Hyde Park

I have a child with special needs in their special education class which we love and have had a great experience with! We also have an almost 3rd grader who is finishing up his first year here from another school that was not great for him. He has had a great year ! The teachers , staff, PTO, everything is great!!!

I do not recommend this school. When my child attended here, he experienced ongoing bullying that the school failed to properly address, and the way administration handled the situation was extremely disappointing.It started when a girl apparently liked my son, but because he did not like her back, a group of girls began repeatedly teasing and bullying him. They would tell other students she was his girlfriend and spread rumors that he liked her. During a school field day, while me and his father were there supporting him, a group of girls even approached us and said, “Do you want to know a secret? That girl over there is our childs girlfriend.” Then they laughed and admitted they were “just pranking” and making fun of him before running away.Over time, the rumors escalated badly. Students began spreading false stories claiming my child wanted to kiss her or do inappropriate things with her, which was completely untrue. My son was young, confused, and had never shown behavior like that. He is a straight-A student in a gifted program with no disciplinary history or prior concerns. Even to this day NEVER an issue!Then one day during pickup, my child was missing from dismissal. I called the office worried, only to be told he had been sitting there for hours. Nobody would explain why. The same thing happened again the next day. My child was confused first day sitting in office with no explanation. 2nd day explained he had been pulled into the office again and questioned over rumors he knew nothing about. He was confused and scared because he had not said or done the things he was being accused of. My husband and I eventually had to refuse to leave the office until the principal finally spoke with us. And finally get our child they refused to release to us! Despite there being no proof, no pattern of behavior, and even other students defending our child, the school chose to believe a group of girls who had already been bullying him. Some of those students were proved to be administration/front office staff children, while principal was close family/friends with them which made the situation feel even more unfair.The school failed to stop the bullying, failed to communicate with parents properly, and handled serious accusations with no evidence or fair process. The entire situation was handled terribly, and I absolutely would not recommend this school based on our experience.

We have two children who attend Sandpiper and absolutely love this elementary school, it truly is so special! Our children started in pre-K and have been part of this school community for a couple of years. We have enjoyed every aspect of their school experience. They genuinely love their teachers, cherish the friendships they have made with classmates, and look forward to going to school each day!Even though we are not personally bilingual (we are learning Spanish alongside them), our kids are thriving in the dual-language program. Their accent and pronunciation are fantastic, and they are excited about learning not just the language, but also the culture, all while keeping up with the regular curriculum such as math, reading, social studies, and specials (music, Spanish, PE, STEAM, art). We enjoy receiving the weekly newsletters that keep us updated on what the children are learning, appreciate the balanced amount of homework that reinforces new concepts while still allowing time for other activities, and value the small class sizes where teachers are truly invested and provide each child with personalized attention. We also love that the school uses positive behavior intervention and supports to teach students emotional and behavioral strategies. Our children are very motivated by this and love receiving STARS cards! There are excellent clubs and activities that keep the children actively engaged, such as Trekkers, Girls on the Run, Gardening Club, Student Council, and many more. We use the after-school Mascot program, and our children love it, too, because they get extra time and activities with friends. Sometimes, they even tell me I pick them up too early because they enjoy it so much!The sense of community here is truly unparalleled. The PTO is fantastic and organizes many events that give parents the opportunity to connect and build relationships. We have developed genuine friendships with other families, often enjoying time together not just at school events, but also forming lasting bonds outside of school. Our children have made close friends that they are excited to see each day, and as parents, we feel welcomed and supported by everyone. This warm and inclusive atmosphere truly makes the school feel like an extended family, and we are so grateful to be a part of it.I highly recommend this school to any family who wants their children to learn another language and become part of a vibrant, caring community!

NR is more than a school, it's a community! My children love going to school every day, and absolutely love their teachers. The staff and principal are very communicative, which helps a lot in the crazy world we live in. I feel my kids are safe and in good hands. The school events are so fun.