Pointer Ridge Elementary School

Pointer Ridge is a great school.I moved from Greenbelt MD with a diabetic child(Type1) who was in 1st grade.I feared about her being closely followed up.The beginning was hard,but the Nurse,the teachers and the Administration are on top of things now.she is doing well in class too.PR has highly qualified teachers and a great PTA.
--Submitted by a parent

This is our first year attending American schools after living abroad and attending a small International School. I was concerned that the schools would be too big, uncaring, and undisciplined. I have found Pointer Ridge to be a caring school, handling the numbers of children well. At the beginning of the year, I heard a few teachers yelling and berating children, which is never acceptable. However, through the year, I've been involved in the PTA (which is doing a great job in my opinion), and other events and am very happy with Pointer Ridge. The music program is good. I have been concerned about the load of homework for my 5th grader, but with parental support, he is getting through and the better for it, I believe. He's well prepared for middle school. If parents get involved, you'll see they're doing a great job at PR.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a nightmare. There are some really great teachers , but when it comes to kids that have any special needs, good luck!!! The principal is more concerned about the numbers, than the kids actually learning. I am moving out of the county to get my kids out of there. The communication is terrible.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a wonderful school. Academically and socially Pointer Ridge is a well rounded school. The principal is very accessible and the administrative staff is very helpful when you call and ask questions. There are a lot of opportunities for parents to come in and visit with the kids, help at a school party, etc. This school is a wonderful school. My daughter loves going to school everyday and she loves her teacher.
--Submitted by a parent

I think Pointer Ridge is a great school. I have had three boys there from kindergarten through the 5th grade. The principal's door was always open, the teachers were wonderful. I was sad when my boys had to move on.
--Submitted by a parent

There is little parental involvement, little discipline and the classrooms are over crowded. The principal is concerned with standardized test scores and school ratings but little else. There is little communication betweeen prinsipal and parents and often times, the principal refuses to see concerned parents or deal with the issues of bullying and inappropriate behaviors at recess.
--Submitted by a parent

There are too many children in the classrooms. Most of the teachers are great. I have heard on several occasions a Kindergarden teacher yelling and calling a child a liar, I was filled with discust. There is alot of parent involvement. The availability of music and arts is enough to keep parents quiet (blame the school system for that). Aside from some of the disappointments most teachers are great. My Kindergarden is a fluent reader, thanks to Ms. Kohns and us. Ms. Duncan is also an excellent teacher. I find that most teachers are willing to help parents to help their children.
--Submitted by a parent

We have a 3rd grader at Pointer Ridge and we are not too thrilled with her teacher. We are aware of the county wide changes in regards to curriculum and we feel that the kids in her class are not mastering the fundamentals needed to move on to the 4th grade. We are certainly doing our best to provide her the additional resources she needs so that she can understand the subjects and apply them to everyday life. I only see that the teachers are teaching for the MSA's only. And that to us is not good enough!
--Submitted by a parent

I have two sons at Pointer Ridge (5th&4th) grades. They've been here for all thru their elementary education. I can say without a doubt that this is a great school. The teachers care about the children. The principal is new, and change is always bumpy, but she's doing a great job so far. We've only had one bad experience in 1stGrade with a new teacher. The administration was very responsive and we moved my son to another class. This teacher is no longer at the school. The curriculum this year is changed county wide and our teachers are doing their best to stay on top of it. I'm grateful we have them! Parents, school is like everything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it. Most of the teachers we've had have 15-35 years experience! Lots of valuable experience here. Wonderful teachers, staff and administration!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I recently relocated from county schools in virginia. I have found that there is unaccepatable overcrowding. The teachers spend a large portion of their instructional time with disciplinary problems. 30 Children and one teacher in a class room. I have never heard so much yelling in my life. The ciriculum seems to be focused and driven by passing the MSAP and not on the academic achievement of the children. They are simply learning the MSAP and the ciriculum is based on the timeline for the counties benchmark testing. There are not art programs to allow some creative outlet for the children. Very disappointed. Will be moving my children to private schools ASAP. Shame on the school board for not giving the teachers the needed tools!
--Submitted by a parent