Hollywood Elementary School

We absolutely love Ames! You can tell the teachers and staff really care about their job. I feel like they go above and beyond to address issues with students before they become potentially bigger issues in the future. Our kids are always excited to go to school. It seems like a lot of the parents are very involved with the school, which is nice to see. I’m sorry to read that another parent had a bad experience with bullying. Everything I’ve seen, the administration and teachers seem to take things very seriously and address them early on. We love the themed days, spirit wear days and the entire school reading the same book at the same time. It really creates a sense of community among the different grades. The teachers deserve so much credit. It’s not easy these days and they are truly wonderful at this school!

The older review is really sad! I'm so sorry they had a negative experience at Blythe Park. My kids have been going here for the past few years, and we all really love this school. I don't believe the current principal was around in 2014, but the current one, Mrs. Gorman, is great. She's responsive to issues, from my experience. I've never heard adults gossiping about kids. Personally, I don't find the parents cliquish. Over the past six years or so, Riverside has really turned over its population, meaning there are a *lot* of new families with young children. I do think that has changed some of the dynamics the previous reviewer experienced. The teachers here are lovely, and were excellent through the pandemic. This is a small gem of a school, and I feel very lucky that my kids are able to go here.

Komarek is a great school. The teachers that we have worked with truly care and want the best for the kids.

Overall, this school has significant challenges due to student behavior. While the teachers try to provide a positive learning environment, many students act inappropriately, particularly some of the boys who make inappropriate jokes, behave immaturely around the girls, or even engage in bullying. This behavior makes the school uncomfortable and distracting, making it hard for other students to focus and feel safe. The school was better in the past, when students were more respectful and things felt calmer. Even with the staff’s efforts, the current student behavior has made the school less welcoming to new students.