Helen Lemme Elementary School

Mr. Pisarik is the most amazingly magnificent principle. The way he shows empathy to each student and how he embraces each student is amazing. He has the ability to make each student feels unique and special. His warm smile and everyday greeting and salutes to the kids. Mr.P makes Shimek my kids’ second home. My kids grow, thrive and academically, they were amongst the best students. Also, Mr. More who taught my kid in 6th grade, Mrs. Montrose second grade teacher, the best, she has a warm heart as big as Victoria lake. She is so sweet, so genuine and very understanding. Mrs. Schneider, third grade teacher, she made my kid a beast on math, science and reading. My kids stayed 4 years in Shimek. One of the best 4 years of our life. Always grateful!

My kids loved this school! All of the teachers we had were absolutely amazing! The low scores that the school gets is mostly because of the high turnover of the students (such is the area, with a lot of apartments), but if your student stays through the entire school year, they will progress! This school has so many programs to help kids learn, and my kids greatly benefited from them!

Mann is a great neighborhood school in the historic district of Iowa City! Diverse racially and socio-economically with great new principle and strong committment to the school community. Zero tolerance of bullying and counselor and teachers teach kids skills they need to be positive role models, stand up for themselves and others, and be kind and compassionate members of the community. School offers gifted and talented program, support for learning disabilities, after school foreign language classes (Spanish and Chinese), GirlsOnTheRun group, orchestra (5th & 6th grade), fantastic and engaged after school program. This is a true neighborhood school! Your neighbors are your classmates, tight knit neighborhood community is deeply involved in school events and activities. 100 years old in 2018, school will be newly renovated by 2019. Our girls have thrived at Mann K-6th grade, and benefited from learning in a diverse and supportive community of learners. We love this school and test scores don’t provide the whole story of what it is like to be a student here. It’s a gem and we feel lucky we’ve had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing neighborhood school!

This is an outstanding school with a caring and dedicated staff who truly prioritize student success. The teachers create a welcoming, supportive learning environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The school offers strong academic programs along with opportunities for students to grow socially and emotionally. Communication with families is excellent, and it's clear that the entire school community is committed to helping students thrive. I highly recommend this school to any family looking for a positive, high-quality educational experience.

When I enter Regina Elementary, I know that my children are in a safe and caring environment. The teachers are wonderful and show compassion and empathy, as they cater to the individual needs of all their students. When I walk through the halls, I love seeing the active learning that happens on a daily basis within the classrooms. I also appreciate the monthly masses, prayer services, and service projects that help build upon a strong Catholic foundation.

Regina is an excellent example of educating the whole child. The school centers on strong community which leads to engaged teachers, students and families. The foundation of serving others builds character and provides motivation for students. The teachers are extremely organized and experts in their field. There are high academic and behavior expectations for students which sets them up for future success. We can’t say enough about how connected we feel to our children’s education in all areas- academic, social, spiritual, athletic.