Hugh Mercer Elementary School

we just transferred 2 of our daughters from Conway Ele. And our experience with the admissions staff was less than pleasant...almost like we were bothering them...plus...they refused to let us walk our girls to their 1st day off class...nor give us their teachers names..and refused to give us any email contacts...we felt VERY apprehensive even leaving our children in their care and we are certainly looking at other options.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has great teachers and a great administration. However, it is an inner-city school! My son went to Kindergarten there, and I would never send him back despite the fact that he had a wonderful teacher. All the kids are behind, and the parents just don't care. It is a typical Title 1 school that gets lots of funding and for families who don't appreciate any of it. I think my son was the only one who ever paid full price for lunch, too. PLEASE do your research. This school looks great on paper, but you don't want your child to come home from Kindergarten asking questions about why so-and-so's mom/dad stabbed their boyfriend/girlfriend. True story. :(
--Submitted by a parent

Huge disappointment. I've heard and read lovely things about this school, I wish had good things to say as well. But I don't. My daughter's kindergarten year has been one big disaster. She was given candy daily, no comments on the report cards or interim reports, she was sent home on the bus when she was supposed to stay for an after-school event, she was told she couldn't move the front of the class when she was having trouble seeing, they were told to "run wild" at field day, the list goes on and on. But to top it off, the class was told, (at an event where my husband was present) and I quote, "some kids need to learn from pier pressure and humiliation". I am appalled. Thank goodness the year is over. We will not be returning, and I will NEVER EVER recommend this school to anyone.
--Submitted by a parent

Hugh Mercer is a fabulous school. My daughter enjoys all her teachers, and especially enjoys her computer class.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved here from Florida last summer and i was extrmely nervous about sending my son to a Public School as he had been going to a charte school which was much smaller. But from the first day that i went to register him the staff at Hugh Mercer made my son very comfortable which was one of the most important things to me... his comfort level. He is almost finished with second grade and it has been an exciting and rewarding year for the both of us. All the teachers are awesome and there is a fantastic PTA which i try to be as active as possibly in. BEcause of the foundation that Hugh Mercer has set for my son he is soooo looking forward to third grade and all the opportunities and new challenges that he will face. Kudos to the team at Hugh Mercer.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter began at Hugh Mercer in Kindergarten and is presently in first grade. I went to a Catholic school for 14 years and was very nervous about a public school for my only sweet pea. We had only lived in Virginia for a year and that made it an even tougher decision. I chose Hugh Mercer because of their principal. I was comfortable from the moment I met Mrs. Tankersley. Her words to me after a wonderful tour were 'I am always a phone call away.' I new at that moment that it would not be a private school for our girl and I am happier every day with our decision. Trish Williams
--Submitted by Trish Williams, a parent

My son has been at Hugh Mercer since the 1st grade and is now going to the 4th. Hugh Mercer is a wonderful school that has an outstanding staff of teachers and office personel that are loving and caring and always helpful. My family loves Hugh Mercer, we are looking forward to our 5 year old attending there in the fall!
--Submitted by Mary Anderson, a parent

Student-Teacher ratio is closer to 18:1, vice what is posted on this site. Excellent overall quality & curriculum, however rapid growth in the Fredericksburg area is taxing school resources now.
--Submitted by Fred Haberman, a parent