Sweetwater Elementary School

I wish I never sent my child to this school!! This school wanted to put him on pills because he acted like a child. This school change my child personality!!! I dislike this school and wish I never put my child there!

This school is filled with caring, kind, knowledgeable teachers, administrators, and support staff. The students are engaged in the learning and have fun while learning.

My daughter is in kindergarten. The student teacher ratio is not 10:1 as it says. It’s 32:1. It should be 16:1. I do not have an issue with my daughter’s teacher, but a class that size should have an assistant teacher as well. They are “too busy” so do not have snack time. My daughter complains about not being able to focus due to being hungry. Often not having enough time to eat at lunch. She is thin, but was never clinically underweight until recently. She eats breakfast and comes home ravenous wanting a full dinner the second she walks in the door. Pants that used to fit her now fall off of her. I will do work with her that she did in school and had all incorrect answers. At home, she knows it. Maybe it’s because she isn’t starving so can focus. They released my at the time 5 yr old to my then boyfriend whom they did not know, nor ask for his ID. Another friend was also shocked that they didn’t ask her any questions. However, one time they wouldn’t release my daughter to my friend whom I called ahead and gave her full name and that she would be picking up my daughter. The campus smells like cigarettes at pickup time so it’s fun holding my breath to not puke from that at an elementary school. We lost our closest family member. A month later she got flu A. I received a letter home about her missing 5 days in 30 calendar days, which I called every single time. She had an ear infection. I made her eat breakfast with her antibiotic. As I was driving around from urgent care to her pediatrician to get notes for those days, I got a call that she threw up and couldn’t return to class at 10:00am, but otherwise felt fine. She had a little breakfast but at 7am it’s hard to get her to eat a lot. She vomited from the antibiotic. Had she had snack time, she wouldn’t have vomited, and I wouldn’t have gotten what feels like penalized for her missing more school. The parent portal login never works and I’ve heard that from a lot of parents. I’ve called for a meeting about her missing school, but rather than calling me back I get another letter in the mail. Not a fan of this principle at all. The crossing guards are always nice and make sure to not let another kid die. Ms.Piazza is a good teacher and responds quickly to emails. To the school nurse, a scrape on the knee is a bigger deal than head lice. It is beyond chaotic there. She is not returning next year and I may opt for home schooling the remainder of the year.

My daughter went to this school for 4 years before we moved out of state, and we have missed this school ever since. The teachers are wonderful, and treat the kids great. They do not tolerate bullying for a minute. All of the staff are the best I have ever seen in a school. They truly care about the children, and get to know them well. We moved to a terrible school system and I had to remove my daughter to home school her until we can move again. She is now in middle school so could no longer attend Horizon anyway, but I wish dearly that every school had the qualities that this one has. If your child is unique, sweet, soft spoken or even if they aren't, they will thrive in this school. The only way they wouldn't do well here is if they are a troublemaker because it is absolutely not tolerated.

Last year, 2023-2024 year, I didn't have many issues with this school as a parent of a freshman student. This year, 2024-2025 year, I have had nothing but problems. The staff is rude, they do not respond to concerns when receiving messages that my child is not at school when in fact he is. They can't verify his presence, even though he is in testing they require. I get these new 'safety' messages all day and when I call concerned, they do nothing but say I have to wait for someone to figure it out and update their system. I don't think that was the purpose of these new messages. Escalating to the principal has done nothing. I would not recommend this school.

Best elementary school in Port Orange ! Teachers and staff are amazing as well as the parents! They truly care