Skaggs Elementary School

Skaggs is the best. My 7th grader went there and now my little one is in 1st grade. It is an awesome school. Superb teachers, Great gifted and talented program. My kids never wants to miss school. They love it. It's excellent and one of the best. No complains!!
—Submitted by a parent

While this school does an excellent job teaching the gifted & talented and providing additional assistance to those students 'on the bubble' (a combined total of approximately 85% of its student population), it grossly fails to appropriately educate those students who do not 'fit inside this box. Downfalls: Teaching to TAKS testing; Closed door policy for parental concerns regarding educational matters surrounding their child; Code of Silence policy enforced to control the information that is 'allowed' to be provided to parents regarding a child's 'truthful and accurate' progress; and bottom line is all parents want a :sincere' warm and inviting atmosphere to walk into with open and honest lines of communication.
—Submitted by a parent

The new principal has caused this school to decline in value. Many former students agree that Mr. Lee Stevens really made this school excel. The students were able to work and play, as the school song states. The school was really wonderful. Of course, now, the teachers are all quite new and inexperienced. I think this school was better four years ago.
—Submitted by a parent

While this school has an 'exemplary' rating, I would disagree when it comes to children with special needs. This is a great school for the 'gifted and talented' child, not one that requires assistance with disabilities.
—Submitted by a parent

Hi, My kids have been in this school for 5 years and I can say, this is the best school. PTA involvement is excellent and yes, they tell you not to walk to the kids class after the first week just to keep the school safe. The teachers go out of their way to help the kids learn. They work according to each kids level. The principal is doing a great job.
—Submitted by a parent

Before 2008-2009 year, parents were not allowed because there were too many students in the school. Now since that the school zone was reassigned, more than 100 students had been transferred to Matthews Elementary. Starting from 2008-2009 school year, the parents are welcome to each luch with their kids at any time. Skggas is the best elementary school in Plano ISD. Most kids in the Kindergarten can read stories and write sentences. The school population is very diversified and it helps open the kids mind to different races and cultures. It is a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

The parent involvement at this school is pretty high. This is only good from a student welfare point of view. Dedicated parents are thrilled. Others complain. To address some of the other reviewer's concerns, I agree with the school policy. I do not want any adult to be wandering down the hall near my kid's class. Imagine the nightmare of parking and logistics if all parents were allowed to hang around with their kid every morning in the classroom. They send the students' work home every Thursday. So, an involved parent can be well aware of what is happening in the class. The teachers make their email and work phone numbers available for parents to discuss details. And of course it is an insult and a lie to say that the teachers do not teach. This is a top-notch school that retains top-notch teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

The parent's are not allowed in the classroom and can't walk their child to class past the 1st week at all. There's no way to know what's going on in the classroom, both with learning and student to student interaction, except by your child's stories. The teachers are excellent, but it's highly competitive.
—Submitted by a parent

School do not like us to eat lunch with our kids. Teachers do not teach much because most of the kids are self learners or taught by their parents. The school is very crowded. My kid's first grade has more than 20 kids in the room which is above the state average.
—Submitted by a parent

I moved to this school this year from a different school district. This school is too crowded with over 700 kids. It is a nightmate to drop kids off every morning. Carpool lane is extremely slow and there is no sufficient parking. Parents are honking at each other and giving dirty looks and do not like to make way for anyone else. I know kids who have gotten 4 to 5 tardies already. If you are one of the parents who do not mind getting tardies, then it is okay. But, if you are like us who do not like to get tardies, it is going to be very stressful every morning.
—Submitted by a parent

Different schools focus on different things. Skaggs focuses on education and achievement. So, yes, the school can be demanding, as another reviewer has stated. This forces parents to get involved in their kids' education. If you want a school where you can be hands-off, maybe Skaggs is not the place for you. The school is crowded as noted by others. This not only affects the cafeteria but drop-off and pick-up. But there are plans underway to move some of the kids to Matthews. The teachers seem to be well accredited with a good gifted program (PACE) and plenty of extracurricular activities. Their goal is to prepare the kids to succeed and they do a good job of that. The consistenly high scores on standardized tests show this.
—Submitted by a parent

Too many kids in building. Resource rooms are converted to classrooms. Lunch is staged every 15 minutes as kids file in and out - to manage the incredible load in the cafeteria - even requires kids not talk during lunch due to noise. Kids have little freedom and less opportunity to demonstrate responsibility. They are filed in and out of all classrooms in lines and recess is near non-existent. Recess is short and school does not use next door fields or park at all !! Instead you see a mass of kids on a single outdoor play structure.
—Submitted by a parent

Skaggs provides an incredible academic environment. This school is very competitive but for the right reasons - these students, teachers and parents all aim for the stars when it comes to achievement. The PTA is very solid and provides extracirricular activites year-round for the students.
—Submitted by a parent

Super teachers, great neighborhood!
—Submitted by a former student

I enrolled my daughter in kindergarten and found that the environment was not at all nurturing or fun, the teachers are exrtremely strict and expect way too much from the kids, the playground has no fence around it either which was also worrying for me.
—Submitted by a parent

Exemplary school with consistentexemplary rating from the state. The school has won may awards including Texas Successful School Award, Reading and Math Achievement Awards, etc. Several campus programs are available including: STOP Program, Parent Tutoring Program, Student Council, Multicultural Club, Chess Club, Portfolio Assessment for K-2, Science Fair, Plano Academic Creative Education (PACE). Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) is active and is involved in supporting programs, including tutoring, Camp Classen volunteers, Environmental Programs, Parents as Reading Partners, etc.
—Submitted by a parent

Positive atmosphere! Teachers work hard and are professional. High standards and expectations for the students.
—Submitted by a teacher

This is an incredible school! The teachers are enthusiastic about the students and care about their learning. It is easy to tell that they truly like their jobs! The Principal is phenomenal. He knows all of the children by name and sets a tone of high expectations along with a warm, friendly environment.
—Submitted by a parent

great school, now we are no longer there I see even more now how wonderful that school is.. JF>