Isbister Elementary School

Concerns Regarding Academic Rigor and Parental Engagement at Gallimore ElementaryWhile Gallimore Elementary prides itself on its high ranking within Michigan, there is a significant disconnect between the school’s reputation and the actual educational value provided. Because admission is based solely on CogAT scores, the student body consists of naturally gifted children. However, the current curriculum feels average—if not below average—and fails to challenge these bright minds. The academic success attributed to the school appears to be driven primarily by intensive parental support rather than the school’s internal systems.Student Experience and Preparedness:While elementary school should allow for play, it must also serve as a foundation for discipline. Currently, there is a lack of emphasis on time management and homework habits. Most teachers do not assign consistent work, leaving students unprepared for the heavy workload they will inevitably face in middle school. Without being taught how to plan and study independently now, even the most brilliant students risk falling behind later.Communication and Resources:As parents, we are often left in the dark. Aside from Mathematics, there are no textbooks or structured syllabi provided, making it nearly impossible for us to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom. Relying on daily classwork papers is insufficient for meaningful home-school alignment.Conclusion:The school’s "Number One" status is a reflection of its selective intake and the dedication of the parents, not the quality of the instruction. For the school to truly live up to its ranking, it must take more responsibility for the academic development of its students rather than leaving their success entirely to the mercy of home intervention.

My kids (one completed and other one going to 2nd grade) studying in Hulsing . Teachers and staffs are amazing. Teachers encourage students for social and extra curriculum

Outstanding experience at PCA... Teachers focus on making each student successful, they take their faith commitment seriously, athletic programs are well run, etc. Great school!

Teachers are not well trained and there is a high rate of teacher turnover. Pay for teachers is terrible, so there is a mix of desperate and highly motivated teachers. Educational standards are not age-appropriate and educational methods do not encourage learning. Any high test scores that they boast are a result of only accepting children who are already ahead academically, and are self-learners. In a year of attending, my child learned nothing from their academics program, and little from their Islamic studies program. The one benefit was how much qur'an my child was able to memorize. I was very pleased. But a major negative was their worksheet-based teaching method. Students would be taught from worksheets, given identical copies of those worksheets for homework and exam review, and then their semester exams would be a big packet composed of identical worksheets. It was a joke, especially given that my child was in kindergarten and I do not believe "exam week" is very appropriate at that age. Despite not struggling at all academically at ST, my child was behind when it came to starting first-grade class at a new school.