Elmore Park Middle School

This school will not improve until the administration has been replaced. Should have been done long ago.
—Submitted by a parent

This was our first year at Elmore Park. So far so good! My son is in resource and has a slight learning disability. Teachers have been understanding and very helpful. The school is not huge and love the smaller feel here. Everyone is always nice and registration was great.
—Submitted by a parent

I've heard from several other parents about problems they encountered with the principal of EPMS, but didn't think much about it. Now that my children are actually attending this school, I can see it is true. Was really hoping that we wouldn't have the same problems, but unfortunately we are. Never had problems this serious with other schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Couldn't agree more, I have also had several bad experiences with this principal over the two years that my child has been at this school. I have also complained to the school board about her attitude and behaviour. My child's previous school had a great principal and all the teachers seemed to love working for her. She knew the children by name, and was always very kind to the parents and listened to them and valued their opinion. To come from that atmosphere to Elmore Park Middle is such a shock; there is a very negative atmosphere, I can feel it as soon as I walk in the door. Hope something can be done very soon!
—Submitted by a parent

I think its crazy to see PARENTS judge elmore park. Do y'all go there ? no. For one , miss lowe represents a principle that gets the job done. She does not play games with you and she's not there to be your friend. Thats how its supposed to be, she a good principle , and if your going to complain about ELMORE'S staff , you should first take a look at other schools staff , why don't you send your kid somewhere else like bon lin or appling or any other schools around here , iv been transferred to a couple that where stated to be the best and yet it was horrible. So send your kids there and you'll be running back to epms and have a better point of view of it. Through my years being there every single teacher has been good , there not all nice but there all good teachers. Some teachers are there to have fun and be friends with kids , and others are straight forward with just teaching and thats the "mean" teachers . But over all i personally think epms is one of the best if not the best middle schools in shelby county AND memphis city for sure. And this is from someone who has actually gone there to jude it and not some parents who has never even been to the school before.Ridiculous

AVOID THIS SCHOOL!!! The reviews are 100% accurate when telling you the Principal has a MAJOR chip on her shoulder. My child has special needs and she is very unhappy with this school. This school is horrible bc the leadership is horrible. The Principal is a huge problem for this school!!! She is EXTREMELY rude. She doesn't care AT ALL for the kids. She is very snobby and arrogant. My daughter is terrified of her. We have seen staff members SCREAM at the kids like they are in the military. It is SO CRUEL. They didn't know we were watching them but they still did not care. just kept YELLING at the kids. :( The staff does not communicate with the parents AT ALL. We never know what is going on. They have limited activities for the children. My daughter is not allowed to be in choir!?!?! It is how they set up their schedules. My daughter once took ballet at another school, here, she is tormented and I am STUCK until I move. I am very unhappy with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The functional aspect of teaching at this school is ok, but the administration is about a zero. I believe the principal should be replaced as she is arrogant and has a chip on her shoulder.
—Submitted by a parent

Our experience at Elmore Park has been mixed. With respect to the teachers, on the positive side, they are both friendly and well qualified; however, on the negative side they do not seem to have any cross-communication amongst themselves. I can't tell you how many times my 6th grader came home with homework in EVERY subject! Not to mention having to go in early for various "projects." And while band has been a great experience, the level of commitment that is demanded in before school & after school practices, not to mention the CONTINUAL request for money!, somewhat tainted the whole thing. In addition to that, we have experienced a year FULL of last minute requests/notifications concerning everything from dues that need to be paid to field trip permission slips. I find their library to be greatly lacking, but perhaps this will be remedied with the new building? Perhaps the greatest disappointment was having my child come home each day (at least early on in the school year) complaining about the level of cursing that the students use in the hallway & at lunchtime. I felt like there were more things to "correct" about the school day than there was to praise.
—Submitted by a parent

Elmore Park is an excellent school. Why, because great leadership is omni-present. Ms. Lowe deserves respect, loyalty and support from the staff, parents, students and community. She works dilligently to provide an environment conducive for learning. It would be more beneficial to the school as a whole if the negative comments could revert to a helping hand. There is no perfect system or perfect people. When our children hear all the ugly remarks about the principal, teachers and school, they bring all that bad attitude to school. Grown ups, stop disrespecting other adults on front of your kids. Then you wonder kids carry on in such a way. They are mirrowing "YOU".
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school. Not everything is rosy in our experience, but the administrators and faculty work to solve problems. And they truly care about the students. Parents are invited into the school, but there just aren't too many opportunities for participation in middle school. The PTSA is expanding programs for parents, but it's still growing. Once the construction is complete and programs are standardized, I will give it 5 stars!
—Submitted by a parent

i love this school and the faculty and staff the people there at elmore park are great they allways give 100% in my education they never give up . the classes like pe and art are great too . They also have a band there that is so fun and the teacher is so up beat i would know because i am a flute player im in 8th grade
—Submitted by a student

I have used Great Schools.net the last two times we have moved to find a home in the areas of the best schools. We recently moved from N.C. and my son is attending Elmore Park. I was very disappointed in the happenings the first day of school. My son was registered for school the week before school start and I had a conference with the principal to discuss his special needs. When he got to school on the first day, they didn't even have him in the system yet. He had to sit in the guidance office for 2 hours while they put him in the system. He missed homeroom and didn't get his books or a lunch number, which held up the line at lunch, which was embarassing to him. They did not have locker assignments, and the list goes on. Very Disorganized! I hope it gets better.
—Submitted by a parent

Elmore Park Middle is the 'BEST' public school my child has atteneded in this city. These teachers actually seem like they care. They are HIGHLY QUALIFIED and have high expectations for each child and will not allow them to just do the bare minimum to get by like the teachers in the city schools. I have waisted 6 years of my son's life and education allowing him to attend the city schools where most of the teachers in that system don't care if your child is behind or if they aren't doing well. Just as long as they get thier checks.
—Submitted by a parent

I skeptical about Elmore Park MS before my child attended last school year. How relieved I was to learn I was wrong. The principal and faculty have proven to me that they are in their roles for a reason. I knew that had the same or similar expectations for my son and I did. Good behavior is an expectation. Bad behavior is not tolerated. This controlled environment allows for education to be the priority what a win! My child s grades were excellent, he was pushed to do more than status quo, and he was successful. Thank Ms. Lowe and staff for taking a stand and making a difference in the lives of many young people. Outstanding!
—Submitted by a parent

This is the best school our child has ever attended. The principal and teachers are exceptional. They have almost no problems with bullies, even though middle school is the most common age for bullying, thanks to their peer mediator program. Our child attended a costly private school and Elmore Park has beat it hands down - socially, academically, etc.
—Submitted by a parent