Birkes Elementary School

This is the best school I have ever went to! I am now going to 5th grade and have been here since 1st grade. Staff is caring, food is great, and they have many extracurricular activities! Field trips are free.

My daughter entered 2nd grade at Birkes last year. Being new to the district, she got behind a bit, because she didn't understand their strategies. After a conference with the Counselor, then the Teacher, she was given the extra tutoring that she needed, and was back on track. The Counselor and Teachers were very caring. When she started this school year, I was concerned, when her Reading scores dropped, and again, after the Teacher started intervention, she's is doing well. To me, the four Teachers that we have had at Birkes have been excellent, caring teachers. Birkes didn't get their Exemplary status by not caring. Like others, I was concerned about the "Control" issue at Birkes: ie: Discouraging Parent Involvement, however, there are Homeroom Parents, and they do seek volunteers at the beginning of the year. The people who have said they would not recommend Cy-Fair schools are opposed to the population change. The Race make-up is not the same as it was in 1980, but Texas is not the same either. As a working parent, I can't volunteer, but I communicate with teachers by e-mail. They are on top of everything, and keep me involved with Positive feedback & Constructive feedback.
—Submitted by a parent

My grandson attends kindergarten at Birkes and we have been very happy with this school and staff. He is an intelligent but very active child who might elicit anger or frustration with many teachers. We are blessed to have a lovely, caring teacher who doesn't take his hyperactivity personally. She employs creative techniques to help him to learn and does the same with other students. We are so blessed to have him in this school and with this teacher. I hope our experience next year is equally positive. There have been a few times that he has gotten bumps or bruises and we've not been contacted by the school. That seems to be the only negative issue.

Excellent school! Teacher's are very caring and sensitive to children's need. Administrator's are very involved, caring and willing to help when asked. We had a situation that they had to get involved in and they solved it to our families satisfaction.
—Submitted by a parent

first of all, in 2007, Birkes made exampalray meaning they must have great teachers! Next, all meals children recive are healhy and delish, as my son tells me. over all Birkes is an exellent school!
—Submitted by a parent

I think overall it is a great school for academics. Most of the teachers appear caring and competent. I do wish more solicitation for volunteers would be pursued. It appears that the pta board is mostly caucasion women and a few appear to have been on the board since initiation. Thus limiting fresh new volunteers to serve.I have not seen very many minority board members . I think it can be clickish at times and very selective as to who recieves specific school informationl I feel that the school should have equal representation of all ethnic backgrounds.
—Submitted by a parent

Uncaring and insensitive to students needs. I feel also that some of the teachers don t have patients that is needed to be an elementary school teacher. When dealing with kindergarten thru 3rd grade patients is definitely needed. My experience dealing with birks staff hasn t been a very good one.
—Submitted by a parent

Uncaring and insensitive administration and principal. Almost as if they do not want to be bothered. Children not safe at school. No 'real' consequences for a child, hurting other children. No teacher support from administration.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a top rated school in every respect. The staff is fantastic, friendly to both parents and students, and very caring. They always seem to go the extra mile to make sure that all students at Birkes are successful. They have tutoring teams that help struggling students during the day as well as teachers who tutor students on their own time after school. They also have a program called HUGS in which teachers adopt students and become their HUG Buddies each year and plan activities with their chosen buddy to promote self esteem and help ensure that student's success in school. I am so thankful that my child was lucky enough to be zoned to such a fantastic elementary school. Birkes truly stands out as one of the best schools in the Cy-Fair school district.
—Submitted by a parent

Birkes is a great elementary school, the teachers are very helpful and they try very hard to make sure your child is getting the best education possible.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school overall. My three children attended, and all their teachers were creative, fun, and made learning fune.
—Submitted by a parent

Seriously lacking organization! The carpool line does not start to move until around 8:37am. School starts at 8:45am! Also, during 'holiday parties', they will not let anyone go to their child's classroom until right when the party time starts, not one second before. They make you heard like cattle with about 100 other parents in the very small entry way or outside! Why not be appreciative that you have parents who are involved and want to help with their children! I was a homeroom mom this year and would have had no problem with parents coming in early! Overall the teachers are ok. Luckily Cy Fair is an such an excellent school district otherwise Birkes would not make the grade!
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers are okay. Had to fight and scratch to get one parent conference in fall. Overall, our kids are learning. Yeah. Not happy with the school administration and the difficulty we've had with getting our children special services. Doctors, etc. believe our children need special services, school will not help. Parent involvement is 'overinvolvement'...not allowing parents who want to be involved to be involved. Parenting association is a clique and all about who you know. So if you want a school were you are going to be able to participate in your children's education, unless you are fake and chatty, don't count on ever being your kids homeroom parent, etc. not going to happen. Forget volunteering because if you aren't buddies with the right people, they don't want you.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent School. Very impressed with the teachers and the administrators. Security is very impressive. Great Principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Birkes is a really great school. I like the administration and staff, as well as the campus. Teachers are really friendly and open with parents, and very welcoming. All messages are returned promptly. Teachers seem happy to be at work. Really a great school. Only one setback-really high enrollment.
—Submitted by a parent

We love Birkes! My 2nd grader just started here and it is very top notch! Friendly staff and informative. Lots of learning going on!
—Submitted by a parent

Birkes elementary is a good school. Of the teachers that my son has had, I was very pleased with each..My son is in the 4th grade this year and the school year is just beginning, so far I am pleased. He has attended Birkes since the school opened and I am very pleased with the location and building..The administration has been pleasant but I am also concerned that there are no African American teachers onboard..I count only 1 or 2..That to me is unacceptable, I would like to see more on staff and teachers as well. I am sure there are some qualified African American teachers that can be added to the staff. I think this needs to be looked into. Overall, the school is good.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that Birkes is an awesome place to be!! The staff at this school is so warm and friendly.It is a beautiful school filled with dedicated staff. The needs of the children are always put first and foremost. I believe the finest teachers in the state work at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I find it very difficult to work with the administration. The teachers have been okay, but the administration is insensitive to the needs of working families. The school day begins long after most parents report to work. The school does not offer any type of afterschool care & there is a dearth of childcare in the community. School events are held typically at 6:30pm which is inconvenient for working parents & right at the dinner hour! There's inadequate support for extra tutorial assistance. Positives include a great set of teachers who work at communicating with parent via email. We will be looking at transferring our son to a different school for next year due to continued difficulties in workign with administration. They've been deliberatly slow at getting him tested for learning disabilities.
—Submitted by Theresa Evenbly, a parent