing but rude and there is no communication what so ever. The academics at this school I believe are 2 years behind. My son who is in 3rd grade is bringing home homework that still has 2-1= on it. I am so disappointed and very hurt. This school needs to be investigated. There is no open door policy for this school when you have problems. There is no problem solving issues either. Principal and staff are no help.
--Submitted by a parent

There was a great lack of communication. We felt the principal and some of the teachers were harsh and difficult to deal with. We would not recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

A very caring school. The staff genuinely cares about the students. The special services teacher is outstanding and makes the children feel a high level of self esteem. Students take pride in attending this school. There are many family activities including free family movie nights and a pancake breakfast free to the public every spring. There are different incentives to do well including Reading Counts which allows students to earn a 'secret fieldtrip' and earn small prizes.
--Submitted by a parent