Lakewood Elementary School

10 out of 10. Our son has Down syndrome in the LFI program there. It was quite a fight with MCPS to allow him to attend there, because the other option in Upper Montgomery County was BAD. So blessed to be at Lakewood. Principal Malcotti is amazing, and the special needs students really have her heart. Teaching staff is excellent, communication is excellent. The Lakewood Links program is a group of general ed 4th and 5th graders who have actively taken on a role of true inclusion, academically and most importantly, socially. Reece is truly loved and appreciated at this school, and it's going to be really tough going to MS next year.
—Submitted by a parent

I think what the previous parent wrote is so correct. I also moved to this area for the school and we are renting one of the most expensive aptts here becoz of the school. Its worth it. My son is learning a lot and the descipline policy is worth a mention too. Excellent school and excellent teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

We loved Lakewood. My son's kindergarden teacher was easy to communicate with. She was a gem and so was the support staff! Indeed a competitve school like most schools in the Potomac area. We dealt mainly with the vice-principal. He is great. We have to move to the West Coast and will be missing Lakewood.
—Submitted by a parent

principal is a nightmare regularly screams and yells at the children. totally unprofessional on any level. 5th graders wrote a petition and signed it regarding lunchroom policy. principal went whacko - behaved as though she were drunk or high on drugs screaming and yelling at the children for 35 minutes straight.
—Submitted by a parent

Very very poor in parent teacher communication. The only important issue here is the test scores. It is very hard to get a response from a teacher to a note or a phone call. Only those students whose parents can pursue the teachers hard enough get challenging work. Others receive a work 1 grade bellow level.
—Submitted by a parent

9 years, 4 principals. Focus on education is on test scores and teaching children to take tests in order to score well on assessments. Very little social interaction between children.
—Submitted by a parent

Highly competetive environment with majority of the kids performing on the advanced level in all grade levels. A lot of professional staff.
—Submitted by a parent