Mill Creek Elementary School

We have been in Mill Creek for 7 years now with one child finishing 6th grade and one just starting, I have read the reviews of obviously some angry parents, but does not show the truth about our school at all, parent involvment is amazing and children are great, we have a few teachers that could retire even though they are still good and some incredible new teachers. If this school is as bad as some of the reviewers said before, I'd like to know why is it that we have so many transfers, everybody want to come to Mill Creek, I can only immagine that the reviews were done to stop the transfers? All the issues were always taken care of immediately and teachers really care. A bit less of homework would be great though. And for all schools I'd like to see letting small children learn at their own pace rather than pushing 5 years old kids to know as much as a 7 years old just because they were hold back and are in the same grade.
--Submitted by a parent

Two of my children have attended K-6 here and we have been very happy with Mill Creek. In my experience, the teachers and administration have been on top of problems. The sense of community at the school is outstanding - there are lots of excellent activities so that the whole family feels a part of the school. We have had excellent young teachers, as well as "seasoned" teachers. I hope statewide budget cutting doesn't affect the quality of teachers too much.
--Submitted by a parent

There IS a lot of bullying and not always by the other students. It wasn't always like that. There has been quite a lot of staff and teacher turnover in the past few years. Whether because of budget cuts and the economy or for the fact that there has been so much change in the past few years at the school, the teachers seem disgruntled, discouraged and downright angry at times. Our lives revolve around the school and working hard to help our kids make it work. My kids are very intelligent and test well, so it shouldn't be this hard for them. Homework is excessive. After being at school for seven hours, young children need to play and have family time. Our evenings are spent helping our kids calm down, do their homework, eat, bathe and go to bed. We are stressed out by this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Bullying is indeed an ignored problem at Mill Creek. I went so far as to talk with an Assistant Superintendent, who told me a transfer for my child was a good idea. The principal was no help and did not follow through with the corrective action that he mandated for the guilty students. For a school with high academic standards, standards for social skills of the students and staff are far below what I would consider normal.
--Submitted by a parent

Some of the worst bullying happens here and the teachers do absolutely nothing when they see it, or else they're completely oblivious. Kids are afraid to tell on their peers, so it's the teachers' job to notice this nonsense and put an end to it. It is true that they focus on the exceptional kids and rather ignore the average ones. That's true with most Shawnee Mission schools, though. Teachers are there for the paychecks. That said, the curriculum is better than most.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school! We left a very expensive private school to come here and couldn't be more pleased! Parents are very involved and the atmosphere is very welcoming.
--Submitted by a parent

It's absolutely untrue that the focus at Mill Creek is on exceptional students, while average students are overlooked - as stated by another reviewer. In this age of No Child Left Behind, there is probably a bit too much emphasis on test-taking, but the staff work very hard to make sure all students meet the school's high standards. Also, the school has dozens of library and classroom computers, plus portable laptops and all sorts of other technology. Do kindergarteners and 1st graders really need their own laptops? 'New' does not equal excellent. Mill Creek staff are dedicated and top-notch. My average kids get lots of personal attention and are thriving at this school. Rock on, Mustangs! ....
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 kids at Mill Creek and another who will be there soon. I wish I could say that I have seen the 'WOW' factor that so many parents talk about regarding this school but frankly, I have not. At Mill Creek the focus lies on exceptional students and those that are average, get overlooked. Parent participation at this school is excellent and I believe that this is why Mill Creek has such an excellent reputation. I think many of the staff members are not in education for the sheer love of it but rather for the paycheck. The school itself is outdated. While many schools around the country now offer laptop computers to each and every student, Mill Creek is still asking parents to provide the absolute basics such as tissues and computer wipes. Sad.
--Submitted by a parent

Mill Creek Elementary is one of the finest schools in the Shawnee Mission School District. It is a 'Blue Ribbon' school for No Child Left Behind and maintains high test ratings every year! As a mother of a special needs child, and two that are not, I can honestly say that I would not want any of my children to attend any other school. The staff in the learning center has won numerous awards and the para-professionals work closely with each student to enhance their educational experience. The PTA is exceptional. Membership of parents and staff is at 100% every year! There are many activities, in school and after school, for students to get involved including music and sports. It is easy for me to say that being a parent of children who attend Mill Creek Elementary is an outstanding experience!
--Submitted by a parent