Pope Elementary School

The teachers at Pope Elem are amazing. We are sad to PCS, we want to stay just so our children can keep attending Pope Elem. It was designed as a walking school. Which is wonderful in the morning & afternoon to see the same smiling facing & make new friends. It is can be a wait if you are driving. In the past few months 3 people were put out front to help kids out/into cars & that has alleviated the wait. This school year there was a significant change in the base community, BRAC. Perhaps that is the reason there is very little parent involvement. If more parents were involved this would be awesome.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved to NC when my daughter was in 2nd grade. She was in Mrs. T's class which seemed like utter confusion. When my child was in third grade, she was in Ms. Dudley's class. My daughter now attends middle School and STILL mentions Ms. Dudley and how much she liked her class. Truthfully, at the beginning of the school year my husband and I were concerned that she was too tough. Boy were we wrong. Our daughter worked hard, had fun, and learned a lot that school year. And we must admit that we learned a lot about ourselves too. She's our youngest child and we didn't realize how much we babied her until she got into 3rd grade. Ms. Dudley helped us see the light. We were shocked by the things our daughter was able to do. Wow did she soar that year! Anytime our daughter doubts that she can do something, we remind her to dig down deep and give it her best - just like Ms. Dudley used to tell her. Pope elementary school does have after school programs. My daughter was in chorus club. I also remember there being an art club.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has gone down hill in the last 2 years. The principle is lazy and is not there for the kids he is very rude and does not have a open door policy he is always to busy to meet parents. The teachers are there to socialize not teach. There is no programs for the kids during or after school and picking up my children is a joke you wait 30 or more min just to get close enough to the school to see your child. I have no good reviews for this school maybe if they got new administration it would be different.
--Submitted by a parent

I found this school to be very good in terms of the education it provides. It was challenging enough and my son was very engaged in his studies. But I could not provide a 5 star rating for 2 reasons. The principal, to me, was very cocky, and just rubbed me the wrong way. My son has ADHD and is on medication/counseling for it. He was also having a VERY difficult time with his teacher (she too, was very cocky and full of herself, I disliked her immensely - she is the other reason I can't rate it 5 star). I asked countless times to have my son moved to another class, because he wasn't thriving in that particular class. The principal, in all his cockiness, refused until my son was almost flunking out of the 4th grade. He finally allowed the switch and my sons grades improved.
--Submitted by a parent

I absolutely love this school! the teachers, principal, and staff are so understanding, well excluding the nurse, she has a serious attitude problem! truth be told. Ms. GreatHouse, is beyond amazing! she understands that each child works at his/her own pace. She provides each student with individual attention to better identify their needs, and insure each child learns comfortably. Which is extremely rare now-a-days.
--Submitted by a parent

I totally agree with one of the previous posters. The school absolutely lacked good leadership last school year. Thankfully, my child was lucky enough to have Ms. Dudley, a fantastic third grade teacher. She worked wonders with my son. He went from hating school to loving it. Up until 3rd grade, my son struggled in school. His self-esteem blossomed under her wings. She was both firm and nurturing which is what my child needs. Ms. Dudley showed my son that learning actually can be fun. I can't tell you how many times my son came home and told me about the cool activities he did in her room. He learned so much through her creative teaching. I'm hoping this school year will be as good for him.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been attending Pope ES since 2005...and I love it. Of course it's not perfect. No school is. However, the compassion of the staff and the resources available to help those in need is incredible. I did NOT care for his teacher this past year. She wasn't very good at communicating with parents. But his previous teacher (Mrs. Weidler) was fantastic! The only reason they're getting 4 stars and not 5 is because they didn't have nearly as many events as they used too (fall festival, etc).
--Submitted by a parent

This school lacks leadership. The principal is totally passive in his leadership style and avoids problems instead of providing solutions. He is saved by the presence of a few teachers like Mrs Hart and Ms. Woodson. Also, the kids seem to have very little freedom or anything at all to look forward to (i.e. no interesting programs, constests, etc.) Not a lot of choices for teachers, either
--Submitted by a parent

When my oldest daughter started 4th grade at Pope Elementary in February of that school year they were doing work far easier than the work she had been doing at Crestview Elementary in California. In grade four at Pope they were doing what she was doing in the fall of third grade at Crestview. We were very unhappy with the lack of challenging academic work. We were also unhappy that our daughter was in the Gifted program in CA, yet her teacher and the Gifted teacher at Pope would not put her in their gifted class without an 8-week evaluation period. It was already February of the school year so there was not much time left until summer. They decided not to put her in the gifted program after their 8-week evaluation, but decided she did qualify for it when the year ended before she went to fifth grade.
--Submitted by a parent

Pope is a great school. My daughter has had medical issues and the school has been more than willing to help her. They are fantastic! They also have a nurse on staff full time. I am more than impressed!
--Submitted by a parent