Dows Lane (K-3) School

All my children, now at Main Street School and Middle School, went to Dows Lane. The new principal, Mr. L., shows commitment to the school and is demonstrably caring about the students. The teacher quality has been generally excellent. The early grade teachers (K and 1st) are appropriately nurturing, and the teachers in the older grades are tough yet fair. Overall, I was very pleased with Dows Lane.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been so well taken care of from his start in kindergarten. They evaluated him immediately and assessed him. He now no longer needs any further assistance in any of the areas he was lacking. Excellent! He will be very will prepared for Main Street School which is 4th and 5th grades.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids went there a few years ago. I found it mediocre and mired in bureaucracy (no different than the other public schools I experienced) -- with the exception of a few good teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

I originally gave this school an excellent review but now fast forward a couple of years and my opinion has drastically changed. I agree with the most recent posting of special interest groups wanting to just move in and takeover. If you didn't like the way the school was run, why did you move here in the first place? I was happy before but now I took my child out of the public school system and she is sooo happy! Most of the children turned so unfriendly and clicky at such a young age. My child was too nice for this school system. If you want your child to grow up entitled and obnoxious you would be happy here.
--Submitted by a parent

I have lived in the area for over 12 years. This school has seen its share of turnover in teaching staff and cirriculum (expecially trailblazers math) that was truly awfull. I am not sending my 3rd child there. Instead he is going to a private school. He is not special Ed on the contrary very bright!! The school should get back to basics reading, writting and math and stop most of the special interest groups that come in and take away from our kid instructional time. We are paying a large amount of property taxes and the SAT scores have not improved.. Starts from the beginning.... Dows Lane....
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended Dows Lane for 2 yrs.08-09 The 1st yr was perfect by the second yr my son was no longer happy to go to school nor was he able to keep up with the curriculum. I voiced my concerns, after several emails, notes and finally pleading, my son was evaluated. This process took 6 months just to obtain proper evaluations. I have had to place him in intensive one on one tutoring all summer. Intensive tutoring is v. expensive! The bottom line if your child is thriving then Dows Lane is for you if he have any disabilities in your learning you can forget it. Dows cater to those who have no disabilities and turn a blind eye on those who do.
--Submitted by a parent

Dows Lane is awful. As an educator I find the academics to be woefully lacking (they don't even offer a second language!)and simplistic. If you have smart children and are thinking of moving to this school district my advice would be this: Don't.
--Submitted by a parent

Dows Lane seems so far to be a great school. The teachers are caring, they call when they think our children may be having a problem. They're warm and welcoming to all children. My children are very shy, and I'll wait to see how patient the teacher is with them and I'll update my review then. But my children come home very happy from school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school but needs more diversity.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school, highly recommended!
--Submitted by Maria, a parent