Mitchell Elementary School

My children loved Mitchell school. I have two kids that went to Mitchell. My daughter graduated from 5th grade last year. The principal who retired in 2015 was a very friendly person and created a nurturing environment. My kids always felt safe and loved going to school. Out of all the teachers I can only say that there were 1 or 2 that didn't get 5 stars in my book. Actually all the schools in Needham are great. We moved here for the schools and haven't been disappointed.

My children love attending Mitchell school. There is a nice environment within the school that is set by the tone of the friendly principal. There are lots of great teachers at Mitchell, however my children have had a few that weren't so good. My son has also complained that school is not challenging enough. There doesn't seem to be much of a focus on students who are capable of doing more. Instead they tend to teach to the lowest common denominator, which is frustrating. There is a nice community of parents, who all mostly walk their kids to school. This creates a pleasant environment after school, where the kids all run around and play together while the parents socialize. However it can be hard to get to know the other parents very well, unless you are a friend of a friend or grew up in Needham (this town can be a challenge for newcomers). The Mitchell school is also quite run down and is due for a big renovation in 2015, which it desperately needs. The school does have a lot of heart and the administration really cares about the students, and that does go a long way. My kids would give this school a 5, but sadly I can't for the other reasons listed.

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