Pinehurst Elementary School

We have had three children attend this school and I have nothing but good things and experiences to report. We have three different children with three different interests and learning concerns and they were all satisfied. We would highly recommend it.
—Submitted by a parent

PES is a fabulous school all around! We have three children enrolled at PES and have been quite pleased with their academic rigor as well as the extracirricular activies.The principal and staff have been very welcoming to our family. The principal is highly visble in the school as well as the assistant principal. I have had several conversations with our administration and they have been every responsive to me. The teachers are some of the most caring teachers I have ever seen!
—Submitted by a parent

PES is a wonderful school filled with caring, dedicated teachers. Both of our children have had a very positive experience at the school. They are challenged in their classrooms and through the AIG program. The extra curricular activities range from arts and crafts to cross country. Parent involvement is very high. The principal has been much more visible this year. She has attended many school functions and has run the school assemblies. We are thrilled to be part of this school!
—Submitted by a parent

Have 2 kids in this school and have been happy with the teachers and sense of community among the other families. Have to agree with other reviewers about the leadership though, principal is unfriendly and doesn't even come to many school functions. Also very difficult to get in touch with and unresponsive to parent concerns- a problem we and at least 2 other families we know of have had. Teachers and community good, administration bad.
—Submitted by a parent

Never again! We are a military family and have been involved in many schools. This place is not warm and welcoming to new families. The open house night was a free for all with nobody to help new families find their child's classroom. The office was dark and locked. Our child's teacher yelled constantly in the classroom, had poor classroom management skills, and medicore teaching abilities. There was a lack of technogy and too much of teaching to the End of Grade Test. There is a definite bullying problem with chidren cussing at each other. Adminstration hardly gets involved. The prinicipal is not friendly and is not visible on campus. The guidance counselor is "too busy" to help even when you call and email for help. Mrs. Clark,AIG, is friendly and allows children to be creative and think outside the box. The orchestra program is also wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

We are military & often run into unsatisfactory schools & uncaring teachers. PES has been great for our daughter & I'm sure will be great for our son when he starts. We have never seen a better school w/ such caring teachers & hard workers.Our daughter has special needs & PES teachers & Staff have gone over & beyond to help us & make our daughters time here & education So much better & a memorable & relaxed learning experience.Our daughter has never been happier & wanting to go school compared to when she would cry & was scared to go at some of the other ones. The extracurricular activities here are great & they encourage & support the children. The principal has been supportive & involved in our daughters education & seems to be in every child's at the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two kids at the school. We are very happy with it. It is a nice diverse student body. The teachers are excellent. Each classroom (except for 4th and 5th grade) has a teachers assistant that is with the children full time. This makes all the difference in the world! The only downside is that the school is old and in need of repairs. These teachers deserve a much better school building! Some of that is due to the fact that it is a county wide school system with many schools in line for renovations. Also, I think the principal is very fair and caring!
—Submitted by a parent

The extracarricular activities at this school are fantastic. The art teacher, music teacher and orchestra teacher really put a lot of extra time and effort into their students. My kids have really enjoyed them. My biggest concern with the school is there is a bullying problem that seems to be pushed under the rug. I've talked to teachers and the principal and they don't seem too concerned. The school counseler did not return phone calls or emails. It seems that it depends on who you are to get any action. My kids used to love going to school, but with the experiences they have had here they now dread going to school. It breaks my heart and I hope that his year will be different.
—Submitted by a parent

both of my children have been at PES since 2003 one is going to middle school next year, we have been very happy with the school
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers in Pinehurst Elementary are very uncaring. The new principal does not listen to parents complaints about problem teachers. A teacher there refers to some of the children who do not finish their homework as 'slackers'. They are not willing to put forth the effort to help children who struggle with their grades and bullying is also a problem there too. I strongly advise parents to not enroll their children in the school. I pulled my daughter out and enrolled her in a private school with caring teachers and in a good, safe environment.
—Submitted by Veronica Morden, a parent

This is my son's second year here at PES and I feel that he couldn't be getting a better foundation for his academics! His teachers have been extremely approachable and given helpful feedback. The only drawback I've encountered is a separate gymnasium and music building (because of the age of the school I suppose) so the children have to go outdoors in order to reach these 2 areas (rain/shine). I love the sense of community I've received here and would highly recommend this school for others who want a solid foundation for their child. A little lacking in the technological area (ie. internet usage for parents to check on progress, etc) but overall WONDERFUL!
—Submitted by a parent

I am becoming more disenchanted with the school system and primarily pinehurst elementary. The teachers teach for the 'end of year test' and have no creativity. The administration is waiting to retire and doesn t want to ruffle any feathers before it is time. I would think that the school would be proud of there students and want to publish there well deserved accomplishments. I find it disturbing with today s technical advances that you can not find one website that shows the schools honor roll. This is what the teachers and the administration strives for am i wrong? Maybe i am suggesting something that you have never thought of? If so please don t give me credit just do it!
—Submitted by tom robinson, a parent