Harrison Elementary School

We have been at Harrison since my daughter was in first grade. Thank you, thank you Harrison Elementary! This school has the best teachers, the best office staff, the best paraeducators and an awesome TAG program! The Principal, Mr. Green who retired in 2010 was very focused on higher education. The new Principal is a fantastic replacement. Your kids will only grow and improve in many ways at Harrison. Also, they do not put up with any trouble makers in the classroom! There is a great amount of parent involvement as well with the PTA program that gets it done!
--Submitted by a parent

My child attended Harrison for one year and I do agree that there are some good teachers there. The only drawback that another parent has noted as well ,is that I do not believe that they not proficient in the areas of special education(ie IEP). I come from a DoD(military) environment, so I'm used to those special educators staying in constantly contact with me concerning meetings and updates concerning my child. My child has an IEP, yet we did not have an end of year meeting informing me how my child was doing before going into the 6th grade at a different school. Now it's time to register again and I have no current copy of an IEP.
--Submitted by a parent

As a Active Duty military member and a growing up as a military kid I have dealt with a lot of schools. Harrison does very well academically and have proven themselves good at core teaching skills. Administratively Harrison has a number of issues. Harrison Administrative Staff seem surprised that I don't intuitively know all school rules or how Harrison operates. When I question anything I get a distinct impression that I have insulted everyone around by asking. Sorry, I'm an interested and involved parent, I will ask every question I can think of and Yes I expect you to answer in a professional manner. I know my wife has volunterred numerous times and if she gets a request to help she will only find out mere hours before help needed. Don't get me wrong, Harrison a good academic school that treats kids very well. Just needs to improve 'adult-to-adult' interaction.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been nothing but pleased about things I hear and see going on in this school. I would have to disagree about this school being parent unfriendly. I have been invited in more than once this school year to my child's room, have taken advantage of special persons day, and before and after school activities. The teachers seem well educated and my child has nothing but good things to share about her day.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children at this school. I agree with the other raters. Academically this school gets an A +. The TAG program is not adequately staffed. For the most part the teachers are very good though some do need to retire. I like Mr. Green, the principal. I also agree that the teachers do not want you in their school. If you want in, you had better get involved in the PTA or do PRN as a paraprofessional. We do like Harrison and so do our kids. I have found that they lack the knowledge in the area of special ed/behavior educ. The teachers are willing to learn. Resource teachers lack in interpersonal skills. -involved parent
--Submitted by a parent

I have had a consistently great experience with my children's teachers at this school. That being said, the office staff, para-educators, and most especially the principal are the most parent-unfriendly I have ever encountered (and we've been to several schools). Be prepared to be disprespected, condescended to and generally dismissed in any dealings you have with the staff at this school. I have talked to many, many other parents about this problem, and I have never met any parent who had good things to say about the staff (not the teachers) or the administration at Harrison. It's maddening and insulting to be asked to bring a doctor's note to 'prove' where your child was when you sign him in (even if it's their first absence ever!) or to be told that your kindergartener was placed in detention for 'pretending to take tickets' at the top of the playground slide. Please.
--Submitted by a parent

Harrison has it's share of good teachers and its share of a couple of older teachers that need to retire! However, they consistently strive for high academic scores and tend to overwhelm kids with homework at times which is also not fair all the time. However this is an excellent school with mostly all good kids and there is no tolerance for fighting or anything else at this school, Mr. Green is a very good Principal.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been somewhat irritated at how little the teachers will actually 'allow' parents into the classrooms to help. I basically begged my daughters 2nd grade teacher last year to let me help in the classroom and she wouldn't let me. I think in general the teachers don't want the parents to come into their classrooms. I am also not very happy with some of the rules- no talking for half of lunch. If someone on your table talks, your whole table stays in for a little bit of lunch recess. How about using a natural consequence?- You don't eat, you are hungry. Another rule I'm not thrilled about is the whole no running outside rule except on the grass. I just think we need to realize that kids are kids. They are supposed to get bumps and bruises- that's part of being a kid.
--Submitted by Becky, a parent

I take my daughter to school every morning - she's a kindergartner. Let me just say that when that school bell rings at 9am, those kids start jumping up and down with enthusiasm. It is a sight to behold and I look forward to it in the mornings. My daughter enjoys school, loves her teacher and her schoolmates. They also have an after school program called Stepping Stones that runs to 5:30pm that is absolutely fantastic. I feel that I leave my daughter in very capable hands.
--Submitted by Lily B., a parent

Great school. very nice students and teachers. Always helpful.
--Submitted by Harrison Bell, a former student