Big Ridge Elementary School

I am a parent who spends a lot of time in the school. The last two reviews could not be farther from the truth about what actually happens. When a class is walking through the hallways, if the are talking it is absolutely disruptive to students who are in classes. At lunch they most certainly are allowed to talk, provided the decibel levels are appropriate. I apologize if this seems personal, it is not, I do not not know you. But, be assured that your children are being taught a vast range of descriptive words that are more than 4 letters. And, as recently as yesterday, every child in the school had a hilarious good time playing 'minute to win it" games with the principal and their teachers. The administration can not please everyone all the time - myself included - but I know that putting the best interest of the child first, is their priority.
--Submitted by a parent

I love Big Ridge!! All 3 of my children and 2 of my brothers have attended this school. This school is great at making sure that the kids are prepared for middle school and beyond. There is good and bad everywhere that you go. All of my experiences with the teachers there have not been positive. However, part of the responsibility for that lies at my child's feet. Most of my experience there has been excellent. Part of this school's success is because of the parental involvement. 99% of the time, I have found the staff to be extremely welcoming. I have and have had great relationships with the majority of my children's teachers. This is because of my involvement in the school and building a strong relationship with the teachers there. My daughter is now a Senior in high school; she is constantly telling me how much she misses the school. Thanks to their dedication for academic excellence, she was more than prepared for middle school. This comes from a child that has ADHD and learning disabilities. I gladly stand by this school and am constantly raving about it. If I have my way, all of my nieces and nephews would attend there also.
--Submitted by a parent

Big Ridge is a great school but the teachers head are in the air they just care to teach and don't bother on the emotionally development of the child, they don't care , they expect everything to be perfect the child has to know everything or they make the child feel dumb.It is not a fun place to be , its true discipline is a must but going overboard with everything is bad.The New Principal is great but reaching parent voice to her is difficult.I totally agree with her comment below "The school is punitive to the students and uninviting to the parents.Choosing to punish all children when only a few being 'noisy' is fundamentally wrong and shows a total lack of leadership among teachers and administrators. Hate coming in to work? Quit or retire! Don't take it out on the children! Teach and make it fun! "
--Submitted by a parent

Bg Rdge does have high expectations but if they didnt then they would not survive in the world.I went there last getting prepared for middle school. I learned that some people don't know stuff we learned last year.They made it easy for us for the next year.I enjoyed getting up every day and going to school.There wasno bullying problems ever when I was there.The reason we had silent lunches was because we were out of control.They gave us a enough warnings and we disobeyed.The teachers were great I loved all of them.We did active stuff every day like experiments.I believe this is the best school to send a kid to.So everyone back off I love this school and actually went there

It seems this school is all about TCaps and not about creating a fun learning environment. 2nd grade was nothing but worksheets and did not stimulate the children. Instead it made learning boring and taught them very little. The school is punitive to the students and uninviting to the parents. There were beautiful days when students were not allowed to go outside for recess and not allowed to talk during lunch! Children can only be quiet for so long! If you deny them the opportunity to play and socialize a little during lunch, then you are doing a great injustice to the education of our children. Choosing to punish all children when only a few being 'noisy' is fundamentally wrong and shows a total lack of leadership among teachers and administrators. Hate coming in to work? Quit or retire! Don't take it out on the children! Teach and make it fun!
--Submitted by a parent

This used to be a great school but unfortunately it has been on the decline recently. Great Teachers have left and continue to leave and you can see a great void. Some new teachers are great others leave a lot to desire. This school is not for everyone and parents will continue to pull their kids out due to the high expectations it has carried and maintained over the years. Do not know what is happening now ?
--Submitted by a parent

In response to your negative comments about 2nd grade, you do not need to make comments about all the teachers unless your child has been taught by each teacher. My mom taught 1st grade last year, so thank-you for the rave reviews of 1st grade teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

This is the forum to express your thoughts so other parents can make informed descions. We have found the teachers to be unreponsive to requests for meetings and uncommunicative when asked questions. Perhaps if the teacher student ration was indeed 16 instead of 21/22 per class the teachers would have time to teach and not give out worksheets. It doen't help that many people are not zoned for the area and are allowed to attend the school anyway.
--Submitted by a parent

I choose to send my children to Big Ridge because it was one of the best schools in Chattanooga. My children have been going there for three years now. The school is challenging, engaging, and meets high expectations for students. I have read some of the negative comments about this school..and I say shame on you as parents. You should stand behind your school and your child's teacher. I am a firm believer in working with teachers. They play a part in your child's future, why put a strain on that. Big Ridge teachers are young and old, but everyone of them seem dedicated to teaching our young babies. They should be praised for what they do..not talked about! Go to Big Ridge yourself and see all the parental involvement that goes on, parents are welcome and you see them ALL the time at school. What a great school!
--Submitted by a parent

1st and K were indeed wonderful! 2nd leaves much to be desired. The joy of learning is gone. Classroom instruction is not engaging. The students are expected to sit and be quiet all day. Punishment is taking away recess; which many days they don't even get! They're allowed to watch way too many non-educational movies. Test scores reflect months of drilling the students, not truly teaching them. Kids this age deserve a fun learning environment. Technology is great, but more important are teachers that can get the kids excited about learning. Administrators really need to make some changes, and get some teachers that enjoy teaching the kids. Otherwise, more and more families are going to be sending their children elsewhere.
--Submitted by a parent