Burgess-Peterson Elementary School

We absolutely love Toomer Elementary! The IB curriculum encourages my daughter to think globally and engage deeply with her learning. She’s thriving both academically and socially, and it’s been wonderful to watch her grow in such a supportive environment. The school community is incredibly welcoming and vibrant, from weekly bike buses to events like Screen on the Green and the Race for FATE. We truly can’t imagine a better place for her to learn and flourish.

One of the worst school in the APS District. No exaggeration.My child has had the worst times of his life at this school. It’s rough kids do what they want without consequences. Kids bullying kids. Teachers putting their hands on students and still have a job. Administration is a joke. Academics are horrible. No interventions. Low enrollment. The principal does nothing but collect check as well as the assistant principal. Majority of the teachers are only collecting checks as well. I would never advise anyone to place their child here if you can help it. My child has suffered tremendously at this school. Physically emotionally morally and academically. I have to get him outside counseling now from the constant bullying. I will never willingly place my child at a Tier1 school such as this one ever again in my life.

My child used to attend. Unfortunately only one of her teachers appeared to care & had a great work ethic. It seemed better in older days when I was a young freshman in college & my sibling attended; there were educators w/ good hearts like Mr. Paul & Mrs. Whitaker then. It's dissapointing seeing parents who DON'T work for the school & are giving HONEST unbiased feedback express having some of the same issues we had w/ a passive/ indifferent admin team too. It starts from the top; staff will only be as good as their leaders. The nepotism/ favoritism continues to be a part of the culture it appears. The targeting of certain children while excusing those learning how to terrorize others at an early age continues it appears. A minority of the staff would appreciate parents like me who were involved even volunteering in the classroom while others were backwards & at odds with parents who were involved (possibly concerned we'd report their poor performance/ misconduct). The fact is just like with title 1 schools, many teachers will come just to get their student loans paid. When you have one who truly cares, then appreciate/ honor him/ her, b/c they're far & few between. Most over-police the children they don't value who require more from them (the children who have disabilities that challenge them) so it's just easier to send them to the office for everything never determining if they're reacting to being over-stimulated or some other manifestation of their disability. My oldest is on the spectrum & didn't receive her accommodations listed on her IEP & specified in greater detail with more on her 504 (yes, I insisted on both). I noticed children like her would be considered distractions when they were most distracted by others, & sent to the office for miniscule things while bullies were running amuck seemingly not being disciplined - it was completely backwards. So I'd volunteer in the library offering that as a safe haven intervention for overwhelmed teachers to send active students who they believed were a distraction with their work so I could help them in small groups instead of being so quick to just send them to the office for everything. The fact that they'd be calm & listen doing their work quietly was baffling considering their teachers' complaints, so it made me wonder if it was all on the students, or perhaps also the environments their teachers were providing (chaotic spaces b/c they lacked patience & clearly weren't enjoying their jobs.)

Such a great choice for our family over the past three years. MIT is quite well-run, with amazing teachers, high-quality facilities, and very positive parent network. I appreciate that the director is always looking for ways to improve and grow the school, which is not always the case at small private schools. They recently hired for a new position, Pedagogical Specialist, to work across the classrooms, which shows how they reinvest in the kids and in supporting teachers.