Elm Street School-East Machias

I agree that most of the teachers are great. I also agree that I feel uncomfortable going into the office and hearing the secretary and parent (s) talking about personal life. I should be able to walk into the office and not see parents lounging in the office. No other school allows this or should. Go in and handle your business and get out. What are we paying the secretary to sit and gossip or socialize. I just don't see any real growth in the school year to year.
--Submitted by a parent

Something needs to change at this school. Many of the teachers are fantastic but the school prinicipal is a dub. Why are the scores so low? Just last week I went into the office to ask a question. A parent ran out of the office crying and slammed the door open. The school secretary ran after her. This female is a parent and the school secretary sit and have inappropriate conversations for hours. Parents are discusted and even hate to go into the office and ask questions because one parent hangs out in the office. Keep your personal life out of our kids school and school office. Be professionals!
--Submitted by a parent

Our children have done very well after leaving a local school that we did not feel was preparing or challenging them. Elm Street School offers a family like environment with emphasis on respect and expectations. We have a very strong parent / teacher group, teacher,staff, community and principal involvement - a true concern for education is evident while still offering many extracurricular activities - we have a great art and music program and a gifted and talented program for both academics and art. We are so happy with our decision to attend Elm Street School.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have all received a fine education at Elm Street School which has prepared them for high school and beyond. The art and music programs are top notch and the entire staff(teachers, custodians, bus drivers etc) has a sincere love of children. I would not want my children to attend any where else.
--Submitted by a parent

Elm Street School is pretty good by public school standards and if your child is about average and you as parents lean toward conservativism and christianity, it is probably a wonderful place. The teachers and administration don't seem to have any idea how to handle out of the ordinary children. Many gifted children show deficiencies in other areas, but Elm St. has no mechanism to identify brilliant children who get bad grades and don't show any desire to explore that area. Also, the cafeteria serves things like chocolate donuts for breakfast and other junk food with (and for) lunch. The Farm to School program is a hopeful sign, but has yet to really take hold in the school culture.
--Submitted by a parent

Elm Street School has been a great place for our kids, kindergarten through fourth grade. The music and art programs are especially strong. The principal is excellent, and encourages an atmosphere where the children feel comfortable and learning can take place. The eighth graders scored highest in the state on standardized testing last year.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been very impressed with the quality and dedication of teachers and administration and especially appreciate the amount of focus put on creating a strong community which includes family partnership with the school. The school works very hard to support the parents who work hard in creating after school and social events to bring the community into the school and take the school into the community. Boy and girl scouts occur at school, there's an excellent art program, varied sports, spanish even in Kindergarten, tons of weekend events and an excellent after-school tutoring program. In addition to getting very individualized educational instruction, my children, husband and I feel we are part of a community dedicated to raising a generation of children who feel they belong and are responsible for creating the kind of community they want. I couldn't ask for more.
--Submitted by a parent