Robert M. Paterson Elementary School

I have a special needs ASD child who started kindergarten at this school and only attended 21 full days of kindergarten and received 7 referrals. Despite the high ranking I did not see or experience the exceptionally for my special needs and military dependent child.

My family’s experience with Coach Willets, the head wrestling coach at Fleming Island High School, has been extremely disappointing and unprofessional. My freshman son was spoken to with disrespect, shown clear bias, and ultimately told he could “wrestle somewhere else” before even being given a fair chance to try out.The coach’s tone and behavior toward both my son and me were condescending and completely inappropriate for someone in a position of leadership working with students. I’ve since filed a formal complaint with the athletic director, school principal, and the Clay County Superintendent’s Office so that this situation can be handled at the county level.It’s important to note that Coach Willets is fortunate to even have a wrestling program to oversee after the conduct of the previous coach. You would think that history would inspire a higher standard of professionalism and mentorship — but sadly, that has not been the case.Parents and students deserve a coach who builds confidence and discipline, not one who discourages kids before they’ve even stepped on the mat. I sincerely hope the district takes a closer look at how this program is being run.

This school is not what it used to be. Any concerns brought to the principal's attention are not addressed. Some of the teachers are unprofessional and unsupportive. If your child has a 504 or IEP, they act like your child is a burden or is taking advantage of the accommodations. There's a reason the school's test scores have consistently declined. And the once great Montessori program is a joke now! It's good for pre-k and lower elementary, but not for upper elementary!

This school is amazing and we are continually impressed with the teachers and administrators who put in the extra mile to educate our children.

Oh my gosh. I can’t even explain how bad the school is. All the parents say how great it is. It is great if you are in kindergarden to maybe fourth or fifth grade. Once you get upstairs…oh man. So many of my friends have left the school because of how bad the bullying is and the teachers don’t say a word about it. The teachers all seem miserable and don’t make learning enjoyable. Some of them are fun such as my eighth grade Language arts teacher who actually seems to enjoy her job. You can very much tell how the teachers don’t like us. I do not recommend this school. It can cause bad mental health. It makes you feel like nobody cares about you and everyone’s favorite thing to do is cause drama and bully people. It is not just me that feels this way. Everyone talks about it. There is absolutely no freedom here at all what so ever. Worst school ever. I have this one teacher that SCARES people so bad. I have trouble sleeping at night sometimes thinking of going to his class the next day. this school is insane and soo bad. Do NOT recommend.