Old River Elementary School

its just a bad school for kids

Overall, my time at the school was okay. From 5th-6th grade there had been a few fights. Most of my teachers were pretty good, 6th grade was pretty scary because of the teachers, and the kids there were okay.

This school isn't what everyone around here makes it out to be. It hasn't been great since Dr. Irving left. Academically, it was ok. Some teachers are really good and attentive. Some will tell you your child has a learning disability because they have trouble grasping a certain subject. Bullying is not taken seriously at this school, not with the previous principal or the current, despite the administration telling you that they do everything in their power to ensure students feel safe. Both the principal and assistant principal will call your child and any complaints "petty." They just do everything they need to do to cover their own behinds in case you go to the district or sue. Yard aides are mean. Some teachers are nice, but most are biased towards and show favoritism to students whose parents they are friends with. Some teachers also gossip about students to other parents, which I find unethical, unprofessional and an invasion of student privacy. The moms who ran the parent club while my children were there were all catty, gossipy and pretentious. Parents also have a huge sense of entitlement. They don't follow parking lot/drop off rules because that's what Seven Oaks people do, apparently. The current principal will also not fight for your students or even push up against the district. Not even a little. You're better off homeschooling your kids or heading over to Highgate where I hear the principal is more assertive.

This school is great !! My son has excelled tremendously

My daughter was attending another school previously where she was getting bullied and it was not being handled in a way that made her comfortable to go to school. She didn't want to go to school anymore or do any of the work. We moved to a neighborhood near Hart elementary and this school was assigned to her since our address changed. Since going to Hart she has been more motivated to go to school and anyone who seems to bother her even a little is addressed right away. The teachers communicate right away when I bring something up and address any concerns I have. This school is great! It reminds me of when I was growing up and schools were safer and more communicative when things happened. My daughter is so much more happier being at this school than her previous school and I am happy with how Hart's staff handle things.