Berry Elementary School

It's a great school. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for quality education, caring, discipline and fun.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attended since Pre_K and is on her way to 1st grade. This school has proven to be an excellent school. She learns, and she is reading at the 2nd grade level. So am excited to see how she does in the 1st grade. Teachers seem to care as does the Principal. I would like to suggest additional items posted on the website. There should be a tab for summer reading and preparing for back to school. All in all am excited about what Berry is doing!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school! My son is statred there in kindergarten and is now in second grade and doing very well in every aspect. The teaching is consistent across the board as the teachers are part of teams in each grade to the same standards are equally applied. Advanced students are selected for excelereated classes so as not to hold back their progress. Homework is given every day except for weekends. The teaching methods are fun and go well beyond old fashioned memorization. The staudents are challenged to comprehend and analyze. The students are very well behaved and even the few bad ones seem to mature over time. I'll say it again, this is a great school. Congrats to the faculty for an excellent jog!
--Submitted by a parent

Wow! I have been a parent of the school for the past 3 years. I would hope that people who read these post will visit the school and decide for themselves. I love Berry. My child loves the school as well. From the moment yu walk through the doors, you know that you are in a great place. Go see for yourself.
--Submitted by a parent

I love the school. We just started this year and find that the school is very bright, clean and friendly. My three children have wonderful teachers and the principal and vice principal are always out walking around. I think that you should visit the school for yourself. They even give tours!
--Submitted by a parent

Basically the school is very good. My sons are doing well academically and they are not behavior problems. However, I was disturbed when my boys said that several teachers use yelling and harsh words with the children. That is one area that definitely needs improvement!
--Submitted by a parent

Overall I think Berry Elementary is a wonderful school. The Principal, Mr. Evans, combines caring for the children with discipline and it works! I also really like the many ways that the school honors/awards the children who are doing well with their behavior and academics. For example, Berry Bucks are given by any teacher who 'catches a child doing well.' Those Bucks are then used to purchase Berry stuff. Berry was great for my boys' first year in public schools.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent who loved Berry. We felt excited and happy to find such a hidden treasure. All that has changed within the last year. It breaks my heart to know that these kids face this hostility and lack of respect from their teachers on a daily basis. The administration should be ashamed that they allow this to continue and turn a blind eye. Berry will foster children who are fearful and disrespectful to one another if this continues. It has broken my faith in the public school system. These teachers should be ashamed. If you have options do not allow your child to attend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

We've been at Berry since 2003--in fact bought our home specificly to attend this school; great teachers...ALL, and great leadership. We are now in 4th grade; changes a many...leadership/teachers. Classroom management is out of control and our feeling is this school has gone from notable to the 'wild, wild, west' where in some classrooms the young students are in control. Unfortunate and has us looking at other school options as the middle school that serves Berry is much worse.
--Submitted by a parent

Both sons attended Berry. Beware that should your child need additional help, There will be a problem. My son arrived needing a litlle extra help and I was told he would need to repeat the previous grade. The was no hope that he would be sucessful. The expectations are so high that one who falls short will be shoved into either remediation or special ed or both. We decided to remove him and place in a private school where he could get the one on one that he needed along with the tutoring. There is a new principal and redistricting going one, I wonder if the test scores will remain at the high level. Also a large amount of residents from PG county and DC have migrated to the area, which may account for the behavior issues. Home environments may be an issue.
--Submitted by a parent