Cumberland Elementary School

This school has good students, well prepared by parents at home. However, most of the teachers are not high quality. The teachers can do whatever they want, there is nothing you can do to fix things, the school is run like a dictatorship, because they know they get good test scores based on parents' work, so why would they care about what the parents have to say? Parents suggestions are rejected. Parents I talked to say you need to go through this school to go to Happy Hollow Elementary in grade 4th, which is supposed to be better. Hopefully. Overall, not a good school at all, but you can certainly be sure your child will be surrounded by children of parents who value education, and I think that is good motivation to go to this school and put up with some annoying, (and some borderline abusive), incompetent teachers. Also, the secretary is extremely rude and unfriendly.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved here specifically so that our children could attend such a challenging and amazing school. My daughter is getting a private school education at a public school and to me that is priceless. She is in 1st grade and has spelling words like "capacity" and "relinquish". I love that she is being challenged and she is doing amazing! The principal is VERY involved and takes parent concerns very seriously. The teachers are excellent and I also love how involved the parents are. This school is so amazing because of the MANY parent volunteers. Education starts at home!
--Submitted by a parent

The school has diversity related issues. Most of the teachers are mediocre. The school is clique even at the elementary school level, which is driven by the snobbish and elitist attitudes of the parents. Academic program is weak. The high scores are mostly due to the extracurricular paid tutoring that the parents provide for the children.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a 2 children at Cumberland. Although the test scores are good, how could they not be? A large portion of the students parents are professors or otherwise affiliated with Purdue University. There are no lower income areas in town. (Scores at the school near Indiana University, Childs Elem. are quite a bit higher for comparison.) The school principal and teachers are not too interested in parent involvement or viewpoints. The constant response is ''''this is how we do it.' I think the school is riding on their laurels in the form of test scores. Recess is not generally taken in my kids class. Their is little emphasis on science, etc. Not very creative and is very controlled and strict, even for kindergarteners. All parents I have spoken to in my childrens class have related viewpoints.
--Submitted by a parent

New to the school system and very impressed. The teachers communicate with the parents on the progress of the student and involve the parents on every aspect of the student's development. Excellent academic programs and extracurricular activities.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent School System with inner level teaching to meet the needs of all students. Music and art rate high in the daily program; with good opportunities for extracurricular language and other studies. Parents are welcome to be involved at whatever level possible; the more, the better!
--Submitted by Barb Mansfield, a parent

Excellent quality of academic programs, great parent involvement, small classes, outstanding music program for young children.
--Submitted by Lisa Cross, a parent

This school has an above average academic program. Lots of extracurricular activities. And a high level of parent involvement.
--Submitted by a parent

West Lafayette Schools are among the highest rated in the state for academic performance and state testing. It offers the only orchestra program in the area beginning in the forth grade. New advanced placement courses are to be added over the next couple years in the high school. The school has a very active parent participation and involvement in many areas of the school curriculum, new administration hiring to building assessments. Parents are often invited to join task forces and committees to contribute to the continued improvement of the school. Yes, parents do contribute a great deal to the success of the students, along with excellent teachers, staff and community.
--Submitted by a parent