Hyde Park

I am both a parent of a current Evansdale student and an alumnus of the school, and I can say that Evansdale is an excellent school on multiple fronts. It is truly a community school - lots of school events (International Night, Eagle Trek, Hispanic Heritage Night, Black History Month Program, Art Night, Jump Rope for Heart, Book Fair, Spirit Nights at verious local resturants, Career Day, Cupid Shuffle Valentine's Dance, etc.), a very diverse and inclusive student body, many parents whom were students staying in or moving back to the neighborhood, good parental involvent in the PTA, and of course the STEM curriculum and French Immersion program track (Students learn half of their day in French and half in English). There are various athletics offered to students in the upper grades and many clubs including Robotics, Science Olympiad, Kilometer Kids, Chess Club, Dance, and many more. Students seem to be happy and friendly. The school generally handles any issues well. They are doing a wonderful job of providing a well-balanced education. My daughter loves to go to school, and after breaks, she is super excited to be going back to school. I have been very happy as a parent, and I would recommend this school to anyone who would like their student(s) to get a good education in a diverse, inclusive, and active community.

Livsey is one of the better schools at Dekalb, benefiting from being significantly smaller than most schools in Dekalb and an active (if clique-ish) PTO. Students are well behaved and excited to learn. The level of academic expectation is higher than many Dekalb schools, which helps provide students a strong background. Teachers and administration tend to know every student and every parent.One of the areas they have serious struggles with is supporting students with disabilities. It seems like many of the teachers have inadequate training in neuro-affirming best practices. This sentiment is echoed in numerous disability support groups when the school comes up from past and present parents.There are exceptions. For example, Ms Kastner in first grade is beloved by both typical and neurodivergent students and parents for a reason.The school would benefit professional development with a strong focus on both trauma-informed and neuro-affirming best practices and an implementation plan.The parent groups tend to agree that the teachers in upper levels are not as effective as those for K-2. They are more likely to speak harshly to students and have less interesting lessons than Livsey 3-5 provided years ago. They also communicate less, and only input grades right before progress reports.Bullying has also long been an issue for a very long time and teachers often seem they would rather avoid it than address it-- and in cases encourage it or engage in it themselves against more challenging students, blaming them even when they were not at fault. (This is reported from my elder children, who are easy themselves but sensitive due to having an autistic sibling.) Finally, Livsey could improve at supporting all students and connecting families in need with resources to help. Here they fall far short of other Dekalb schools. They are lucky to have somewhat lower need, but when a family or a student has needs, they can be left to flounder.There are inadequate after-school extracurriculars. A number of parents tried to organize a running club but were summarily shut down.If your child is average or gifted with no serious difficulties, and your family comfortable, this very well might be the best school in Dekalb. If you have a child with disabilities or trauma, you might see room for growth.

As a parent, there’s nothing more important than knowing your child is in a place where they feel supported, safe, and excited to learn—and that’s exactly what Pleasantdale Elementary has given my family. The teachers here are truly one of a kind. They respect and support my child, always encouraging them to reach their full potential. Pleasantdale doesn’t just care about academics—they care about the whole child. My child knows they have adults at school who truly listen and understand their feelings, especially the school counselors Ms. Adams and Mr. Moore! Knowing my child is in a safe environment where they’re free from harm and treated with kindness gives me peace of mind every day.

This school is great compared to the surroundings. All my children are honored with Straight A or A and B. This rating about this school is totally Wrong.

Even though the Headmaster and an occasional hit or miss teacher is wonderful and Christ-like, the majority of the teachers are religious but not Christ-like at all. The school has a heavy Church of Christ “religious” overtone. Immigration is a big platform for their missions and the majority of the teachers have become very liberal in their political views because of this. Beware if you are a “conservative Christian.” With the current temperature of our nation, their attitudes spill over into the treatment of more conservative students and it is NOT a good reflection of Jesus. I have had conversations with many students who have lost interest in growing their faith because of the “fake Christian” examples that teachers have shown. This weighs heavy on my heart and I pray each of them seeks forgiveness from these students, past and present.

Anti-bullying at the Gwinnett County school, or any of them, is a COMPLETE joke. No one is prepared to actually deal with parents, as far as administration or front office. I feel sorry for the teachers, whom are the only ones prepared to deal with parents. The lack of communication they receive is pathetic. This hyper vigilance on school protection is ridiculous. Having a police officer for a school resource officer that can't even protect themselves if necessary. When the cop thinks he is special, you know that is a problem. You can't visit your kids in the school, and they don't dare want to give any information on what your kids are learning.