Holly Hills Elementary School

I went to this school from 1st to 4th grade, and I can confidently say that out of the many schools I have gone to throughout my entire life, this has been the best one. The attention that students receive from teachers is excellent, they dedicate time and effort into the activities they assign, and work adequately with each student according to their needs. They are also emotionally involved, being concerned about how the students feel about their school, friends, etc. The environment is safe, classrooms are clean, with many outdoor spaces to play. Bullying is also taken very seriously. In my own personal experience, I believe that this school played an important role in what values I consider important today. Teachers are helpful and attentive and ensure that parents know what their children were learning. I look back at my time in this school fondly. I would 100% recommend this school to anyone.

Pros: Overall I think this is a well run school, Teachers are top-notch and eager to keep the kids engaged. Administration keep this school operating smoothly, at least from a parent's point of view. Parent participation is high. It's in a good, safe neighborhood and I feel comfortable letting my kids walk home on thir own. This is a school where teachers send their own kids. Very diverse populationCons: Morning drop off is a circus, walk if you can. The building is rather small, and feels a crowded. Class sizes are acceptible, but the classrooms are small and music and art classrooms are inadequate. The playground is dated and needs a makover. Speech therapy has a high turnover (but I think that is a district problem more than the school)

Yeas ago this school was a G&T magnet school. It was rated highly and had a stellar academic record. It was one of the reasons that we moved into this neighborhood. Since the change in leadership, that curriculum has been removed and subsequently the academic rigor at this institution has suffered. Currently it is a "decent" school but previously it was better. It was a bit of a disappointment. I would recommend reinstating the G&T program and focusing more on academics.

In our experience, the curriculum and overall rigor have not met expectations, and there is a lack of standards and oversight from the administration to ensure a strong academic foundation. While the student-teacher ratio looks appealing, it doesnt translate into a richer learning environment. Another issue that’s difficult to ignore is the level of turnover among lower elementary teachers. My child has 5 lead teachers in the 2.5 years she has been in lower elementary at MSD. We’ve also noticed a broader pattern of families choosing to leave in lower el, sometimes in the middle of the year. In our child’s current class, only about half of the students are expected to return next year, which clearly shows low satisfaction among families. Ultimately, we’ve made the decision to enroll our children elsewhere next year. I share all of this in the hope that the school’s leadership and Board take a close, thoughtful look at these trends and consider meaningful improvements, including holding current lower elementary administrators accountable for their shortcomings.