Minadeo Elementary School

My children are in pre-K and 2nd grade at Minadeo. I volunteered in my daughter's kindergarten class once a week for a year, so I feel like I have a good sense of the school. All three of her teachers have been excellent, and my daughter has been challenged. There are some behavior problems, but the administration is trying to deal with the issues proactively. What I like best about the school is that there is a wide range of nationalities, races and socio-economic groups. It is a real melting pot. There are many international students, from Argentina to Thailand, as well as students from different neighborhoods in Pittsburgh: Squirrel Hill, Greenfield, Hazelwood and Homewood. This has been a rich learning experience for my kids. There are lots of opportunities for parents to get involved in various activities such as the Annual Talent Show, the Playground Committee and PTO.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended this school from K-3rd grade. When the school was expanded due to superintendent's restructuring, problems began. My son was a 4.0 student. He could no longer learn here. From the first day of school, fighting and suspensions in his class. One student was suspended repeatedly. Why not expelled? The principal refused to do anything. Pulled my son right out of a school that he loved. On year later and no regrets. He is in a more disciplined school and still getting 4.0. And his principal is awesome. He is always present and freely talks with parents. Never got that at Minadeo.
--Submitted by a parent

Minadeo has a wonderful Pre -K program! My son is in safe and friendly environment. Our teacher Mrs. McKallister is awesome. We are happy to be there. Just not sure we want to continue go to Minadeo Kindergarten. For last two year the school little bit lost its reputation. The rating now is 4, which is really low, compare for example with Linden. Anyway Pre-K is the best one and free!
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter's teachers have been excellent and do their best to offer enrichment for more advanced kids and attention to the kids who are at the low end of achievement. High parent involvement. Parent body is diverse socioeconomically and ethnically/racially. Good art and music. The new principal added Spanish this year. Yes, some downsides: Minadeo went from ~450 kids to ~600 kids last year after a restructuring of Pgh schools. A lot of new kids came from under-achieving schools that closed. That's caused some discipline problems (in the upper grades) and lowered test scores. Both of these problems ahould diminish over the next few years as the younger children come up through Minadeo with some of the best teachers in the system. Overall, we are happy and would recommend Minadeo. I think my attitude is more representative than the previous reviewers. But please come visit
--Submitted by a parent

My youngest (son) attends 3rd grade here, and my oldest (daughter) graduated from 5th last year. My experience with Minadeo is that the faculty 'teaches to the test' and the administration strives only to keep the peace. The bus is a joke; fighting, cussing (even from the driver), and always late too. According to my son, his teacher is mean. Until we moved here, my kids loved to go to school. Now they dread every day and spend more time looking over their shoulder for an undeserved punch and doing menial homework because of disorganized teachers than learning. It's better than the middle school my daughter attends now only because of high parental involvement and the young age of the kids. Don't waste your time or your money here either. We are hunting another school as I write.
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers and staff were the main problem. The music and art programs were pretty good. Personally had a very bad experience with this school, to the point that we moved just to get away from it.
--Submitted by a parent

this school is focused on test scores rather than the needs of children.
--Submitted by a parent

We sent our daughter there for 2 years before we moved to Charlotte. I would recommend this school to anybody. It was rated extremely high considering it was a city school rather than a suburbian school. The student body was a diverse mix of white, asian, south asian and african population. There was heavy parental involvement. All the teachers knew each child by name. There was a great computers programme. children. There was a lot of craft work. When we moved to Charlotte, my daughter was at an advanced level compared to most of the other students. My daughter felt at home there and looked forward to going there everyday.
--Submitted by Radha, a parent

2 kids at Minadeo: one 2 thru 5 grade, and one in K. Teaching is OK, better in higher grades than in lower. Unfortunately, some teachers put emphasis on yelling, creating atmosphere of an army camp. Academic achievments are not always appreciated or encouraged. The class drags with the pace of the slowest student.