White City Elementary School

As a community member, I see that the staff and administrators at Parkway are phenomenal with the students. They work tirelessly to help student a make gains and build in social-emotional time to help counteract the negative ascents of bullying. They teach see something, say something. They also use social emotional time to have emotional check is with students and validate their feelings. Lessons from Sanford Harmony are provided for each grade level to help build a single school culture. Great things are happening and academic gains are being made. It is taking time, but it is happening. Don’t discount this school, it’s staff, and especially it’s students.

This is the best elementary school in the entire district. We’re so happy to that our grandson was given this school assignment. Excellent principal, vice principal, teachers. Most engaged educators I have met in all the St Lucie county schools.

this is a wonderful school,i am very pleased with all areas and staff and i must add that mr. hitsman the principal is the greatest,he truley cares for every child and their family's as well. I can not say enough about him he is so wonderful,and i am blessed my only son and two nieces have the opportunity to be under his and his staff's care, it is truly and honer. I can only wish my son ron will be as great of a man he is one day!! And his teacher ms. Barnet is the greatest as well she truly has impacted and is so very dedicated to all of her students!!!

Teachers don't seem to care about their students, and the entire class faces consequences for the mistakes of a few. Bullying isn't taken seriously, while minor issues like chewing gum are prioritized.Students with mental health problems, such as depression, often don't get the support they need. The principal and vice principal are rarely nice to students but may act pleasant to parents. The school's facilities are outdated, and resources are limited. Classrooms lack modern technology, and the library has a poor selection of books. Extracurricular activities are lacking and poorly organized. Communication between the school and parents is often poor, with important information not being shared in a timely manner.The curriculum feels outdated and doesn't prepare students adequately for higher education. There is a lack of emphasis on critical thinking and creativity. Standardized testing is overly prioritized, creating a stressful environment for students. The school's approach to discipline is also problematic. Instead of fostering a positive atmosphere, the administration relies heavily on punitive measures that don't address the root causes of behavioral issues. This can be particularly damaging for students with unique needs or those facing personal challenges.Support for students with autism is inadequate. The lack of specialized programs and trained staff means these students often don't receive the attention and assistance they need to thrive. The school fails to implement individualized education plans (IEPs) effectively, leading to frustration for students with autism and their families. If a student is defending themselves against another student who is about to hurt them, they are likely to get in trouble. This policy discourages students from standing up for themselves and creates an environment where students feel unsafe and unsupported. Moreover, if you stand up for yourself or your friends who didn't do anything, you might get in trouble, especially if your friends have mental health problems like trauma. The school seems to punish students for actions that teachers verbally encourage, adding to confusion and stress.One of the only nice people at the school is the nurse. She shows genuine care and concern for the students, offering much-needed support. Students can also get in trouble for something someone else does, which is incredibly frustrating and unfair.

I taught previously at this school. It is full of many falsehoods and much two-facedness. Teachers are extremely limited on what they can and cannot do and are expected to work long hours with little pay. I’ve wondered if some of the requirements I was expected to fulfill were even legal. Several teachers have been there for years on end and have not received a raise at all. Many times, if a staff member expresses any type of concern, it is disregarded and in return, the staff member gets treated poorly. They’re basically shut up or told to leave. Teachers are required to adhere to a rule book full of legalism and dare I say ridiculous rules. Some teachers are uneducated and some even don’t have a bachelor's which is embarrassing. Some have never taught and are thrown in a classroom without an aid, with minimal-MINIMAL training and are expected to just do their best as “the Lord will help them.” There are many good people within the church as well as within the school. Several of the faculty will love your child the best that they can. Some will be so caught up in gossip and drama that they barely care about the students.LBA is the most traumatic and stressful work environment I have ever taught/ worked in. Working a secular job was healthier for me as far as work/ life balance. At LBA there is limited parent/ student interaction which I believe is highly instrumental in a child’s education. The schedule is rigorous all the way down to K5. Kids are not allowed to learn in class with extra resources such as blocks, counting helps, basically anything outside of the Abeka curriculum. I love Abeka, but think more flexibility would be so helpful. If your child comes home unhappy, 9/10 they are telling you the truth. It’s probably because they’re exhausted and have been subjected to only one way of learning. There really isn’t a lot of time for fun and it’s honestly sad. Many of the teachers would love to add additional games/ fun but can’t a lot of the time because of how strictly administration wants them to follow Abeka to the T. Special days/ weeks are basically a cover up for how miserable all of the other days are. And by the way- even if your kid dresses up, they’re still having a normal school day and MAYBE a rushed 10min craft or game gets squeezed in. I can’t tell you where to work or send your kids to school. But I can tell you to pray FERVENTLY about being a part of LBA. I’m so glad I’m not there any more. I’m happy, healthy, and free.

We became very disillusioned with this school after having high hopes initially but it became a very toxic environment which has been corroborated by many other parents and former staff. We only stayed as long as we did because we were waiting for construction of Primrose in Tradition to finish and for it to finally open. Sun Grove is painfully lacking in communication skills with parents and very defensive when dealing with a parent who has a concern or a grievance. A few of the upper staff are highly defensive, abrasive and disrespectful towards parents. The parents of Sun Grove deserve better. Mandatory (they call it volunteer) labor hours for parents and if these hours are not met, they charge money for every hour not completed. We pay over $800 a month tuition. Where is our money going? Why can't they hire professionals to fix things around the school? Extreme food restrictions for lunches/snacks. Parent/student-shaming if an unapproved food is sent. If you're going to only require fruits and vegetables for snacks, they need to be kept cold in order for them to stay viable all day! A small cold pack is not going to stay cold long enough to do that and the school does not offer refrigeration. When we try to send a non-perishable item that our 4yo will actually eat, it is taken away and sent home with a no-no note. Campus floods badly frequently causing parents to have to pick their children up mid-day and often have to leave work to do so. No programs like music, language, etc. No covered playground in the hot Florida sun. Fire ant issues. Our daughter received many fire ant bites. Tons of bugs and mosquitos. Located in a very run-down area of Fort Pierce Fl. Parents are pulling their kids from this school left and right and for good reason. They also currently have no head of school as she was fired after the end of the last school year. Never thought I’d have to say this but steer clear!