Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School

It’s difficult to write a review because there are so many issues that stem from state and district policy. As a district the curriculum is terribly archaic. They use kill and drill worksheets, poor literature, they are not skilled in high quality teaching and learning or phonics, or mathematical understanding. It far lags the rest of the nation in every way and kids will not leave prepared or equipped. With that being said, the teachers have a positive culture and like kids and offer a positive sense of belonging. The principal is phenomenal and will listen to parents and advocate for kids and families. The teachers are undertrained and under skilled as far as effective teaching practices. Recess and cafeteria are understaffed and there is inappropriate behaviors that arise as a result from bullying, fights, and explicit/elicit happenings. Rewind the clock 40 years and it is very old school. They are quick to suspend and give punishments. Even the laptop is basic pen and pencil and there is no savvy tech integration to leverage higher order thinking. The people are good people, but the actual teaching is ineffective. I would still recommend a private school or homeschool if you have the opportunity. If not you will need to be heavily involved, advocate, question everything and go to the principal for everything. Do not assume everything is fine. The facility is beautiful and bulletin boards are picture perfect, so you must look beyond that to uncover the level of learning.

I would not recommend this school. My daughter was physically and verbally bullied and the teacher does nothing about it except agree with the bully. My daughter went from loving school to hating it. The teacher doesn't teach but puts them in groups of students to teach each other and grade each other which perpetuates the situation. My daughter has always received good grades and she is practically failing at this school. The leadership didn't even notice until the last few months. I had to hire a tutor twice a week.

I have had nothing but positive encounters with the front desk staff, my sons teacher. The only problem was with the substitute but the school took the corrective action to fire her.

I would not recommend send your child here.

The principal is clueless. Seems she has some serious personal issues going on and she needs to leave them at home. When myself or other parents speak with her it seems like she is not even focused. If she is not focused while speaking to a parent what makes one think she is focused running this school. A degree does not make you a wonderful principal. I believe ifnit weren't for her teachers, the school would not be highly rated itnis today. If it was ran by her alone, no telling how bad the ratings would be. Just sad. When she stands next to these children who deserves rewards and she takes pictures with them, she always looks disgusted or like someone has inconvenienced her day. My child noticed it in one of the pics from a previous award. She needs to be reevaluated. Thank you for the rest of the Lancaster teachers. You are amazing.