Poe Elementary School

Poe is a warm and welcoming school with committed teachers, ambitious arts performances and programs, and engaged students who emerge equally confident of their ability to both replicate the style of Van Gogh in a line drawing, and ace the next math or spelling test. As the transformation to IB gets into full swing next year, this school is only going to get better - when my youngest goes to junior high my family will have spent 12 years in this wonderful community, a really magical place buried in the heart of one of the best neighborhoods in Houston!
—Submitted by a parent

We'll be graduating from Poe after 5 great years at this small town feeling magnet school. My kids scored very high for Lanier Vanguard and we feel very prepared for the rigorsof middles school. The fine arts programs are amazing, mine will take their 5 years of suzuki violin under Debbie Elafros on to middle school orchestra, our Poe Dancers taught by Traci Prince Greene are fabulous, and the track coach Linda Suttles also coaches Lanier Track. Our principal Jeff Amerson knows kids by name, eats with them in the cafeteria and is totally committed to their welfare and being partners with teachers and parents. Our PTO is incredible and committed, and our teachers are strong and love our kids. IB will be a great addition to our academic process.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my 5th year at Poe Elementary and love our experience and this wonderfully diverse and welcoming school. I have two very different children who attend the school - one who is in the Gifted and Talented Program, one with Special Needs. I truly believe that they are both getting what they need in an elementary education. They are both supported, challenged and cared for each and every day. The teachers are creative and go beyond "teaching to the tests." Our family LOVES Poe Elementary!
—Submitted by a parent

We are in our 7th year at Poe and absolutely LOVE our neighborhood school! We have a strong Principal and teaching staff, strong parental involvement with the PTO, and a diverse population in a beautiful historic building in the heart of the prettiest section of Houston! My children have been challenged academically and benefited from the fine arts curriculum. And I'm very excited about our school implementing the IB program. Check out the PTO website www.poepto.org to learn about some of the unique experiences our children are exposed to (ie, Fine Arts Career Week, All Art Day, etc).
—Submitted by a parent

We are in our 10th year at Poe and 3rd principal and we are still as comitted as our first day. The school is a gem in the neighborhood and my children have gotten an exemplary education. The school is diverse, historic, warm and welcoming.
—Submitted by a parent

Poe has excellent academics, an outdoor learning vegetable garden, and a preschool program. It is serving the needs of the community.

Teachers and staff are very attentive, and my son is challenged and encouraged daily! Love it!
—Submitted by a parent

I have extremely pleased with the school and their new principal Ms. Gonzales. She is approachable and works with the parents to ensure their kids get the best education. My son finished kindergarten and really grew. First grade is about to start and we asked for our son to be placed in another class better suited to his personality and he was moved. A responsive school, with responsive staff and parents. Even better, the teachers do care about the kids and keep the parents informed about both the good and bad.
—Submitted by a parent

While Poe is our first experience in the HISD school system, I suspect that Poe is a very special school, particularly in its arts offerings. Our daughter brings home amazing artwork, and the performance and dance kids do there is incredible. Science also seems very strong. The new principal seems excellent -- love her full and unfussy bilinguality -- she just says everything twice in perfect English and perfect Spanish. As may be the case most places, we had to be pro-active to make sure things got done, and to pursue opportunities, but the opportunities are there, and they are abundant. Nice kids, warm educators, pleasant community, great sense of creativity interwoven with learning throughout.
—Submitted by a parent

My 2 kids started kindergarten this year at Poe, and I have been very happy with the school. The quality of the education they are receiving and the 2 teachers we've had so far is excellent. The school is more diverse than other area schools, and I think this is a major advantage to the school. There is a lot of parental involvement, and the teachers seem genuinely committed to the school and the students.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that the parents are very involved in this school, but most activities are for non-working parents. They don't favor parents that work very much as they have meetings and such at 4:00 in the afternoon? The extended day allows teachers to sell candy to kindergartners. I think that that is crazy! The education is ok but I am not happy with the communication in the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Poe is an outstanding school in the heart of an historic, affluent neighborhood. The school's diversity mirrors that of the city of Houston. The school's only drawback is that the principal is distant and unapproachable for parents.
—Submitted by a parent

No school is perfect, but POE Elementary strives for excellence, and has high standards for student achievement and behavior.' One of the outstanding features is the high level of involvement of parents. In addition, the PTO is well-organized, sponsors an extensive school program with enrichment classes, and the library.
—Submitted by Alfredo Gil, a parent

We are very happy with this school and our son has gone there since he was in Kindergarten and he is now in Third grade. One of our favorite parts of the school is that it is very diverse ethnically. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian. A little bit of everything and since that's how the world is we think it's perfect for our children. Teachers are also excellent. In the four years he's been there we have loved every teacher we have had and he has always been pushed to do more in a good way so that he is constantly being challenged. Easily one of the strongest public elementary schools in Houston, America's fourth largest city.
—Submitted by Mike Snow, a parent

Poe is a really good school. Most of the teachers push the students to reach their full academic potential.
—Submitted by a parent

We have enjoyed this school. We like the diversity of the student body. The parents are very involved. Would our child learn more elsewhere? At some schools maybe. Here they have had a great social network and learned a lot about making friends.
—Submitted by an administrator

My 2 children started at Poe last year, and I have been very hapy with the quality of education there so far. The teachers seem very dedicated and motivated, and the extracurricular program in the arts is very impressive. I also like that there is a great diversity of students there.
—Submitted by a parent

Poe is a wonderful school in the inner part of the city. They have wonderul, dedicated teachers. There is a very active PTO that works hard to ensure a quality education for all of the children.
—Submitted by a parent

Good teachers, safe and friendly to kids. Good art curruculum. The PTO is active and does extensive fund raising. Kids love it.
—Submitted by a parent

Incredible overall school. Kindergarten was the best! First grade was very good. Second grade still works well with students/parents. Third grade strict, but still encouraged love of learning. The 4th Grade Department does not work well with parents. They put too much homework on the 9 year olds. They do not use positive reinforcement or encourage love of learning.
—Submitted by a parent