Country Lane Elementary School

I agree with all the negative comments. The staff opens your car door with out your permission and it's a rule that you must let 4 yr olds out 2oo yards away from their door in freezing temperatures if the traffic stops.. The rules are way too strict for parent involvement. If you are not at the very top of your social game you won't be allowed to help with the PTA and forget about trying to talk with a teacher - too hard to get in touch with and they won't work wih you. The traffic situation is awful - and if you're late because of the traffic, you must deal with all the consequences. I do agre it's all smoke and mirrors. This is the worst school in the district.
—Submitted by a parent

We recently moved and transferred to this school from another school in the district. So far I am happy with the quality of education that my child is receiving, but some of the policies at this school are too strict and discourage parental involvement and do not foster good relationships between parents and teachers. The PTA seems to be a clique and it's very hard to get involved. I was very involved in my child's previous school and here I feel very shut out. It's frustrating to want to be involved and not be allowed to. From an academic standpoint, so far this school is meeting my expectations, but if you are a parent who likes to be involved in the activities taking place at your child's school, you pretty much get the door slammed in your face.
—Submitted by a parent

We have transferred our children to another school because of the attitudes of some of the teaching staff at Country Lane. My child's 3rd grade teacher completely destroyed her love of school. What made it even worse is that now she is considered behind in the new school when at the end of 1st grade she was ahead. The traffic is terrible. The school puts on a good show but that is just it, it's is all smoke and mirrors. I would never recommend this school to anyone who wished for their child to succeed in life.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have attended Country Lane for the past 4 years. I love the school. I think that some of the reviews are unfair and some that are judging the school as poor can't even spell, so I would not judge the school for that. Maybe your child was not getting enough help at home. I will agree about the traffic, but with over 1000 students, you have to expect some delays, as probably 75% of the kids live too close to ride the buses. If they would lighten up on the bus restrictions, it would probably help with that.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school, the only problem is the traffic picking up my child from school. There should be a better system.
—Submitted by a parent

We had moved to BA because of the great things we had heard about the schools. The class rooms are over crowded and the teacher do not have the help they need. Our child was not doing good in school and was not provided the extra help he needed. After one year of going there we put our child in a privet school. He now has been on honor roll for two years since leaving there.
—Submitted by a parent

My younger two children have been attending Country Lane for one year. The faculty and staff are excellent and are very accommodating to parents who want to be active in their childrens' education experience. My daughter has a mild learning disability and the school has been very helpful in getting her the assistance she needs to excel. We are very thankful to Country Lane for being a great educational institution as well as providing the extras our children have needed to perform at their best.
—Submitted by a parent

My child atteded County Lane last year in her first year of school. The office personel are not very friendly. Their traffic each morning is ridiculous, that being mostly the parents who dont follow the drop off and pick up rules, and the staff who dont enforce them. I had no problem however with the teaching of my daughter she enjoyed her pre-k year with her teacher and talks about her all the time. If they could do something about the office staff and the traffic problems resolved it would be a good school, other than tht I have no problems
—Submitted by a parent

Most of the teachers at Country Lane seem to go the extra mile in helping kids learn. The principal is always highly visible and very much involved with what's going on at the school. Every time I visit I see her either monitoring the hallway traffic inside or helping the safety patrol kids with kids arriving to school outside. The safety and well being of the children is number 1 at Country Lane. The brand new addition to the school is wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

I Love The School and Everything About it.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very surprised about the rating. My kids have attended there for two years and this seems to be a school of two extremes. The teachers are either deeply dedicated and passionate about helping kids learn or don't care much. The principal seems to be very involved with the school and maintaining the dress code is strictly re-enforced regardless of the latest trends and fashions. Safety is number one here and that's great. The secretaries could be a bit more friendly. The school is kept very clean and the surrounding area is really nice. They just built a fantastic gymnasium and made the school bigger to accomodate the growing community.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall Country Lane is fair. Having four children attend has given my husband and I a good overview of the principle, teachers and students there. If you are looking to embrace cultural diversity being Native American gives you a welcoming since. The principle seems to strongly appeal towards embracing the Indian culture with great hall wall themes throughout the entire school representing Indian culture at a certain time throughout the year. Great learning tool! Cultural awareness is important. However, the support and interest is about a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 regarding African Americans. Other than that, she appears to be very involved with the students, staff and has a great awareness of what's going on at the school. Safety is a high priority and taken very seriously. Some teachers are very dedicated while others don't seem to care much.
—Submitted by a parent

I have taught in several schools, and Country Lane is the best. The staff is excellent, and they are constantly working to improve our children's education.
—Submitted by a teacher

My son is now a 6th grader and went to this school from age 4 thru 5th grade. His experience and ours was nothing short of wonderful. I have a 1st grader now and am having a similar experience. All of my kids teachers were wonderful and both of my kids are smart kids and I know a lot of that has to do with their education. My daughter will be in the gifted program next year and my son is a straight A kid now in middle school. The staff are all wonderful and I think if you had a bad experience, it was a rarity and you should speak up and say something.
—Submitted by a parent

My daugher attended kindergarten at Country Lane. My husband and I were very impressed with her teacher and the rest of the staff. We never had a bad experience. Her teacher was very patient and caring, and very much involved with the children. We were disappointed when we had to move out of the district. I would send my daughter back to Country Lane if I could.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children that attend and have attended this school. My first child, now in 6th,went k-5 and still has wonderful memories of both the teachers and the principal.She is a honor student and thanks to the teachers she had, they encouraged her to exceed. My 2nd child is now in 1st grade and loving every minute of his time here. To those that had a 'bad' experience, Did you talk to your teacher or principal? They've always helped us with any situation. Always. Parents have to be more involved in todays world. They teachers work for little and alot use their own money to help our kids. Taking an active roll is our responsibility, as well as the schools. If you have a problem , ask for help. Great job CountryLane, Keep it up.
—Submitted by Pamela Lay, a parent

I am shocked at some of the reviews I have read. I am now in 6th grade and used to attend Country Lane. The faculty was patient and the teachers went out of thier way to help us. Many of my friends attending other schools were far behind and suprised at the curriculum. I have no problems at my new Middle School thanks to Country Lane and its teachers. I was shocked about some reports my friends told me about events that happened at other schools. The safety you have in the school is incredible. I will admit I had had a teacher that I did not really like but that does not determine the rank of the school. It is small but quaint. It was the most populated school in BA but now is much smaller. I loved the school, it was GREAT. I hope you like it, as well.
—Submitted by Anonymous, a former student

I presently have two children attending this school. At the beginning of the last school year, I was taking with my child's teacher. The teacher stated that she would not be teaching the children what she had intended to start the year with; instead she would have to teach them things to 'bring them up' to the level they needed to be. These lessons should have been taught in the last grade, but were not. Also, I have talked to a few retired teachers of the school. They felt they could not teach the children what they knew the children needed and could handle. Too much 'Red Tape'! I am not really satisfied with this school. If I could stay home and teach them myself, I would!
—Submitted by a parent

I have had 2 children attend this school and I am very involved in my children's education. I hate to say it but this school is not a good school. All the teachers that my children encountered appear to be burned out and very frustrated. The education at this school is o.k., but very far behind. Both my children were excelling at this school. We moved to Texas and both my children were so far behind, but I'm not sure it that is this school or Oklahoma. Parent involvement is pretty good, but could be better.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the office staff could be a little bit friendlier and alot more patient with the students and the parents. They say they want to talk and help where ever possible, but my experiemce has left me feeling like I was a bother to them. When it comes to my child and her education, I want it to be as important to them as it is to me. I am glad to say my daughter will be at a new school this coming year. I hope I atleast get to see and maybe meet the principal this year.
—Submitted by a parent