Northside Elementary School

Northside has been a very nice place for my three kids, they all have special needs and the staff has done a wonderful job with them, as parents we do stay very involved with their education, it makes a difference when teachers know you are also involved with them to bring out the best in your child.
—Submitted by a parent

I moved to Ann Arbor for the public schools and diversity. Northside meets all of my expectations: wonderful diversity, great leadership, excellent teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Ann Arbor Schools are some of the best in the state, and Northside is pretty typical. It does have some of the highest diversity of Ann Arbor schools, since many University of Michigan Grad students - from around the world - send their kids here. Both of our kids have gone to Northside, and they've had a great experience. Our oldest is now at Clague Middle School, and getting all 'A's, so her preparation for middle school was excellent. The teachers always greet us, the principal is experienced, involved, and approachable. While many parents are actively involved, we often have families who don't like the diversity and don't get involved at the school. The only problem we've found is discipline problems in some classrooms and sometimes at lunch, and staff turnover. These are problems at all elementaries.
—Submitted by a parent

We will be transferring to Logan Elementary next fall. My daughter was one of 51 kids in her class. There are two teachers but I feel that the kids are left to figure things out on their own a lot. I also have a lot of safety concerns with Northside. there is no fence around the playground which is right next to a parking lot. On the other side of the playground is a public restroom. I've seen kids leave the playground during recess go into the parking lot and get in a car. (I'm assuming it was her parent) she sat and talked for a while and then ran back and got in line when it was time to go it, without any staff noticing. If they did they didn't care. I've also seen high school age kids cut through the playground during recess without being stopped.
—Submitted by a parent

The general feeling of Northside is a rather unwelcoming, gloomy environment. Teachers rarely greet parents, no art is displayed for the children, bulletin boards are bare and rarely does the staff attend any of the family events. The lunchroom supervisors seem inexperienced and lax. We pulled our son out of Northside after the first year. We felt he never received the extra help he needed in mathematics and fell through the cracks. His classroom was overcrowded and he did not seem to flourish. His teacher seemed very standoffish and a stickler for discipline. I felt very uneasy dropping him in the morning and wondering what other issue would crop up by the afternoon.
—Submitted by a parent

While some older reviews complain of spotty teacher quality and an uninterested principal, this is clearly not the case any more. The PTO is active and very involved. The current principal also regularly demonstrates her commitment to the children's success.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attends this school (K) Under Title I, he went in one day and came out reading books from cover to cover the same day.
—Submitted by a parent

Northside is a great school. Its diverse, has strong parent involvement, and has great teachers. I have two children in the school, and each has had a good experience every year. The Title 1 program is also an great -- offering students small-group tutoring on reading, writing and math.
—Submitted by a parent

Northside is a great school with diverse students and strong parent involvement. I have two children in grades 1 and 4, and they have both had good experiences. The Title 1 program is also a great help, offering small-group tutoring in reading, writing and math.
—Submitted by a parent

My experience with Northside was not good. My son was assigned to go to first grade there (2004 - 2005). The grade was over-crowded, my child changed classrooms in the morning and afternoon to have 2 different teachers. I was not impressed with the afternoon teacher and I agree with the other parents about inconsistent quality in teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has only been going to northside now for the second year,we moved here from Ypsilanti and you all have made a very good impression with me and my child with after school programs for reading and math has helped out alot. thanks. You all seem to push the childern more to learn better than Ypsi. My daughter is doing much better,and is learning more and more.
—Submitted by Rachel, a parent

We had one fabulous teacher at Northside which might have served as an example, but unfortunately, was seen as a lucky exception. Our family's experience at Northside was generally poor, where 'teaching to the test' was the norm and expressed frequently by an inexperienced principal.
—Submitted by a parent

This school offered inconsistent education. For two years my son had top notch teaching. For the other years he had inexperienced first year teachers and he was not prepared for middle school. He was also lacking when it came to music education. The principal also seemed very inexperienced and not involved.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Northside grades 1-5. He's now in high school. Our experience at Northside was wonderful! The principal is excellent and very involved and visible. He genuinely cares about the children and he gets to know them as individuals. The teachers are great as well. Northside is always implementing new and innovative pedagogical trends in an effort to provide the best education possible. Northside also has an A-1 ESL program and is very welcoming and nurturing for children whose first language is not English. English is my son's first language, but the rich cultural enviornment my son experienced while at Northside was a priceless education in and of itself.
—Submitted by a parent

Norhtside school offers a caring and inviting atmosphere for learning. The principal is greatly involved in the school and shows a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to keep the teachers and students motivated about learning. The teachers are also caring and enthusiastic about learning. Parents are very involved in this school and show support to every issue that arises to improve their school. Excellent school, great principal. A very dedicated staff worhty of recognition.
—Submitted by mona berry, a parent