Kolter Elementary School

Great school! Outstanding parent involvement, very good leadership, excellent group of teachers, exceptional teacher/school - parent communication. Both of my kids love it here! They are challenged and engaged. If I must nitpick, I wish the magnet program focused more on foreign language as opposed to culture.
--Submitted by a parent

I was a little worried sending my son to public school in Houston because I went to private school growing up. We moved to Meyerland specifically so that we could send our son to Kolter after hearing rave reviews. We made an excellent decision. The school has high parent involvement which is very welcomed. The principal is fantastic and hands on. The teachers very good, although a couple of them are not great at using computers and are difficult to contact. As an educator, I am very satisfied with the curriculum and how the school is run. It's simply one of the best--if not THE best--elementary schools in Houston.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two kids in the school. I thought they are in good hands. However, I have recently started to doubt the effectiveness of the education at Kolter. My older child has been in the Spanish program for 5 years, but after more than 400 hours of studying (3 times a week for 5 years), he still can't carry on simple conversations ! The younger one has been learning Spanish for two years (180 hours) now, but he can hardly make a full sentence!
--Submitted by a parent

The more I learn, the more impressive this school is. Kolter has the incredible combination of strong principal leadership, talented and committed teachers, and a core group of parents who are engaged and willing to do extraordinary heavy lifting for the benefit of the entire community. The school environment is focused on what is best for kids. Here is an example. Our 4th grade math teacher felt the class was able to handle increased rigor. She decided to implement the 5th grade math assessment to check her assumption and almost everyone blew out the numbers. As a result, the teacher has accelerated the math curriculum by one year. The 4th graders are now doing 5th grade plus work in her class. I am so grateful that teachers are empowered and supported by the principal to do what is best for kids. It is a privilege for my children to attend Kolter.
--Submitted by a parent

Kolter is a school of people who are always trying to do things better. They are already doing a great job, but don't rest on their laurels. From their fifth annual sweet potato harvest festival to their bulletin boards that incorporate the French, Chinese, Spanish and Japanese languages, Kolter is at the leading edge. From the Native Texas Plants and Pond habitat, to the Monarch Waystation, to the raised vegetable and herb beds, to the Native Texas ABC gardens to the Art Cow beds--kids use their hearts, hands and especially brains, everyday.
--Submitted by a parent

We love Kolter and are very please with the academics. We also adore Peggi Stewart and her staff. We have no problem approaching Peggi when we need to and have occasionally just dropped by to chat with her. She is also incredibly responsive by email and even checks her email on the weekends. She has provided great leadership to her staff. I have had several discussion with several of the teachers and it is obvious how much they respect her leadership. We also have had an amazing bunch of teachers that seem to know the right teaching style for our children. One child is very shy and her teachers have really helped our child grow!
--Submitted by a parent

I have been so disappointed in the comments others have made on this site and cannot sit idly by any longer. As not only a parent but an HISD insider I can GUARANTEE that there is not a principal out there who cares more for students AND teachers than Peggi Stewart. Kolter has absolutely lucked out to find someone who is so kind-hearted, intelligent, dedicated, and NOT solely motivated by the bottom line ($) or blindly following the new administration off the cliff. Anyone who claims to find her unapproachable or cold is jealous and/or intimidated - plain and simple.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree Kolter is an amazing school with wonderful teachers and administrative staff. Peggi Stewart is a great leader of Kolter Elementary and there has NEVER been one moment that I have felt as though I can not approach her. Kolter IS VERY lucky to have her has their principal!
--Submitted by a parent

There are so many things that are right about Kolter. I wish HISD would have more schools like Kolter! The waiting list for the magnet program gets longer each year. What I respect about our principal is that she's not afraid to make difficult decisions in the best interest of Kolter students. Don't call her names in the anonymity of a website, make an appointment and go see the woman! Your tune might change.
--Submitted by a parent

I went there in the 60s. It's even better today. :-)
--Submitted by a teacher