Twinbrook Elementary School

This is my son's first year at Twinbrook.The teachers seem vary caring and so far we have had great experiance.The school work seems chalanging and the class sizes are small so teacher can focus on each child.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter started at Twin brook in third grade. The students were welcoming and friendly. The teachers are dedicated. My daughter was able to do advanced math and reading but still be with her friends.
--Submitted by a parent

Twinbrook ES is an average-to-good school, despite the modest ratings. The additional financing that the school gets really helps ESOL and special needs students. However there are a few low points that one may foresee in the long-term. While this is a good school for foreign students, students who need additional help and special needs, the adequate level of challenge is not clear for advanced students. My daughter had a great start-up but now I feel she's bored and does not get challenged enough. I agree with the previous comment that the longer the child stays, the more average he/she will become. The PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) tries to put a lot of efforts, however the parental envolvement is far from active, and PTA activities seem to be limited to short-term goals. In one word, if you have an option to send your child to a better school, I'd recommend considering it!
--Submitted by a parent

I tried for three years (K-2) to be happy with this school, and I just couldn't. The extra resources for Title 1 status were given to kids that were 'struggling.' If your child is above average academically, the longer they stay, the more average they will become. I transferred to another school in the cluster and two months into the school year, the difference is night and day! All of this being said, there are some great kids and families that go there. Hands down, the worst part was the after-care program. I agree that Floyd Starnes was effective for the year he was there.
--Submitted by a parent

As the 2006 - 2007 school year draws to a close, I look back fondly at the person who made this year great: Floyd Starnes, principal intern. The school ran well, Mr. Starnes attended school events and actually cared about the kids and their families. Test scores are going up, the kids are reading and writing and everything would be great if Mr. Starnes could stay!
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 kids studying @ twinbrook for 2yrs. now & I can say that twinbrook is providing good educ.I always look @ my kid's homework & my kids updates me on what they're learning in school, and I can say their lessons are challenging. The teachers also sees to it that students are receiving lessons appropriate for they're capability.The only thing that I think that needs improvement is their lessons in reading, I supplement it by giving my kids extra activities @ home.They have after school programs and lots of kids registered for those programs. The teachers/office staffs are friendly, caring and very concern with the students. More power to Twinbrook Elem School!
--Submitted by a parent

My only child is at Twinbrook, so I don't have a benchmark but it seems the schoolwork is challenging. My first grader has about a half hour a day, and it is a good mix of math, reading and writing. We had eleven parents at our last PTA meeting, if you count the PTA officers.
--Submitted by Jeff V, a parent

It really does not matter how many books the principal has put in the Media Ctr. If the teachers cannot work in the building. How can they use the books? Let alone teach the children.The staff are not leaving the school because they are moving,or going to schools closer to their home. We talk to an awful lot of the staff that have left the building over the past 6 years on a weekly baises. You can call alot of schools/PTAS in Montgomery County and they can tell any parent why the staff are walking out the door on all of these children. We have been in Middle School for 2 years now. We are very happy to put Twinbrook behind us. MCPS used to be the best! What happened to the people that cared about these children?
--Submitted by a parent

I had a daughter who was in twinbrook for k through 4 and then went to montrose christian. I have another daughter who was there for k -2nd (there now) and i agree with the folks who say there has been real improvement. I would say, however, that i am happy that a number of teachers who have left have gone. Mrs. Lobuts, who has now retired was a wonderful teacher but she had to teach my older daughter to read in 1st grade when her kindergarten teacher (who thank god retired) did nothing with the kids. I think parental involvement is key. Class sizes are amazingly small now and the teachers caring. If this had been the school my now 7th grader was in 4 years ago, we would not have left. Ps, we love Mr. Pain! linda schutjer
--Submitted by Linda Schutjer, a parent

It s a new school year and once again the teacher turn over is high. It amazes me how many of our older teachers have opted to retire. At least we didn t get a new Assistant Principal. The school has gone through 4 since my children started at the school. But we did achieve Title 1 status this year so we are supposed to get more funding and more staffing. We did get a summer school program. This consisted of playtime with free food, not the educational learning I thought that would go on. Our children were herded though the cafeteria lines to get that head count whether they were eating or not, just to justify the programs success. Thanks for the free daycare. The no child left behind is leaving the more advanced children behind! Too much time is spent playing catch up and trying to re-invent the wheel.
--Submitted by a parent