Freese Elementary School

As a parent, I have been fairly happy with this school. I have 2 children attending this school and they have been there for multiple years. The teachers care about the students and the principal does the best she can with the funds and resources she has. She works hard to coordinate additional opportunities for the students whenever possible. My only complaints are as follows:1) I wish there was more STEM learning for students.2) Communication can be lacking sometimes. By this, I mean that some teachers use email, others use Class Dojo, and others send home paper copies. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of what format information with be arriving. Additionally, I wish the teachers provided a syllabus for the year, so that parents can initiate conversations and learning opportunities for their students outside of class. However, with a little proactiveness from the parents, the teachers and staff are willing to provide these things.Overall, this is a good school for you to send your children to.

I am part of the staff at this school, and this is my 5th year here (Fall 2019-present). I invite you to come visit our campus, and you will see, feel, and hear that Freese is a wonderful place for students to learn and grow. As a parent myself, I value a learning environment where my child feels safe and secure. From our administrator to our front office, teachers, counselor, health assistant and paraprofessionals, students experience a caring, kind and responsive demeanor. Our campus is a calm campus. Class sizes are smaller than the average. Best of all, we are a magnet school that has received federal funding to enhance our arts and culture museum theme. Because of these funds, students attend several field trips per year. They receive visual arts classes weekly and an additional 2 hours a month of performing arts or visual arts. We have a PE teacher and our counselor does weekly social-emotional lessons for students. 4th and 5th graders receive choir, band, or orchestra music lessons, currently 2x a week. We are a Leader in Me school, which teaches students the 7 Habits for Success. We are also a No Place for Hate school that emphasizes respecting differences. Both of these programs allow students to take leadership on campus. Our 4th/5th grade safety patrol won best safety patrol for 2023! In respect to curriculum, teachers are using the district STEAM units, and have access to a range of digital supports, like highly rated ST Math. Phonics is a strong focus of the UTK-2nd grade curriculum, and teachers are receiving ongoing math training. Our arts and culture museum theme refers to the way we teach with a cultural lens and because we are in the process of creating a museum onsite, where classes will take turns exhibiting their work and learning about why museums exist and how to create an exhibit. We are also in the process of creating an arts integrated social studies unit that explores cultural heritage through the lens of self, family and community. In respect to events, we have a yearly Fall Festival, Winter Musical Performance, and a June Field Day, as well as Family Art Night and 2 art exhibitions yearly. We are in the process of establishing a PTA. I did not grade our school 5 stars because we have room for growth in our students' standardized test scores, but this trimester we have made the most growth in academic areas compared to similar schools. We have an excellent Primetime afterschool program, too. Call 344-3100 for a tour!

I love this school, my kids teachers are great. And I’m happy that they’re doing everything to make sure kids are safe during this pandemic situation. Thank you

I don’t like it. It saddens me to say that living so close this would have been a perfect fit for my child. But seeing the everyday lack of communications is hard to look past. Yes my child loves the teacher & again, I can’t blame the teacher for doing all she can. But when it comes to memos, events, or weekly programs the school notifies us the Sunday afternoon before, making it difficult to have my child partake in events accordingly. Their Christmas program lacked holiday spirit, it felt so half done, no decorations, no sense of direction & in a very small auditorium where multiple parents had to wait outside in hopes to not miss their child perform. The lack of interest shows. My child deserves better.

Terrible experience ever since this principal has been directing!! Mrs. Bussey needs to go or have intense training!