Laurel Mountain Elementary School

LMES is everything that a parent could ask for when choosing a school to help educate their child. We are finishing our kindergarten year, and our teacher was amazing! We get daily e-mails on the daily activities, weekly e-mails on upcoming important dates, and parents are always welcomed when they visit. My son's kindergarten teacher even made a home visit after he got a tooth pulled to check up on him and bring him goodies from the classroom. The parent involvement is spectacular, as the PTA rallies to support the school with so many enrichment opportunities. Yes, the school is academically competitive- but that is brought upon mostly by the highly educated and ambitious parents and not the nurturing staff. Yes, there is a lot of fundraising, but if one wants all the extras that this school provides, there is no other option. All the fundraising directly benefits our kids.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is entering his first year at LMES. Kindergarten thus far has been amazing! This school has so many enrichment activities that it is hard to start describing them all. The staff are very nurturing and approachable, we couldn't have asked for any more. The level of communication from the classroom to home is out of this world. We are so lucky to be at this school!
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in first grade at LME and now at the end of two years there I am done with this school. There are two reasons why this school perform so well on TAKS testing 1) the kids are smart and 2) the test is ridiculously easy. LME is a wasted opportunity. It is bristling with intelligent children and motivated parents and yet it teaches to the lowest common denominator instead of rising to the challenge of stimulating intelligent children. The teachers don't have to teach - the children are well prepared by their home environment before they enter the school.
—Submitted by a parent

LME is incredible! Teachers, staff, students and parents make this school amazing. This school offers a unique enrichment program weekly for the kids as well as preparing them academically. If you have a child that needs extra assistance academically, they do a superb job accomodating the student and individualizing the program. We have 2 kids in this school, and I cannot say enough good things about it.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year and we love LME. Yes, there is a lot of fundraising, but that is the nature of elementary schools anymore. Definitely a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall, this is a good school that used to be great. Most of the really good teachers have either retired or changed schools. Every year, I find yet another reason to hold off on volunteering at the school. One year, I asked why we couldn't use the funds from over $27,000 raised at our school Carnival for the purchase of paper and ink, items that the school was asking for in weekly newsletters.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at LM and so far we are extremely pleased with the curriculums and all the staff members. The principal and the teachers are excellent.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is very academically challenging for the average student. Expectations are high, homework is substantial. A high level of parental involvement & volunteering is expected by the staff, PTA and the other parents. Fundraising is a very big deal, with the average yearly PTA fund drives raising $30,000 - $40,000. There is also a new 'enrichment model program' that is funded by parents at a yearly cost of approx. $70,000, over your tax dollar bill. There is also the almost weekly requests for money for other small items. This is very much like a private school in that regard. It is a good school, the teaching staff is getting better, the newer principal is great.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has always had an exemplerary rating however the school is getting away from teaching the basics. Our child's classes have gone away from the traditional weekly spelling tests whereby in the past there was a lesson and test over the words that had something in common. For example that i comes before e except after c or words ending in 'tion' or 'sion'. This has been lost and experimental methods are being used instead. I would recommend anyone wanting to know more about the curriculum at this school to talk with the teachers and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Our School is great for every type of children. Teachers are very well prepare and the Principal is a role model to follow, she know every kid in the school, she goes by grades making sure everything is fine, and she accept all kids of comments. It is an ESOL school so the different cultures that we have also provide a great asset for all the kids that can learn about different parts of the world. The school as at least 5 Enrichment programs where kids can explore their different abilities. My two sons just love this school.
—Submitted by a parent

We have enjoyed laurel mountain very much. It's very culturally diverse and the teachers and administrators care a great deal about the students.
—Submitted by a parent

LM is a fantastic school. The teachers are wonderful, the parents are VERY involved and you couldn't ask for more academically.
—Submitted by a parent

We have three children at Laurel Mountain and believe it is an excellent school. The teachers are very supportive and the parents volunteer many hours to help make the school as good as it is. The students are very prepared to learn when they arrive, so it's a high performing school. That can be a little intimidating for some kids, but the teachers and staff work hard to help children who need extra support. I'd recommend this school very highly.
—Submitted by a parent

Very good program. Friendly staff and have a lot of extracurricular programs such as spanish, math pentathelon clubs, and chess clubs.
—Submitted by a teacher

great school, excellent teachers and programs. Perfect upper middle class school. Only negative i have heard about is that it is the perfect model for the perfect student - doesn't deal well with learning disabilities.
—Submitted by a parent

Fern Bluff is great school, lots of parent involvements, good kids and teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

The staff is outstanding. I have never seen a more dedicated group of people. Except for maybe the PTA! Lots of great programs and enrichment opportunities.
—Submitted by Jennifer Korba, a parent

I am impressed with the overall facilities of the school. In order to bring morning traffic situation to sanity, I suggest that school open up back entrance for Parents coming from D-K Ranch road for drop off.
—Submitted by Alkesh Amodwala, a parent

Supplemental (advanced) learning programs available even at Kindergarten level.