Eliot Elementary School

Some Great Teachers! Terrible administration and clicks are worse than a high school among the parents and even some kids. My child was told he had ADD, he does not after being tested; big stigma against active boys here. Any complaints and you are labeled along with your child for all six years. Glad to be leaving this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am writing this shortly before the end of my son's first grade year - his last year at Eliot. I am sorely disappointed in this school, and the only good thing I can say is that we loved his kinder teacher. However, when speaking to the administration for support, we were dismissed, the secretary and registrar in the office are most often rude and equally dismissive, even the counselor was of little help His first grade teacher a true nightmare. I would like to be kind and say she taught him what he needed to know, but she did not feel the need even to make that effort. He learned to read, write and do math at home. I may as well have home-schooled. My son has turned from sunny and carefree to angry and defiant. We are bitterly disappointed and now I am angry, as well. No parent likes to see their child treated unfairly. We attempted to work with his teacher - she self-diagnosed him with ADHD, so we finally agreed to take him to a specialist to be medicated (we knew he was) at her request. We have switched him from one medication to another and she has never been happy. I am done with her complaints and treatment of my child - good riddance, Eliot.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is now in 1st grade at Eliot, and she loves the school and we are very happy with her progress. She had Mrs. Sicking for Kindergarten and has Mrs. Bean for 1st grade and loves them both. Mrs. Sicking has now moved into the Art teacher position, which made my daughter happy that she gets to see her this year also. There are many parents who are very involved in the PTA and in the classroom. Each classroom volunteer must submit a back-ground check before volunteering. I am a full-time working Mom, and I volunteer when I can. The last project I helped out with was the Eliot Auction and I was made to feel welcome by the other parents. I do see a little of the cliques, if you want to call it that. The same parents tend to volunteer and they seem to become friends. Who wouldn t want a great friendly working relationship at work? I do agree with after care. I would like to get my child into after care so she could go to Lego club, and take the art and Spanish classes after school, but their space is limited and we have been on a waiting list all year. My daughter is picked up by a local daycare after school at 3:00, so she misses out on the extras.
--Submitted by a parent

Eliot Elementary is an oasis in TPS. Excellent principal, teachers and parents. The PTA is excellent. The last three years of leadership were excellent and this year is proving the same. Some parents seem to volunteer over and over ---- they do it because there are parents who are unable to because of work commitment. There are volunteer opportunities at all levels. Just taking the day off to go on a field trip is so rewarding. Principal slowly embraces change with forethought... that is good, the boat doesn't rock but, there is well thought change as it makes sense. Students that graduate from Eliot are well prepared to go into Edison Magnet, Holland Hall, Monte Cassino and Cascia etc. Eliot is an excellent school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am not sure what the rave is about. It is a marginal school at best. The teachers are just collecting a paycheck, the principle is out to lunch, the after school borders on dangerous. I have seen children pushed by teachers, called terrible names and learn nothing. The parental involvement borders on disruptive and everytime you turn around the PTA has their hand out asking for more money or supplies..It is a joke of a school.

I have to agree. I have a child with ADHD and the services offered by the school are sub-par at best. Eliot's hand-off approach to dealing with parent's issues does not help the school grow and improve. The only reason this school is as good as it is is b/c of the parental involvement. If the parents were not involved this would be an ordinary school in the district. The teachers are not pushed to do better and the principal is complacent. I do not think the classes are filled to capacity - has anyone looked at the class size at Jenks lately? 20 kids to a class is quite small, but even at that a child with special needs gets lost in the shuffle. the school has no interest in helping them at all.
--Submitted by a parent

well it's been 6 yrs since I wrote the 1st post and now I'm back. I agree for the most part the school is great...lots of cliques....principal has no clue but I do believe my son has had the best a public school can offer and thats all I can ask for as a parent.
--Submitted by robert siegrist, a parent

My child is in the 2nd grade at Eliot. Our teacher's every year have been exceptional. They are very dedicated and loving toward all the students. I do wish that we could see some improvement in the Aftercare Program and would also like to see more art and music (and perhaps language) classes offered after school. I think the children in Aftercare as well as those lucky kids who have stay-to-home parents who pick them up after school could benefit considerably by a more diverse offering even if it has to be after school. I have heard that the Principal is resistant to these ideas and certainly hope that is not the case.
--Submitted by a parent

I totally agree with this parent. we have had the exact same experience with the 2nd grade teachers as far as our ADHD student and behavioral issues and punishments. It's very damaging to the self esteem of our child.
--Submitted by a parent

Eliot is a great school and the principal is wonderful. We are very happy. Parental involvement is very high. Love this school.
--Submitted by a parent