Germantown Elementary School

This is our second year at FCES, and we truly love this school. The sense of family and inclusion is wonderful, and the family engagement and PTA do an amazing job bringing the community together. Communication from the school is excellent, which helps parents stay informed and involved. My daughter has loved her teacher, and there are many parent volunteer opportunities that make it easy to be actively involved in your child’s education.

I absolutely love this school! All 4 of my children go to this school. Soon will be 5 when my youngest is able to start Kindergarten!!The staff is beyond helpful and nice. My sons case manager is such a beautiful soul. Never have I had so much help and compassion from a group of "strangers". They truly put the kids needs first. My children are always looking forward to going to school, which gives me a sense of calmness and relief.

Clopper Mill is a fantastic place for learning and growth. The teachers are outstanding, and the entire staff is professional, dedicated, and truly committed to student success

This school was a wonderful environment during Mrs. Prater’s leadership. She was approachable, truly listened, and took meaningful action when concerns were raised. Those qualities fostered a strong sense of trust and community that many families deeply valued.There are still a few teachers I hold in high regard. They are caring, live out their Christian values, and clearly love what they do. Mrs. Thorne, in particular, stands out as dedicated, compassionate, and genuinely invested in the success and well-being of her students.However, I have growing concerns regarding student safety and bullying. It has been troubling to observe how these issues are currently handled. While concerns may be acknowledged, they are not always addressed with the level of transparency and honesty that parents should reasonably expect. At times, communication from administration has not fully aligned with the facts, raising serious questions about trust and accountability.Additionally, when families raise concerns or seek clarification, responses can feel dismissive or defensive rather than collaborative. This dynamic makes it difficult for parents to feel confident that issues are being handled appropriately and in good faith.I am especially concerned by instances where children’s experiences appear to be minimized or not fully believed. Every student’s voice matters, and their safety and emotional well-being must always come first.I share these concerns in the hope that they are received in a constructive spirit and lead to meaningful reflection and improvement. Every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and supported at school.

This school was a great environment when Mrs. Prater was there. She was easy to talk to, truly listened, and genuinely cared, among many other qualities. There are still a few teachers I truly appreciate—they are caring, live out their Christian values, and clearly love what they do. Mrs. Thorne has always stood out as well; she is dedicated, compassionate, and truly cares about her students. However, I have growing concerns about safety and bullying. It has been very troubling to see how reports are handled. When concerns are raised, it often feels as though they are dismissed or that children are not believed. That is deeply disappointing and, in my opinion, unprofessional. I hope these concerns are taken seriously and addressed appropriately, because every child deserves to feel safe and supported at school.