Eleanor Van Gelder Elementary School

some of the 5th and 6th grade teachers in this school are not good at math and science!One of the 6th grade teacher(she)is so arrogant and mean to kids. they spend least amount of time on math and science. If they can't handle math and science then they shouldn't even be teaching 5th and 6th graders! They got rid of science lab which is crucial for 5th and 6th graders. Their music curriculum dates back to 70s, I'm sur they have been teaching the same stuff for ages. During their spring and summer concerts they perform the same old stuff every year. Talented kids never get a chance, present music teacher always picks her favourite kid regardless of his or her ability to perform. Because of the teacher some of the kids dropped out of music class. This school is only good until 4th grade due to the fact that its not well equipped and staffed to teach 5th and 6th graders.
--Submitted by a parent

Used to be the best school around, still could be... The test scores are on par with Tenafly on 'passing' (but not exceeding) rates through 3rd grade where they start to diverge. But overcrowding has taken a toll along with the highly mobile, large non-native English population combined with a large percentage of students on reduced lunches. The caring teachers and administrators can only do so much with that many challenges. The new superintendent is quite good and the new school will alleviate the overcrowding. It is a caring community which is proud of it's school and together with strong forward looking leadership, it is well positioned to turn around the recent downward trend provided the community is willing to invest to support the larger population. Like another parent wrote it's not an environment for academically gifted kids. It is believed the existing curriculum is sufficiently challenging and instead suggest you do something on weekends. There is no individual enrichment prior to 3rd grade because the other kids might feel badly. They will not accelerate by grade or subject.
--Submitted by a parent

Fantastic place to learn. Teachers are simply the best and the academic program is challenged.
--Submitted by a parent

The school does not offer PK currently. They will in the future as they are building new facilities, but not currently.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has finally started get with the times and adapt Readers and Writers Workshop instead of Round Robin Reading! The superintendent knows what she is doing. I don't know how the veteran teachers or the younger teachers will take to this change in teaching reading.
--Submitted by a parent

EVG is a shining star in a neighborhood of low quality public schools, except for Fort Lee!! Most of the teachers are marvelous. The new principal is geared to bring up scores. Parent participation is top notch. The curriculum as is all public schools needs revamping. EVG does however have individualized instruction. There is an enrichment program and lots of remedial programs. It has a special needs class. Not much of a music or sports program. We lost our science labs and many other rooms to overcrowding. The new school near the GW bridge that will be up in a few years will take care of that problem. All in all, quite a gem of a school. Good kid culture to boot!
--Submitted by a parent

If your child is gifted, EVG is not the school for him/her. The school administration is excellent except for the curriculum coordinator. The curriculum is tailored to fit slow learners. The smart ones are not nurtured; they are punished by having to go through the same learning process. There is no program that allows them to develop their motivation for higher learning. The school population grows every year. As a result, the science lab, language room, and the art room had to make way for additional classrooms. Each class has at least 24 kids.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in 4th grade at EVG Elementary. He came from an excellent public school in Baltimore (Mid Town Academy). EVG has turned out to be a wonderful surprise: welcoming administrators who made the registration process work; engaged teaching staff who care and transfer their love for learning to my son; and afterschool program (YMCA) that takes care of his academic and recreational needs.
--Submitted by a parent

The staff is very friendly and helpful however the curriculum is not up to far with what schools need right now. I work in Glen Rock as a Reading Specialist and my child is in 2nd Grade at EVG. They are all still doing Round Robin Reading and using a basel. The Everyday Math Program is also not used the correct way leaving many gaps in my child's knowledge of math. I send her to Kumon to make up for it. They really need to switch to the Readers and Writers Workshop model to prepare them for Middle School and HS and to get their LA Test Scores up.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children in EVG. I used to send my kids to private school. I was surprise that the quality of teachers are very good and they are very passionated with their students. I have no complain in this school so far.
--Submitted by a parent