Bethesda Elementary School

I agree with the foregoing review with an ironic twist. That is that after several years of overwelmed,sometimes first year teachers, the student could need extra help because of lack of instruction. Thirty-eight per cent of the budget in this school goes to special needs children who are mainstreamed. Essentially the class waits while they are helped literally by everyone in the room. They have a helper but that person can't help all of the autistic children in the class at once. So the children and the regular teacher must. After many years of this your child's hope for a good elementary education is toast. They do not receive curriculum assigned by the board of ed. If you the parent do not fill in the blanks, they don't get it. So maybe that seemingly below average child gets a leg up finally after years of neglect in the classroom because of the worst class assignments and parents who aren't picking up the huge slack in the classroom at home. The money drawn out of the budget for special needs children would make a great improvement in the iinstruction for the rest of our children. More teachers who are experienced is where we need to spend our money.
--Submitted by a parent

This "inclusive" school ignores good students until they become average. The no child left behind criteria has now defined this school as a failing school. To deal with this the teachers and principal devote an inordinate amount of time and attention to a handful of special needs children to try to bring them up to grade level. These kids have special needs and they should receive special attention but it should not come at the expense of the other students. If a child tests above grade level they are completely ignored at this school and receive very little instruction. Teaching has moved to small group instruction within the classroom. The more advanced students are grouped together and just given materials and expected to teach themselves and rarely get teacher instruction. The underperforming students receive the lions share of the small group instruction. If you have an advanced student then this is not an environment where they will thrive or be challenged. They will only stagnate until they are average.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an amazing school. The teachers, staff and parents work well together. The resources Montgomery County and the PTA provide is amazing. Promethean Boards are in every classroom; there are computers/laptops available throughout the school - not just in the computer lab. The arts and physical education remain priorities here as well. The extra curricular activities offered thanks to the PTA are excellent. Very well rounded school!
--Submitted by a parent

You get what you pay for with this school. It's free. The staff uses every opportunity to take a day off or close-up early. The student teacher ratio is Average. The parent involvement is Average (a few parents try hard but overall its average). For the most part, students don't have a choice, this is the free school assigned to them.
--Submitted by a parent

A great school! The academics are outstanding as is the faculty and facility. The new principal sets a welcoming tone and has continued to move the school in a successful direction. The parents are educated and instill the value of learning in their children. It truly translates into successful student achievers. The PTA is involved and enthusiastic.
--Submitted by a parent

High achieving school. But parents need to be involved. Sometimes the instructions given in class are not clear. But I like the racial mix. Many international students.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended the early grades at this school, through second grade. I had a fantastic start to reading with an excellent phonics program, which helped me to become a great speller. This was a very enjoyable way to learn about how letters and sounds work together, which of course, provides a good start. I remember some good science units about light and magnets and transportation.There were also opportunities to perform in plays. I remember one about vegetables in particular. I have very fond memories of Bethesda Elementary and would recommend it to anyone.
--Submitted by Linda S., a former student

What a great school! A principal who instills pride and respect, a multi-cultural, multi lingual student body, extremely active PTA, and kids that are exceeding all state standards and then some. The buildng was fully renovated five years ago, and the teaching staff has been recruited and retained to be one of the best. Within a grade level, students are organized according to abilities in a way that encourages every kid to do their absolute best, in a non competitive atmosphere. The after school programs include languages, Math Challenge, art, science, drama, and chess club. The PTA sponsors back to school picnic, back to school night, bingo, square dancing, an adult silent auction, a Mayfair, and an International Night to celebrate the 52 native countries of the students. Very involved parents and a caring faculty make this a terrific school community.
--Submitted by a parent