Parker-Varney School

Poorly organized school. Do not hear positive things about the office staff or certain classroom teachers. If you have an option to send your student somewhere else, take the other option.

I must admit, the new principal is no better then the last. Takes everything for her own self credit. Assigns staff to do "projects" for her political gain. Does not put children first. Uses her time to triangle herself between staff and parents complicating small issues and not focusing on the larger outstanding ones. The principal was called by the Union to a meeting with the Superintendent. 100% of teachers spoke up to have the principal removed showing documented accounts of where the students were not put first. The district has shown no effort to follow through with the requests of the teaching staff. There was an extremely large sum of money granted to three schools. Under the grant circumstances the Principals were to gather from teachers what the money should be used for to increase student achievement to help us be no longer a school in need of improvement. The principal at Parker Varney gathered no information from teachers. She used the money for her choosing. She mad poor decisions that are directly affecting student achievement and test scores. The Special ed staff are wonderful at Parker Varney as well as Art Music PE and Teachers that were educated out of state.
—Submitted by a teacher

I went to PV as a child and for as long as i can remember PV is the school i always disliked. Yes i was a problem child then but my parents tried to work with me the best they could with my ADHD without putting me on medication. The school had refused to keep me there if i wasn't on medication. So when my parents did put me on some they hassled my parents everyday asking if i had taken it that morning. Also my teacher (who by the way still works there) use to bribe me with candy to keep me quite and behave all day. Now is that a way to teach a child by bribing. I understand that my parents could have taken more time to work with me on my ADHD but the teachers didn't either. Also the principal when i was there once grabbed me by the armsand dragged me when i was misbehaving. At that point if a child is that bad you should call their parents not take matters into your own hands. Which is why now my child will NOT be going to PV

Just like any school Parker Varney has its own set of issues. However, the new principal at the school has been doing an outstanding job of working to address the strengths and weaknesses of the school in order to move forward in a positive direction. As a hesitant parent going into the school, I have found that the curriculum is very challenging. I have found that my child has progressed extremely well in reading and writing and her math foundations are very strong. The teachers work hard there. If there is one thing I can say, it is that there should be more parent participation. However, I think that this will come with new initiatives that are coming forward in the near future. I think PV is a great place to learn and proud to have a child that goes there.
—Submitted by a parent

Staff wise this school is split into 2 camps. Leadership by the Principal is not there, his primary focus is personal not professional. The school has the staff and the students to be a really great school. The drive and direction from the top is not their. Children are labeled and disrespected. Not a positive learning environment for the kids.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is in need of improvement. Parents are not encouraged to be involved with the school. The focus is on behavior and not on learning and education. Teachers for the most part are very good. Admininstration needs work
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children who have attended Parker Varney school my daughter who is now in jr. high and my 7 year old son who attends now and they have done so much for them learning wise. My daughter has learning problems and she has done so well since she went to this school. My son is doing amazing there and I would recommend Parker Varney to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended Parker-Varney four years. The principal and vice principal as well as all the teachers are outstanding. There are plenty of activities for the kids. We have a wonderful reading and writing program, with assemblies for kids of all grades to share their work. I would like to see more parent involvement but there is a strong group of parents that attend the PTG. Safety and discipline has always remained a high priority at Parker-Varney. There are many safety measures there. I am a very proud to say that my child attends this school!
—Submitted by Christine Sullivan, a parent