Fernbank Elementary School

I'm a grandparent of a past and current student at Claremont. We could not be more thrilled with the staff and high standards of everything at this school. They even offer a play performance every fall that is fantastic! It was thrilling for us and our grandson's parents to see him on stage and having the time of his life, mistakes and all. It gives them confidence and the ability to overcome stage fright at such an early age. Skills that will build and last a lifetime. We watched him interact and work with other kids for a common goal and he just seemed more grown up in one evening. Our granddaughter has moved on to 3rd grade and her school does not offer this incredible experience and we sure do miss it but we're grateful she had it for three years at Clairemont. Kudos to your principal and music director and many others for recognizing the importance of this experience. We can see how much extra work it causes you and you are so appreciated for it!

The school is good if your child is average terms of development and intelligence. If your kid is above neurodivergent in any way, this may not be the place. We're dealing with a highly intelligent child with a processing disorder and having no success in working with the school to make my child's experience a good one.

Such a huge disappointment. We spent seven years there. I wish I could get my time and money back.

My experience at the Paideia elementary school was deeply disappointing and, at times, distressing. The pay was low, and the overall environment was chaotic, unstructured, and unsafe. There were no clear rules, boundaries, or consistent behavioral expectations for students. Children were often left unmonitored and left to their own devices, as if telling them “no” was considered a form of harm. As a result, many students were being physically assaulted by their peers, and the adults responsible for protecting them seemed largely indifferent.Aggressive and combative behavior was normalized or overlooked. Students regularly violated boundaries and refused to stop when asked. I was told that enforcing boundaries wasn’t realistic because the children “weren’t used to hearing no.”There was also a disturbing racial dynamic. Students frequently told racist jokes openly, and when I brought it up, my manager admitted that there was a racial problem at the school — but advised me not to let them "win" or "run me off.” That response made it clear that protecting POC from racism was not a priority.The school culture was steeped in nepotism and cronyism. Many staff were clearly hired due to friendships, relationships, or family ties rather than qualifications, experience, or genuine passion for working with children. It felt like a “good old boys” environment where connections mattered more than competence.Despite communicating early on that the environment was not a good fit, I was repeatedly pressured to stay. After firmly stating I was resigning, leadership attempted to fire me — after I had already quit. I was also denied previously approved accommodations and gaslit about whether they had ever been discussed.The physical building itself was alarmingly unsecured. Given the degree of emotional dysregulation and confrontational behavior I witnessed daily, I did not feel safe — physically or emotionally. This was, without question, the most unprofessional, disorganized, and harmful school environment I have ever worked in.

We LOVE Glennwood! The teachers are so incredibly supportive, and the family engagement in this community is outstanding. The school is small and intimate, so every child is known by every staff person. Glennwood staff will support your child and give them every tool needed to succeed. The ideal elementary experience!