Sunshine Ranches

My son just ended 6 wonderful years with this school. It was an amazing experience and we are so sad it’s time to move on. Every teacher and administrator goes above and beyond for every student here. We are so grateful we are part of the PLE family! Can’t recommend this school enough!

I am very disappointed with my experience at Silver Palms Elementary, particularly regarding how the school staff, especially the principal, handled a concerning situation involving my child. My child consistently expressed worry and distress about how he was being treated by another student, but unfortunately, nothing was done until I personally made a call and became involved. I found the aftercare staff to be quite rude and unhelpful, seeming unsure of how to appropriately handle certain situations. Because of these experiences, I decided to withdraw my child from the school. Since transferring to a new school, he has been much happier, his grades have improved, and he has made better friends.It is important for schools to prioritize the well-being and safety of their students, and I hope Silver Palms Elementary will reflect on these issues to improve their response and support for students in the future.

Lakeside Elementary is a sweet school. The staff is amazing and work well together. This school sets high expectations for their students and do a phenomenal job ensuring students meet their academic growth. I love how they involve the community in every event they do. If you are wondering whether or not to send your kid here, do it. You will not regret being a part of this beautiful community.

If you value transparency and respect, avoid St. Mark. We spent over a year trying to engage with this school to no avail. Last year, I visited in person and the Admissions Director wouldn't even receive me.Despite the cold start, we applied for 6th grade. We jumped through every hoop they required: our daughter took the evaluation exam and our family sat through the formal acceptance interview. We were fully vetted and ultimately accepted. During this process, I specifically asked about a school tour and was explicitly promised that a tour of the school in action would be available once my daughter was accepted. This proved to be a total bait and switch.Once we were vetted, interviewed, and accepted, the story changed. The administration refused to allow us to see the campus during a school day, citing "security protocols." Instead, they offered a visit in May, which is well after enrollment deadlines for other schools have passed, and only to view empty classrooms. This is a clear tactic to trap families into enrolling without ever being allowed to see the actual school culture or vibe.It is clear why they act this way. They had over 80 applications for only 15 openings in the 6th grade. Thanks to the influx of Florida scholarships, they know they will fill the spots regardless. They clearly feel they no longer need to be courteous or treat families with basic decency because they are no longer dependent on direct parental support.As a Catholic, I am embarrassed that a Catholic institution treats families this way. While other Catholic schools in the area still prioritize dignity and the family-school bond, St. Mark has become a cold, elitist environment that treats vetted, interviewed families like a number. We turned down the acceptance. Do not waste your time jumping through their hoops.