Garfield Elementary School

As a graduate of LPS my husband and I were so disappointed with our experience at Garfield. The curriculum is MEAP driven, the staff are not held accountable for communicating with families and meeting Michigan bench marks. The overall focus is providing remedial support to the children who need it. If your child is performing at grade level, expect that they will not receive the same support as those who are not. The curriculum at Garfield is not the same curriculum as other schools in the district because so many students are performing below grade level. MEAP scores are not accurate. They spend the first three months of school teaching towards the MEAP to make the school look better. Science, Social Studies, and cursive handwriting are not taught. Not to mention that the playground is unsafe, poorly supervised. We are much happier at a nearby private school. Garfield is a HUGE disappointment!
—Submitted by a parent

Garfield has some of the best staff in the district. The staff needs more support from the principal, as does the major population of children and the parents. Our experience started out well and went downhill. The staff has many stopgaps in place to help the children that need remedial help. Good job teachers!
—Submitted by a parent

This was my family's first and sadly last year, secondary to a move, at Garfield. I have nothing but praise for this school ,the teachers and pricipal. The teachers make every effort to ensure that all the children are learning and enjoying it as they go along. These teachers are routing for all of the kids and are their champions when they are needed! Good job Garfield!
—Submitted by a parent

Garfield is a wonderful place for children to learn and it is the parents not the 'at risk' children that cause problems in the school. The Legacy Initative is not going away, please stop whining about it. Pretty soon a district with K-4 schools and upper elementary schools will be all the format these kids know and it will become normal. It will not if parents do not accept it and move forward. Bill Green, the principal, makes it a priority to keep the parents informed and I would ask anyone to ask him about the professional development he and his teachers participates in. They are continually researching and learning new ways to teach our children. I have a 3rd grade son that is learning junior high if not high school geometry and he is excited to learn more every day. That is what a good school does.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a small, nuturing, and commited school. My family was sent to this school due to forced school closings from the district. This school opened up a cozier and more personal solution to education. It is a great school! Sincerely, Mrs. LuAnn Englehart
—Submitted by LuAnn Englehart, a parent

The new principal has been of small help this year in terms of safety and help for individual students. There continues to be children accepted from other districts, which was supposed not to have been an option after the building was expanded some years ago. This was promised to the 300 or so neighnbors who opposed the plan to expand. There are too many 'at risk' children here who cause behavioral problems and are disruptive. There are some fine teachers here, and a few who should seek other employment. With the onslaught of the 'legacy initiative' in livonia district, things appear to be getting worse than better. Many parents from the closing schools are choosing not to send their children here, but seek educational opportunites elsewhere. Check the ratings compared to other livonia elementary schools.
—Submitted by a parent

New principal this year, I hope he will do more to see kids are safer and get the extra help needed for learing! Programs to help kids with reading, 'STOP' after first grade. Stop taking kids from other districts and focus on Livonia not Detroit and Westland.
—Submitted by a parent