Providence Spring Elementary School

This is not a school that seeks to understand the whole child and meet his or her needs. If you don't fit the mold, you are pounded down until your spirit is broken or you escape. This school operates on a model that is appropriate for privileged students who are prepared to perform above grade level. Children who are average are given the message that they are not doing well enough. Children who are not able to conform to strict rules of conduct are constantly disciplined for the most minor infractions until they conform or their parents are forced to choose another setting for them. Parents of kids who don't fit in are given the message that their child is deviant and abnormal. Several parents that I have spoken to have all said that they were told that the staff "had never had a case like this before". If you have a child at this school, especially a son, who is struggling, trying to work with the system to get their needs met is hopeless. Get out as soon as you can.
--Submitted by a parent

Amazing academic program. The school is staffed with excellent teachers and an exceptional literacy facilitator.
--Submitted by a parent

Providence Spring Elementary (PSE) is an awesome school. We also moved to South Charlotte so that our 2 children could attend PSE after checking out numerous other public and private school. PSE is a public school that provides its students with a private school education. The teachers, principal and other staff members love what they do and it shows. They foster an environment that encourages children to think, and the teachers use a wide variety of teaching strategies to reach all students. Yes, it is a tough school so expect that your children will come home with homework and expect that you as a parent will be encouraged to show that you support education by getting involved in your child's education through volunteering your time and/or talents. Both my kids love PSE - what more can you ask!!
--Submitted by a parent

We bought our house just so our son could attend this school. Best decision we ever made. The school is tough, but they know that kids can do it if they put their mind to it. It is worth all of the homework. My son has improved 100%. The teachers are fantastic and they are willing to help anyone. The principal is unbelievable! This is our last year at PSE and we are thankful for the foundation that our son as to build from in middle school. PSE ROCKS!
--Submitted by a parent

Not only does PSE have the most talented faculty I have ever seen assembled in one school, they also have cutting edge technology. SMART Boards in every classroom make the delivery of instruction engaging and interactive. I am so impressed with this school!
--Submitted by a parent

Our experience at this school was terrific. My son attended Providence Spring for all of his elementary school career, and we could not recommend it more highly. The principal is skilled at staffing her school with top caliber teachers. In our son's fifth grade year, he had one of the best teachers he's ever had, and she was a brand new teacher. We hope to be able to stay here in NC, so that our children can spend all their elementary school years at this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter is entering the 1st grade and we are very pleased with our PSE experience thus far. My husband and I both work outside of the home and I don't feel that because of this my child gets less attention than a child at PSE with a stay at home parent. I would agree that it seems as if the majority of the families are upper middle class, but that is the demographic of the neighborhoods that feed into PSE not the choosing of the administration. I feel fortunate to be receiving a private school education for no additional cost. They do participate in a lot of fundraisers but we picked a couple to participate in and skipped the others with no negativity from staff, PTA, etc.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is an gifted, mildly ADD rising second grader at PSE and we couldn't be happier. The teachers and administrators assisted my husband and I in gaining an understanding of how our son can reach his full potential. The acedemic work is appropriate for children who want to learn and the parent involvement is incredible. We transfered from a strong academic faith-based school and have been very pleased with the focus on character as well as education. I strongly recommend this school. I only wish that the CMS would incorporate a foreign language into the elementry years of education.
--Submitted by a parent

The school's leadership seems incompetent when it comes to being able to impartially assess discipline issues at school. The preferred approach is presume guilty and press students to provide the answer the leadership wants to hear, truthful or not. Question the school's leadership's ability to be impartial.
--Submitted by a parent

The curriculum at this school is definitely on par with some of the prestigious private schools in the area. However, this school does cater to the kids that are wealthy or exceptionally academically gifted. I recently had a 5th grader to graduate from the school and the principal did not just congratulate everyone who graduated but had to make a reference to those who just barely got a passing grade on the EOGs. I thought this was very unprofessional on her part. The kids who have wealthly parents who have an 'at home' parent that works at the school have a tremendous advantage over those students who have both parents working. Think of the 'Country Club' school and that is Providence Spring.
--Submitted by a parent