Brownsville Elementary School

We are very pleased with our experience at Brownsville. Our child loves going to school everyday and is learning so much. We're impressed with the teachers who truly care about their students. Good parent involvement which we are pleased to be a part of. We especially love the BEE program and innovation lounge...what great resources! This school deserves better than a score of 6 by your website. We really couldn't ask for a better experience for our child. Go Bees!
—Submitted by a parent

Brownsville is wonderful. It's a great community. The teachers are outstanding. I've worked in the classrooms with the teachers as a volunteer and have seen the work they do. It's very impressive. I'm glad my child is a student at Brownsville and has had such dedicated and kind teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children in the school. Both have had very good experiences thus far. The teachers that our children have had are caring and devoted to our children's best interest. The school seems to have a small school family atmosphere despite the real size of the school. Our children are excited to go to school and they really enjoy the aftercare program. Many of the support and administrative staff know our children by name and are an added source of encouragement to them. Great school!
—Submitted by a parent

I LOVE Brownsville! I have two kids there and have been so impressed with the teachers--very caring and responsive, really working with my kids to get the best out of them. I love the "family feel" of the school, even though it is big. This is an all around great school!
—Submitted by a parent

Our son has been at Brownsville for one year now (2nd grade) and so far we are very pleased with our experience. His teacher was wonderful and the support staff was great too. My son has dyslexia and the school did a great job of working with us to support his extra reading needs. It is a large school, but somehow doesn't feel like it. Very good communication from the administration (via notes home, email, etc.) Wonderful after school programs available. I haven't met any fellow parents yet who are unhappy with their experience as Brownsville. So far so good!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I have had two children attend Brownsville. They are 11 years apart, so I have seen this school go through many changes. My eldest child loved the school. She had one issue with one teacher and we had a conference with that teacher and the issue was resolved. My son has had wonderful teachers as well. He is not as easy to teach as my daughter. He is easily distracted and goes off into his own world. Both of the teachers he has had so far have put forth tremendous effort to help him succeed. We were so fearful he would get labeled ADHD, but he was not. We have had constant contact with his teachers. The new addition is excellent. It is beautiful and each class has their own patio with table and chairs.
—Submitted by a parent

We are new to the school. So far I am impressed. The teachers are highly qualified, caring, and extremely dedicated. We came from a private school and although it's early in the year, Brownsville is better. It's the teachers, but the principal and vice principal seem as motivated as the teachers. There's lots of energy here.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a new parent to Brownsville this year. I have been very pleased with the teachers, the principal, parental environment and most importantly, my child loves going to school. When my child had some issues this year the school was immediatly responsive. What I hope for elementary school is that my child will look back and feel it was a happy and stimulating time in their lives. This seems to be true this year.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had two children go to this school, and I like it a lot. The teachers are great.
—Submitted by a parent

Great if your child is already a motivated, high abilty student. Some teachers seem to try to get those kids in their classrooms every year. My child seems to be left where she is in the middle, getting less attention and little challenge to achieve more. This school and its administration focuses so much on test scores, recognition, and awards that they let the children who may not contribute to these things remain in the background. We have a similar issue with our other child. Our kids may be average students, but they deserve better than this.
—Submitted by a parent

Have to agree with other comments-being unhappy with the school does not mean I'm a 'disgruntled' parent.Unfortunately,my child isn't having the successful experience I had hoped for her.She is an average student who needs encouragement to work up to her potential.Her 'satisfactory performance' has resulted in being overlooked at times and not challenged by some teachers.They don't seem willing to make the time,or they just don't have the time,to devote to challenging the average students so that they may achieve more in the classroom.My child deserves the opportunity to increase her abilities and move up just as much as a gifted or academically challenged student does.
—Submitted by a parent

Leadership is lacking.Response to concerns or requests are considered based upon who you are and what your standing is in the school or community.The more important you are to the school,or the more likely you are to speak out openly or to other school officials,the more likely you are to get help or support.Gifted students and high achievers are favored and receive more attention and have more resources than other children.Too much focus on raising test scores,and those are the students who can achieve this goal for the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Focus is almost entirely on passing state tests. Students who can't are left behind in the race to increase scores, especially advanced scores, which puts the focus on high ability students. Teachers are not to blame entirely (there are the few that teach only to the test-seems easier for them to do this).Time for recess and other periods to socialize or participate in enjoyable activities has been cut to leave more time for memorizing facts and figures at desks in the classrooms.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm unhappy about the new addition to Brownsville.It's going to be a big school, and bigger is not better!Elementary aged children thrive in a small, intimate environment where they aren't one out of 600 faces that teachers and principals see each day.I don't want my child to be just another test score that makes or breaks this school! of my
—Submitted by a parent

My child's education is important to me.The concerns I express make me an involved parent,not a disgruntled one.It's difficult to accept that a school isn't perfect when your child is a successful student.You don't know what it's like to have to fight to get your child the help he needs.My sons have difficulty with math,a subject that is built upon from one grade to the next,and one that the school has had some low test scores in.They aren't getting the individual attention they need because they aren't considered high risk for failing the tests.Each my children slip deeper through the cracks.Even the best teachers get frustrated because my sons have large gaps in their math skills,too much to be overcome in the classroom during the 45 minute math period.When the boys were young,the principal said it was developmental and they would catch up.Now they're almost in middle school.
—Submitted by a parent

I haven't had the good experiences that some parents have had,but labeling me 'disgruntled' isn't fair.My child is an average/ below average student and truly hasn't received the help she needs.The school seems well equipped to teach children who do fine academically, but it's slow to find solutions when children don't grasp material easily or quickly.Administration doesn't always seem to know what is happening in the classroom and relies more on the teachers to find answers.This doesn't work when the teacher isn't competent or doesn't work well with children that learn at a slower pace.My child has been passed on to the next grade level unprepared, and then each year we hear from her new teacher there are 'concerns' about her lack of skills.As long as she squeaks by on the standardized tests though,we're told she'll be okay.I'm afraid she'll never catch up now after 4 years here.
—Submitted by a parent

Brownsville is an excellant school! I have 3 children currently enrolled, and I volunteer frequently in the school. The administration and the teachers are responsive to feedback . I have had concerns, and they have been met with an open ear and an open mind: My concerns were addressed, and we moved on! Brownsville is just a great community from the students, the administration, to the teachers & staff and to the parents.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent new to Brownsville, the principal, teachers, and staff have been very helpful and truly care about each child and their experience. They are building a beautiful new edition to the school which I look forward to my youngest utilizing. In looking at these other reviews, I believe the key is to always be an involved parent in your child's education. The more you stay on top of things the less likely there will be concerns that become problems. I love the community feel, and truly believe this is a family centered school.
—Submitted by a parent

Having taught in various schools and districts over the years, I feel qualified to objectively evaluate Brownsville Elementary. This is a place where children feel welcome and thrive academically and socially due to the caring and dedicated staff and administration. It saddens me to read comments from a few disgruntled parents which distort the true picture of this top notch school.
—Submitted by a parent

Poor communication with parents about children's work and progress in class, school too concerned with getting recognition and higher test scores, too much focus on high ability andand challenged students.students who make the school look good at the expense of the avergae learners and
—Submitted by a parent