Colin Powell Elementary School

My child has been at Powell for 5 years. I am amazed at the parent involvement. The PTA membership is one of the largest in the district. The programs/plays they organize with the music dept are incredible. I have been to several plays in other schools and nothing has compared to the parent investment in stage decorations, costumes, and turn-out during the performances like at Powell. Mrs. Jones, the principal has very high expectations for teachers and students, but that's another reason why Powell has won more awards and recognitions than any other school in the district. Powell families even gathered 3 TONS of paper for the district recycle contest, more than larger elm schools, middle schools, and even the high schools! Powell ranks as a Commended school on TAKS and has earned a number of awards from TEA. We are Palomino Proud!!!
--Submitted by a parent

By far one of the best schools in Grand Prairie! The teachers are great and really enjoy teaching - and it shows! The principal is very professional and attentive but also shows a fun side to the kids. So glad my kids go to this school - have had numerous experiences with other elementary schools in Grand Prairie and nothing compares to Powell!
--Submitted by a parent

Powell is a wonderful school with excellent faculty/staff. It has a diverse learning environment and a communal aura. The PTA is very active, but could always use more parental participation. Rhetorically speaking, should the PTA (or school for that matter) have to be vocal about parental participation for YOUR child? The principal is a good no-nonsense leader. Teachers are demanding, but parents shouldn't have it any other way. The school has received exemplary rating this year, but won't rest on its laurels. TAKS testing and science enrichment should be areas of continued focus.
--Submitted by a parent

i do not think powell is a good school. zavala elementary is way better:)
--Submitted by a parent

Colin Powell is a great school a very diversed learning environment. Mrs. Jones is a wonderful prinicipal. She cares about her staff and students. An active PTA.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at the school since January 2008 and it seems OK but the school does not seem to encourage parent participation. I within in the first week offered to volunteer and and have been doing so since then but I feel they could be a little more vocal and aggresive to get more cooperation and better attendance at the PTA meetings. The Principal is not welcoming at all and she seems to fly solo and does not mingle with the parents. I do believe they have potiential for improvement but it all begins with how involved the leader is.
--Submitted by a parent

Notice how much time has passed between the last review and this one. This school (and from what I can tell, this district) is terrible! My child attends kindergarten here. 3 months into the school year, they transferred my child's kindergarten teacher! With no explanation! The children were devastated. Bullying is rampant here and the principal refuses to do anything about it. She won't even contact the parents of the children who are doing the bullying! A parent took her concerns all the way to the administration and she told me that they said that all she could do was remove her child from this school and send him to another one in the district...but that Colin Powell is the most sought-after school in the district! Parental involvement is near non-existent. In fact, they had to cancel culture night this year because only 5 parents had volunteered school-wide. How sad!
--Submitted by a parent

Academic performance is excellent. Music, art, and PE programs are solid. Very high parent involvement.
--Submitted by a parent

I think that the school is ok but could be better. I feel that the school gives way too many work sheets instead of actually teaching. My son is overwhelmed with worksheets. I think that the teachers that I have dealt with expections are way too high and make hard on some students. I personally will not send my son there next year.
--Submitted by a parent

I know Colin Powell is rated well, however I feel the school has been under enrolled for years, and worry about the future of its status. This year we are way above the past enrollment and the school seems unprepared for it. I have not been happy with the new changes that have been made this year, and the parental involvement seems lacking already. The student/teacher ratios are maxed out, while we have seen Garner and Florence Hill enrollment go down for the better this year. There is still alot of the new growth for Powell to come! I also have heard at the meetings that next year they will not take any transfers, which will affect my child. However, we are considering transferring to Flo. Hill after this year. I have heard many great things happening there.
--Submitted by a parent