Jonesboro Elementary School

If I could give negative starts I would . This is the worse school all the administrators have the most horrible attitudes , they don’t care about there students the principal during the kindergarten graduation last year literally stayed on her phone the whole time not paying attention at all they all could care less about your kids and they do retaliate when you make complaints but even when you complain nothing gets done at all. If you send your kids to this school I promise you will have so many problems. My kids begged me not to send them back they hated this school so much and it really messed with them emotionally. They didn’t care to have extra help for my of my kids they was struggle they would call and want me to pick him up every other say for him “not doing his work “ but when I would ask him it’s because he needed help and when I would sit and help him at home he would do the work . This school needs to either be investigated or shut down . Just horrible

Excellent. Our son was in private school but they don’t have a nurse so we had to change schools. I am so glad we switched. Our experience with Westhills has been nothing short of amazing. I wish the kids could stay there to 12th grade.

Schools get worse, but this school is pretty bad. Three generations of my family have attended, but the children today have it really bad. Most of the good teachers are gone. I'd say about 15% of the staff is actually worth paying. Some paraprofessionals, librarians, janitors, and a few teachers. Most of the teachers are poor communicators, lazy, under-protective of the students, and take no pride in what they do. Some are defensive and disrespectful toward parents and children. The teachers are there to collect checks, as they have either taken no interest in the children or have just given up. In poorer socioeconomic areas, things can be challenging. There's no doubt. I just figure you're up for the challenge or not. Most of the faculty aren't. The passion is hanging on by a thread only because of the few that actually care about the children and their profession. Otherwise there would be none. Another thing about this school is how they promote testing rather than learning, growth, and character. There's more to life than taking tests. Tests are important at times, but the whole curriculum should not revolve around tests. Now to be a bit petty, their drop-off/pick-up and check-in/check-out process isn't well planned. Dropping off in the morning is okay. I would like to see more than a couple of people receiving the kids in the morning though. Picking up is awful. The walkie-talkie system they have is supposed to call the kids out to the car, but there are cars parked on the left and right side of the road because people still go in to get kids. Plus traffic in the middle of the road, but the traffic officer keeps that line moving (when they're doing their job). Where to park? How to get out after pick-up? If someone is entering the building to get their children, then they should use the parking lot. Leave spaces for people respecting what little order is in place. Check-in/check-out requires parents to sign in at a building used for state and county programs, not the actual elementary school. Then you take your child to the actual school. Time wasted. Enclosing. There are more bad things, but this school has much potential. I see what it could be. It frustrates me because I know what it was. Many of the faculty and staff are genuinely decent people. Some actually good people. Where is the pride and passion though?

We started this school in August 2011 the same time Mrs. Burke the principle started. I've read the comments posted before she arrived and I don't recognize the school they are describing. We have seen so many great changes in the past 4 years. The enrollment has grown from 83 to over 200 children. The school offers core knowledge (very different than common core). Core Knowledge builds on knowledge the children learn each year. If the students are studying mammals you can go class to class and see how the teaching and knowledge on the subject gets deeper and deeper with each class. The school offers music, Spanish, art in a safe religion setting. There have been staff and program changes in the last 4 years- in my opinion both were needed and have resulted in a better school.

To whom it may concern,I am not sure if my concerns are directed to the right audience but I wanted to start here and if you could make sure this gets into the correct hands, that would be greatly appreciated. This is how things are currently at Bessemer Academy and I think someone needs to take a hard look at what is going on there. If you are looking for a school that allows bullying, double standards for students, unprofessional teachers, poverty level food in the lunchroom, and unsanitary conditions in the restrooms; Bessemer Academy is the place for your child. Our child was not only bullied by students, but the school allowed a teacher to bully my child. My child was addressed by a teacher about a dress code issue while many others in my child's class went unaddressed for the same thing. Teachers were openly discussing their dating lives and salary information with the students in the classroom. The food served in the lunchroom was often less quality than what you see served in some prisons. For a while, the restroom was missing a stall not providing privacy for the kids to use the restroom. Teacher turnover there is at an all-time high. Bessemer Academy professes to be a Christian school but that couldn't be further from the truth. This is just one of many similar cases that has occurred since my child has been in school there. This school needs to be investigated on so many levels.I plan to reach out to other sources in an effort to find someone who will look into what is going on at the school at a deep level as this is the only way you will find these issues. Please do something about this school.Thank You

I love this school the people there are sooo nice the children are well taken care of!! I recommend everyone bring their children here! I really enjoy coming here!