Oakdale School

Oakdale has some really good teachers but some really bad ones too. My son's kindergarten teacher was absolutely terrible but my daughter's was wonderful. The school has a new principal this year and I hope that she may require some higher standards for the teachers there. In my experience, the 1-3 grade teams were very good but the 4-6 grade teachers were overall seriously lacking in organization and definitely lacking in professionalism. Please, cover your cleavage, don't play R-rated music in the classroom, don't discuss your tatoos with students, take bullying seriously. The PTA is wonderful but a bit over the top - simpler works better for me. Awesome office staff.
—Submitted by a parent

We came from a private school and this is our first year at Oakdale. Great experience so far. All staff is great from the top on down. Including every teacher thus far. My boys grades have inproved, but I also have to be involved as a parent at home and at school to know what is going on. I love the technology that is involved in homework and classwork. Wow, my Jr. High Neice's are doing the same math as the my 6th grade child (keep it up Oakdale).
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers seem unfocused and just "trying to make to the end" of the year. The few days Utah hasn't furlowed they waste watching movies. Also teachers do not respect student diversity. As a non-christian family I am offending by the continual reading of religious holiday books to my kids.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are great. This years teacher has actually got my son to want to read.... it's a miracle!
—Submitted by a parent

We adore the principal and the office staff. They are extremely helpful and very loving towards the children. There are some very wonderful teachers, however we had two really bad experiences. The teachers were lacking organization skills, and they would single my child out repetitively with negative remarks.
—Submitted by a parent

Oakdale is a great school. The teachers, students, and parents are very involved. The teachers want the best for each child. Students read over 2,000,000 minutes during the 2008-09 school year. Students in grades 2-6 participate in district math challenges each year. Oakdale places in the top three for the Jordan District consistently year after year. Generally we have 8-12 students go on to the region science fair from our school.

The school was a great fit for my son. He had a great teacher. Some of the grade levels have very cohesive teaching teams - they really work together to teach. Other teachers are uninterested in pushing themselves or their students. Oakdale tries really hard to promote the safety of their students and are sticklers for their parking lot policies. The PTA has an exclusive feel and it is hard to feel welcome when everyone else is so close, but they are very well organized and do a lot for the children. My son's experience in first grade was extremely positive. I loved his teachers and served as head room mother. The teachers really welcome parent involvement in the classroom.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree, the principal is excellent. She's very good at what she does, and she genuinely cares for our children. Her and her office staff are kind to parents who have different circumstances, like me. I also felt my non-conventional choices for my children were openly respected. That's nice. There are some really good teachers, but just few infamously bad ones as reported through the neighborhood. They don't seem to care about students. But overall, the dozen or so kids I know at this school from various grades really love their teachers. My kids get good time in the computer lab!
—Submitted by a parent

The principal is quite good--she knows the children and offers helpful feedback to parents. The office staff is helpful and responsive to parent concerns and requests. The quality of the teaching staff is uneven. Parents are friendly in general, but it seems hard for newcomers to break in. So many families have been there for so long, and traditions are deeply set. They ask for more parent volunteers, but I had trouble figuring out the system or feeling welcome among people who had been lifelong friends when I tried to volunteer or be part of the PTA. The children were very nice and welcoming to new kids. The school has fewer students than most Jordan district elementaries. I liked that very much--it seemed like there was elbow room for all, and it was more peaceful and less chaotic than many schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child has attended this school for 5 years now, and we have been very pleased. The principal has done an excellent job overall, the my daughter's teachers have been great. My wife has served as PTA Vice-President and President, and I serve as voluntary school webmaster, so we have really gotten to know the 'ins and outs' of the school.