Ridgeview Elementary School

We love LES. Been attending since Kindergarten and couldn't be happier. I wouldn't consider any other school. LES is headed by a strong principal, Ms. Wolfe, and the admin team is kind and supportive. Overall, the teachers are caring and supportive, you can bring your concerns to them and they'll work with you to find a solution. They're involved in the community and are willing to stop and say hello even on a random weekend sighting. Any time I've had questions, they have fully responded in a timely manner. I look forward to another successful year for my child this year and will be sad when he leaves to Jr. High in 2 years. Go Lakers!

Its rundown and the teachers are horrible.

Normally, I’m not the type of parent to write reviews. especially on schools that the child, especially my child that supposed to learn in. My first child, who I want to remain anonymous, is struggling to find friends around school. She told me that whenever she tried to make this one girl her friend, the girl slapped her across the face with a jacket! I find this really immature and I don’t work and pay the teachers bills just to see them not educating my child! The teachers need to grow up! We’re not in fantasyland anymore! We are in elementary school and find this extremely immature because my other child, who I still want to remain anonymous, also has told me that the kids around school are cussing. And dating. In fifth grade? Elementary school? I find this extremely immature! I expect, and once more from the teachers! This is not the school I was expecting to have dating, cussing, etc. I shouldn’t be able to expect this from elementary school. If you want to put your child in Coppergate elementary for fifth grade, be my guest, because the school, I would not recommend.

Ever since the new principal took over it’s gone downhill. He’s dismissive, socially unaware/awkward, and is money hungry. Sure, running a private school isn’t cheap or free but on top of tuition there’s many, many, many other extras added on and strange things that have occurred. For example, he’s maxed out class sizes with lots of classes having up to 24 kids. This includes kindergarten! That is INSANE and that’s not even allowed in Florida public schools. I think teachers are very overwhelmed here. There’s been many teachers leaving and that’s never a good sign. I feel bad for the teachers, I really do. They’re trying to max out every single grade. They’re constantly asking for donations/money for things that we’ve seen no work being put into. They’ve been collecting money for a cafeteria. Where’s it at? They BEG parents every year to fill out the title one sheet to give “our students more opportunities”. Where are those opportunities at?? We have 1 guidance counselor for the entire school and that just started THIS YEAR! Where’s the rest of that funding going? Where did it go in the previous years when we didn’t even have the 1 guidance counselor? Sure seems odd. The funding goes to the school but our kids don’t actually see any of it so are we really helping our kids out by filling that out? No! They’re getting even more money and none of that is being put back into the kids. Anything nice done for parents (the parents that spend their money to have their kids go here) isn’t even paid for by the school. They want donuts for grandparents day? They ask PARENTS to provide them. They want teachers to have a sweet treat? They ask PARENTS to provide it. They hand out some random treat once a year in the car line to parents? Those have been donated by PARENTS to the school too!! Everything is about money and each year it’s becoming more and more. Throughout the year they do many donations for charities (which is great! We support them)! However, I can’t help but wonder if this is just another quick scheme for them to get a tax break. So sad. There’s also barely any after school programs for kids unless they’re in 5th grade or higher. They recently added a dance class for girls under 5th grade because the principal has 2 daughters that can benefit from that. But nothing for boys under 5th. How strange! My daughter and son won’t be returning to this school. For the price we pay I don’t believe they’re getting a good education or experience. Very disappointed.

We move around often because we're military. Overall, this has been the best school my children have attended among all the Christian schools we have put them in. It is not a chino school (Christian in name only). They actually uphold biblical principles. My children come home singing their hearts out the songs they learn in school. I will be very saddened to get orders soon to leave this school, and so will my children. I always worry where I send my kids to school if it will be a positive influence between fellow classmates or not and since being at this school for 2 years. I feel so confident in the teachers and their influence on my kids. I adore this school.

Do not send your kids to this school. They lack empathy and will mentally abuse your children by telling them they are a shame and call them liars when they can’t take accountability. It’s 10 percent black children there and zero black employees.

We have a middle school child at SJCDS. He has enjoyed school and we have been pleased as parents. The teachers have been excellent and the administration has always been professional. The school has a very warm and close-knit environment.