Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary

Both of my children have attended Banneker, currently in 2nd and 4th grade. They both love going to school and I can't say enough good things about the teachers! They all have been wonderful! We have been very pleased with our experience at Banneker over the years!

The school prides itself on its test scores. Unfortunately, that's the singular priority for administration. We've had students at Leonardtown for 7 years and what was a lovely school has been very negatively affected by high staff turnover since the current principal started. Discipline is incredibly inconsistent. Each of my kids has had a bully in their class, and little to no corrective action has ever been taken. The discipline is haphazard and blanket punishments means kids who are behaving suffer the consequences of those who are not. Meanwhile, kids with actual special needs are punished for behaviors they cannot control. I was told more than once that my child's ADHD and SPD issues might be solved with "better discipline at home." Parent input is welcome as long as it's hours and hours of volunteer time or effusive praise. Efforts to engage in addressing problems result only in the family being flagged as problematic. My neurodivergent child needed a 504 and it wasnt until he moved to another school that the staff put in the time and care to make it a useful tool for him. Blanket solutions were all Leonardtown could offer. Student initiative is discouraged. The 5th grade wanted to have an end of year ceremony, the principal said the school board banned them. I have yet to see this in writing anywhere and other schools are having them. A student put together a petition and before even reading it, the principal went into each 5th grade classroom and tried to convince the students they had been deceived by a classmate because "no one wants a ceremony." The petition had signatures from about 75% of the class. Students were afraid they'd get in trouble for signing the petition. For a school that preaches "above all else, respect," I've personally experienced very little of that from Leonardtown Elementary School.

Awesome place to work! FAW is the best school!