Vestal Hills Elementary School

We moved from CT, where I homeschooled, in the middle of the school year, with our boys in 3rd and K. I was very unsure about sending the boys to public school but I had heard Vestal Hills was wonderful so we gave it a chance. We LOVE Vestal Hills! My boys teachers, administrators, and the school nurse are just fantastic! My K aged son had a hard time adjusting to school and his teachers were so kind and caring that he was excited and making friends quickly. I have to younger boys as well and I look forward to many wonderful years as a Vestal Hills parent.
--Submitted by a parent

As a current parent with a child who has gone to the school for almost 4 years, I would like to say that Vestal Hills is one place that I would never hesitate to recommend to anyone. The staff has taken the time to work with my student and his peers. They PTA is excellent and I find that the school has a great balance of encouraging participation of parents as well as teaching students to be self-sufficient and to become leaders. They modify their teaching in ways to keep current and they strive to make our children better learners and eventually, better citizens as well.
--Submitted by a parent

when i went to this school (2000-2004) the teachers the staff were lovely and kind very supportive and were always trying to help. stuff was lost and stolen yes but i had a wonderful experience and i know many others who had a similar experience i would move back to vestal and send my kids there in a heartbeat the only negative besides the lost-stolen was the principal.

Kids in this school seem to be taught to the test -often asked to learn by rote rather than understand concepts. Parents are often expected to do teaching at home. Kids bring expensive items to school(anything from electronic games to cell phones to ipods) despite school policy and items are exchanged, stolen or lost and nothing is done to address it. My son's jacket was stolen on his first week at school andkids pick on and bully each other while the aides are present. Those have been my experiences and I would not recommend this school to anyone.
--Submitted by a parent