Fountain City Elementary School

My daughter is now in the third grade at Fountain City Elementary School. She started at Fountain City in the first grade having attended South Knox Elementary for Pre K and Kinder garden. Fountain City has severed her well thus far, but we have had some grievances. Her second grade teacher had a policy of punishing the entire class for the behavior of a few students. Specifically, she took away time from the playground as the punishment. Kids need to release energy and exercise so I did not find this to be appropriate. Also, the home work sheets which have been sent home, in all three grades, are riddled with errors and lacking instructional clarity. It seems the school has partnered with a sub-par publisher for the worksheets. That said, the teachers have been very engaged and my daughters knowledge is developing well. I believe progress mostly boils down to parent involvement with their child s learning. Both my wife and I work and we have a baby that requires a lot from us; yet, we make the time to work with our third grader on her homework and scholastic skills in general. If we could put in more time she would be an even better student, regardless of the school she attends.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended this school from 3rd-5th grade. I felt overall that the school was decent. The office staff is short and insensitive, the principal was receptive to hear my complaints but blatantly said nothing could be done. I helped with art masters and enjoyed the children very much, but this program has been removed because it takes 'too much time' from important curricular activities. Also, during lunch if the kids speak too loudly they enforce strict rules of no talking and possible time outs. I do not agree with this. That is one of the only times during the day when the kids learn about larger socialization skills. And yet the staff feels it necessary to control behavior then too. Overall I think the school tries to do well, but I don't think they have their energy focused in the most beneficial light for everyone.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to this school and now my son does too. The traffic needs work, but the teachers actually care and try very hard. This is my son's second year here. They have an excellent diversity with PE, music, library, AR, computer learning, and art. Many students, including mine, are able to walk to school every day in this close community. I can't understand why it would only get a 5 out of 10. The teachers don't just welcome, but enforce parent involvement. If more schools did their parental involvement program, you would have more successful children b/c the parents would HAVE to get involved instead of just leaving them to figure it out for themselves that happens so often lately.
--Submitted by a parent

Fountain City Elementary is a wonderful close community school with caring teachers and staff.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school in the heart of one of the oldest communities of Knoxville. I understand it was recently accredited-one of a few in Knoxville. Ms Summa was the principal last year. 2004-2005 brings a new principal. Ms Summa is now at Karns Elem. The teaching and support staff are outstanding and although they recently lost veteran members, they are great. This school is in a very diverse community, has no extrcurricular activites, spends the resources of the school and parents on the education of children. Parent interest in the school has always been encouraged and appreciated. Our child recently graduated the 5th grade here and has been in the top of the TTAP's in math and science at Fountain City and now in Middle School. Education basics are the emphasis here, including reading, and it shows in it's graduates. FC graduates are easy to identify in area Middle Schools.
--Submitted by a parent