Leesylvania Elementary School

My child has attended 4 schools and Leesylvania is at the bottom of the list. Teachers constantly emphasize the Virginia Standards Of Learning (SOL) tests instead of focusing on improving the cognitive capabilities of individual students. Moreover, my child says they watch educational videos and are not allowed to ask questions about subjects because "they can't ask questions on the SOLs." I could understand if the teachers restricted the usage of questions just a couple of weeks before the test, but these students do not have the chance to ask questions all year! I asked the teacher if they were allowed to ask questions, and to my surprise she said "no," They are "preparing them for the SOL!" In today's fiscally constrained environments, I understand that standardized test can be the difference between receiving additional grants and not. Nevertheless, this school has been atrocious all year for its overwhelming concentration on the SOLs instead of the kids, the most important resource we have and the reason it exists in the first place.
—Submitted by a parent

We actually should attend Fitzgerald Elementary but where luckily transferred out due to there lack to make AYP. My daughter currently 4th grade never enjoyed school before attending Leesylvania! Now she loves it! The teachers do a great job. Students for 4th & 5th grade have the same teacher for the two consecutive years so they are able to restart immediately and pick up exactly where they left off.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter loves her school, and so do I! Her teacher is so warm and caring. She emails or calls me immediately with any concerns. She recognized her needs for extra support in reading and with the help of the reading resource teacher, she went from well below grade level to at grade level within the first few months! I love the PTA events, the sense of community and belonging, and the genuine concern from almost staff member.
—Submitted by a parent

I have watched this school take flight under the current administration. I have live in the community for years and always wondered why Leesylvania struggled, but under the leadership of the current Principal the school has completely turned around! The quality of the teaching staff has gone from not to good to outstanding. The teachers and administration only accept the best from each child and support them in every way possible. Any parent would be thrilled with this school from the first moment they step in to the school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has turned around since the 2000-2003 timeframe. It's grown from a school I wouldn't wish on anyone to a school that anyone would be proud to send their kids to. Yes, as with most schools, there is a teacher or two who we'd rather not have there. However, across the board, we have great teachers and facilities. As a bonus, it's walking distance from our house.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is a Kindergarten transfer student from a Texas school. He is a high functioning autistic student. This means I have a lot of interaction with the staff. I am very aware of the quality of the school. This school is top notch. I am very impressed with the care, the involvement, the communication of each and every one of the instructors and administrators. My son is in a mainstream classroom, and they are working at making accommodations for his success. They did not just assume we should put him in the special education class, they are doing what is best for him! I give KUDOS to Leesylvania!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I am the friend of a girl who goes to Leesylvania, and she says it's awful. What's with the Xs on the floor in the cafeteria, and if you don't go on them in order you get a referral?! That's a LAME excuse to give someone a referral, if you ask me.

Great school, great teachers. The teachers are my real heroes. A great elementary school. I would recommend this school any time - Joshua Mimano
—Submitted by Joshua Mimano, a parent

My daughter attends Leesylvania. I have been very pleased with her teachers and the curriculum and the diversity in the classrooms. I volunteer as often as I can. There are no requirements or minimum number of hours of volunteer work. I just like to stay involved. The Principal and his staff are top notch. They are caring and compassionate people. My experience with this school has been very positive.
—Submitted by a parent

My child attended Leesylvania all throughoute here elementary school years, from 1st through 5th. It breaks our hearts to be leaving the school, for throughout these many years, my child has received nothing but an incredible education, incredible support and ecouragement. She flourished in the school's Start and Signet programs, and was always encouraged to achieve her personal best. She was always given material that challenged her appropriate to her achievement level that at times differed from the rest of the class, but somehow, the specialized routine that they had developed for her and other childen in the Signet group was seamlessly integrated in with the rest of the school's. The field trips were terrific, imaginatively conceived, carefully planned and supervised, and I tremendously enjoyed chaperoning at each one of them. We shall miss Leesylvania and will always remember it as the place of our child's best childhood memories!
—Submitted by a parent

My girls currently attend Leesylvannia ES this year. My opinion? Every classroom is only as strong or good as the teacher. For Mrs. Lipscombe's class, I'd meticulously and honestly rate her as being outstanding. This is contrary to my younger's teacher, who is quite honestly, mediocre at best. Her heart seems to be in the right place, but she seems more interested in trying to impress some of us dads more above all else. I try to smile and be attentive, but she has mistaken my politeness for interest. All I want is for my girl to finish her class and move on without problems, so I feel like the only course of action is to keep being polite unfortunately.
—Submitted by a parent

We are a retired military family with 4 children. Three have/are attending Leesylvania. My 2nd and 4th grader are in the gifted program and have had fabulous teachers. The best school system we have encountered by far including DOD schools!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have gone to Leesylvania since it first opened and we love the school. The school is very diverse which is reflected in the test scores. Two of my childen are in the gifted program and have always been challenged by their excellent teachers. Both the previous and present principals are loved by the students and my contacts with both have been very positive.
—Submitted by a parent

Some of the other reviews bothered me. Leesylvania is not perfect, but no school can be everything to everyone. Small class size is a priority, but when enrollment exceeds 1,100 students it is not always possible to achieve. Maybe there is a huge emphasis on test scores and little time or money left for after school activities, but that comes from the federal government. If parents would get involved in a positive way people's attitude towards the school would improve. If you don't like something work to change it. Talk to your congress people, volunteer at school, help your children at home.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been attending this school for 5 years and I have not been impressed. The school has constantly been on the bottom of the PW County list for SOL scores. I don't know how this school keeps it's accredidation. The classes are overcrowded. I cannot say one good thing about Leesylvania. I wish they would get a new principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Class size is generally 28 kids per class- too many in my opinion. There are basically no extra curricular activites. The PTO tries to run programs but they are not well attended and parental involvment is minimal. The school is way too concerned about the SOLs and spends way too much time harping about the need for students to do well on the tests. They seem to 'teach to the test' and therefore there is not a lot of time for students to be creative or explore interests. Creativity is minimized and regurgitation is overemphasized.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter recently started to attend this school in kindergarten and so far I am pleased with the quality of the curriculum that they have and I appreciate the fact that they let you know monthly what your child will be learning so that the parent can reinforce their daily lessons at home. So far, this school has proven to be good at reaching out to the parent to be involved with their child's education.
—Submitted by a parent