Harpeth Valley Elementary School

I am very pleased with this school. I think it says a lot about the community as a whole!
--Submitted by a parent

My little boy has a teacher who is terrific; she is smart, supportive, and he is learning and enjoying it. She is challenging him in areas where he is already ahead of his grade level. The principal & office staff have been great too, they are available and caring.
--Submitted by a parent

Our child transferred as the result of being re-zoned from another school. As the result, our child had a 'rocky' start. It would have been better if our child would have been zoned for this school from Kindergarten. This is part of Nashville's 'ugly' 30+ years of busing history. Thank goodness this is improving. However, overall we have been pleased with school once our child's needs were identified. We haven't been pleased with the library. It appears that children don't receive a lot of guidance from the librarian in terms of appropriate 'level appropriate books' that they need to choose. This responsibility appears to be left to the classroom teacher which already has 'enough on her plate'. We have NEVER seen the Principal. She was MIA from the Christmas program which we thought was not in appropriate. The VP is Awesome!!. The VP should be appointed as the main Principal.
--Submitted by a parent

We have had 2 teachers here so far, and both have gone to considerable lengths to hold back a gifted child. Our first grader was reading 3rd grade level, yet spent three months in AR reading 1.5 level, while testing 100% on 20 tests in a row and not being allowed to advance. Not a great school if your child is advanced or gifted. Too much focus on sit down and shut up. Given Study Island over Christmas vacation, completed entire first grade math and reading in two weeks - it took over 2 months and numerous phone calls and emails to get permission to advance to 2nd grade level.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is fantastic and has a very involved PTA. I loved that the teachers invited parents to be involved and found things for us to do. My son had a difficult transition into Kg and had a tough time with his teacher, but the school counsellor was great. My daughter had the best 1st grade teacher, Dr. Stewart and we would highly recommend her to everyone.
--Submitted by a parent

Overall, my daughter had a wonderful experience. All of her teachers (with the exception of one) set high expectations for everyone. She really learned a lot. The art and music programs are wonderful. I would love to see the P.E. program every day with more of a focus on learning new sports skills, etc.. Although I do believe the P.E. teachers do the best they can 2 days per week. I would also have loved for my child to learn some foreign language. This school is more truly diverse than most in Nashville. My daughter's good friends had parents from Russia, India, Jordan, China, and Iraq. All of the parents expect great things from their children. The principal, however, is not my favorite person. She can be very sour and unfriendly. The only time I went to see her in 5 years she was not helpful or understanding.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends Kindergarten at HVS and has had the best experience. The school community is like a large family. The teaching staff is amazing in their ability to reach out to their students and get results not only in reading and math, but also higher level thinking skills and character education. I would trust my children to any teacher in the school and I know my daughter will flourish at HVS. There has been some school construction lately to add a wing to the main building, so look past the portable classrooms in the front yard, they are temporary. This school is great, and my daughters and I look forward to many happy years at HVS.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 girls in this school and 2 that are now in middle and high school. I think that this is likely the best elementary school in Middle Tennessee.
--Submitted by a parent

Gym is small. Limited playground area. Very unkept. Bathrooms were smelly and dirty. About disappointment with curriculm our child will be enrolled in a local Christian school in the Fall.
--Submitted by a parent

Playground is large, with two-year-old wonderful equipment. There is a separate, fenced, kindergarten playground. The school is brick, with new paint every few years on doors and inside. Entry area is huge, with an indoor garden and seating. Beautiful.
--Submitted by a parent