Elephant's Fork Elementary School

This school is failing and the staff is only half the reson. The kids are from down town suffolk and don't have parents that care.The staff has been taught that yelling and punishment is the best way to get the studnets to respond. The VP and other admin staff is just below average. Vilonce starts in pre-k and they have zero accomidations for gifted children. They folded in Mount Zion into this school in order to save the test scores and get it off the failing school list. Unfortunately the teachers cannot teach both inter-city at risk kids and highly performing kids in the same class. If you have an above average kid, this school is not for you.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is always having her stuff stolen out of her desk, even the teacher has to lock her stuff up!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school with wonderful staff! My daughter has been here for two years and is going into the third grade, she knows all of the office staff, the principal and most of the teachers. This is a "community" school where everyone is involved in making sure the students succeed! They have plenty of extra activity's that the students can participate in, talent shows, movie nights and my daughter comes home from school every day with fresh fruit for an after-school snack! I love it!
--Submitted by a parent

This is an outstanding school! Many of the reviews below are old and represent a different principal than the one we have now. My daughter has been at the school for 4 years and my son is in the middle of his first. Mrs. Gatling who is the new principal that took over last year is fantastic. The morale of the staff and administration is so uplifting. When you walk in you feel welcomed and everyone is glade to be there. I highly recommend this school and commend Mrs. Gatling for turning around a sinking ship and bringing it back to life.
--Submitted by a parent

I was very pleased with Elephants Fork Elementary and their staff. The principal was excellent every time I needed to speak to her. My son's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Blei, was a wonderful teacher. The only problem I had was at the begining when the kids were being dropped off by the buses. I was out there everyday just watching to make sure that my son knew where to go. It appeared unorganized and I voiced my opinion and suggestion to the vice principal. The following day my suggestion was implented and it worked out better. They are always open to suggestion and react accordingly. If anyone is lucky enough to get Mrs. Blei as their childs teacher-you will be blessed. I love elephants fork and wish my kids could stay there but have been redesignated to Hillpoint.
--Submitted by a parent

I am happy with the teachers that my children have, and those that I've met, but I dislike the Principal. The VP is a wonderful man who I trust completely.
--Submitted by a parent

I am extremely satisfied with Elephant Fork Elementary school. Maybe I've been luck over the past three years, but I have had nothing but positive things happen for my son since attending EFES. He has been on the Honor roll every grading period since kindergarden and is now in the 2nd grad. His teachers have constantly kept in contact with me calling me at home with not only negative activities but possitive things that happen in my childs day. I would recommend this school to anyone wanting their child to be nurtured in a caring enviroment. Education is not only what the teachers can give your child, but what you as a parent alone with your child put into it.
--Submitted by Sherry Rowe, a parent

This is the worst school my children have attended. The bulling is overwhelming. My daughter's class was out of control. The principle refused to deal with the bulling unless the child confessed to doing the bulling. The parent involvement is high but only to ensure the safety of the children. This experience has taught me that I need to check out the schools before I move into the area. Location, Location, location!
--Submitted by Billie Blevins, a parent

I was not an educated homebuyer until I learned the valuable leason of location,location,location. This school is a homeowner's/tax payers worst nightmare. My child failed fourth grade due to the schools poor quality issues. The sad part is that, she was only enrolled for her last semester when her grades suddenly plumeted. Despite my countless efforts to assist the staff,requesting accomedations, support ect....my child and I was given the run-a-round. My request to tranfer to a more suitable school was approved and my childs second year as a fourth grader was more than a bitter sweet success, She made the honor-roll.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been extrememly dissapointed with the education our children receive at Elephant's Fork Elementary. We have found the staff non-responsive for the needs of our children despite thier continued lip service to 'No Child Left Behind Act'. We have chosen to move our family rather than fight year after year for alternate zone placement of our children to avoid this public school. The staff for Suffolk Public School System seems to be responsive but the flow of resolution on many items has wasted a year of both our children's lives. The staff solution at EFES is merely the answer 'They are young, they can repeat it next year.' This school had trouble meeting accredidation, it has been suggested to me that they are trying to eliminate the problem children by pushing them out of the zone rather than assist the children in achieving acedemic success.
--Submitted by a parent