Diberville Elementary School

My son's teacher is warm and caring. She's a great teacher and communicator. They push the kids on aademics but they have fun too. My son wants to go to school this year!
--Submitted by a parent

The volume of homework brought home by these children is ridiculous! We spend on average one hour to an hour and a half. The exams are weighed heavily on their semester grades which puts an extreme amount of pressure on the child. It's becoming extremely difficult after 6 hours of school then to come home and do another hour and a half of school work is exhausting for the child. On top of all this the disciplinary aspect is working against the child, the child is told to pull a card if misbehaving and has no clue what its for! Until the child comes home and is questioned by the parent?? I've seen improvements in certain subject where I felt as if I was the teacher spending as much time on one subject as I have. I have had conferences with the teachers and it hasn't helped.. the overall rating is terrible.
--Submitted by a parent

I dont know where the last parent got the information on the Blue Ribbon program. It is not based on the free lunch program.The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the school followed by an establishment and implementation of an improvement plan.The Blue Ribbon award is considered the highest honor an American school can achieve. I have 3 children that attend the school. I agree that they could give more notice of some of the events, but it generally communicates well. They helped my child excel from an 18mth old level to 6 months below her peers in one year! These people need to understand that when they say bad things about the building that we are just 6 years out from Hurricane Katrina and still in recovery mode.The school allows as much parental involvement as it can, but still believes in structure.Most of the teachers live in the community. Having children in the school is a blessing not the curse that some make it sound like.
--Submitted by a parent

The school itself, administration and policies leave much to be desired. While in a meeting with the principal to discuss my child's academic performance, she went from saying that my child must be ADD, sexually abused and possibly had seizures because "one time she saw her eyes moving back and forth rapidly." So you thought my child had a seizure a couple of weeks ago and you a) didn't call the nurse and b) didn't call me! Really?! My daughter might have had recess a total of 30 times during the entire year because they spend most of the time teaching what is on the state tests in order to get good scores. I believe that it is important for kids to get some fresh air on a regular basis. Yes, they have PE almost every day, but it's in the musty gym most of the time. Sure, they are a Blue Ribbon School (which is actually based partially on how many kids you have on free lunch) and have good test scores, but the school was more like a boot camp. Communication from the school was lacking. There weren't any family involvement activities at all like at my daughter's last school. We are paying tuition for my daughter to attend a school out of district now.
--Submitted by a parent

Oh WOW a blue ribbon school! NOT! Just because they spend majority of the time only learning what is on the state testing does not mean it's a good school. A few reasons why I do not care for this school- I have had very poor communication from the staff. Teachers, principles, nurse, lunch staff ect. We as parents are very poorly informed on things going on in the school. We get last minute notice on almost everything. In the first month of school I was asked 5 times for money for the school and they even bribe the kids into asking people for five dollars to join the pta. They want them to ask people who have no interest in the school! What does the 5.00 get them? NOTHING. They don't even ask for contact info to invite the public who gave 5.00 to attend meetings. I have emailed the principle several times this year and not once have I gotten a response. I was yelled at by a first grade teacher when I asked why my daughter was allowed/made to read 8 A.R. books and take 8 tests in one day! This school needs to step it up with the communication and parent involvement!
--Submitted by a parent

We move around the country a lot so we have had an opportunity to see many schools. This was on our list of worst schools ever. There are a few teachers that care but most of the staff are so concerned about discipline that they forget the whole purpose of being there. I want my kid to be excited about learning not told that he/she will get punishment if he/she doesn't do what the teacher wants. Really this school could be compared closer to a boot camp or prison. Maybe some kids need this form of schooling but my children definitely do not. My child came home after just one day of school and begged me not to make him/her go back. For this reason, I have decided to home school and so have many other parents in this area.
--Submitted by a parent

We are a blue ribbon school and the teachers are so good,they really go above and beyond for there students!!
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers really care about your child and helping him or her do well.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school. Teachers are great. Could have more extracurricular activities.
--Submitted by a parent

My son came to this school behind and not liking school. After three short months he has excelled and couldn't be happier.
--Submitted by a parent